Mariz e Barros-class ironclad

The Mariz e Barros-class ironclads were a pair of armored corvettes originally ordered by Paraguay in 1864, but were sold to Brazil when Paraguay defaulted on the payments. Configured as central-battery ironclads, they served during the 1864–70 War of the Triple Alliance between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay against Paraguay.

Class overview
Name: Mariz e Barros
Builders: J. and G. Rennie, Millwall, London
Preceded by: Bahia
Succeeded by: Cabral-class ironclad
Built: 1864–66
In service: 1866–97
Completed: 2
Scrapped: 2
General characteristics
Class and type: Armored corvette
Displacement: 1,196–1,353 long tons (1,215–1,375 t)
Length: 191 ft (58.2 m)
Beam: 36 ft (11.0 m)
Draft: 8.16–9.5 ft (2.5–2.9 m)
Installed power: 600 ihp (450 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 steam engines
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Armament:
Armor: Belt: 3–4.5 in (76–114 mm)

Design and description

The ships were 191 feet (58.2 m) long, had a beam of 36 feet (11.0 m) and drafts of 8.16–9.5 feet (2.5–2.9 m). They displaced 1,196–1,353 long tons (1,215–1,375 t). The Mariz e Barros class had a pair of steam engines, each driving one propeller. The engines produced a total of 600 indicated horsepower (450 kW) and gave the ships a maximum speed of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph). They carried 140 tonnes (138 long tons) of coal although nothing is known about their range or endurance. They were fully rigged with three masts. Their crew consisted of 125 officers and enlisted men.[1]

Mariz e Barros was armed with two 120-pounder Whitworth rifled muzzle-loading guns and two smoothbore 68-pounder guns, while Herval had four 120-pounder guns. The ships had a complete waterline belt of wrought iron that ranged in thickness from 114 millimeters (4.5 in) amidships to 76 millimeters (3.0 in) at the ends of the ship.[1]

Ships
Paraguayan name[2] Brazilian name[2] Namesake[2] Builder[1] Laid down[2] Launched[2] Completed[2] Fate
Triton Mariz e Barros Lieutenant Antonio Mariz e Barros J. and G. Rennie, Millwall, London 1864 1865 23 July 1866 Stricken, 1897
Medusa Herval General Manuel Luís Osório, the Marquess of Herval 14 June 1866 Stricken, 1885

Footnotes
  1. Gardiner, p. 406
  2. Silverstone, pp. 37–38

References
  • Davis, William H. (1977). "Question 1/77". Warship International. XIV (2): 161–172. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
  • Gratz, George A. (1998). "Question 1/77: Warships of the Triple Alliance". Warship International. XXXV (2): 210–211. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
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