Launched on 6 October 1865 was she originally meant for Paraguay as the Minerva but sold to Brazil and renamed Bahia. Completed on 22 January 1866 and stricken in 1894. She was barque rigged and fitted out with a ram bow. Except for the 1x2-7” main guns placed in the turret amidships she fitted out with 2x1-2pdrs. The iron-made armour consisted of a 4,5” thick belt and the turret was protected by armour of the same thickness.
The edition of the magazine The Engineer dated 6 July 1866 published a magnificent drawing of the Brazilian Bahia (ex-Minerva) built by Laird, Birkenhead, England based on designs of captain Coles.(1) The magazine also stated that hardly any secure details were supplied dealing with this vessel. Her dimensions were described as 178 x 35 x 8 feet with a tonnage of 1.008 tons. Her engines supplied 140 nhp and while driving two screws making a speed of 10,5 knots possible. She was armed with 2-150 pd rifled guns. She was to serve in the Brazilian shallow waters and on the large rivers.
Sir Francis Burton. Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay, 1870, p. 312 wrote that together with the Cabral she in the night of 2 March 1868 was attacked by a Paraguayan force on the Apa river. The Paraguayan soldiers were ‘dismissed with presents of cigars by Madame Lynch, who told them to go and bring me back my ironclads’.(2) The crews of both ships managed to seek shelter below the hatches and in the turrets despite 50 of them were killed. Other Brazilian ironclads managed to free the Bahia and the Cabral.
The Spectator, vol. 43, 1870, page 144 described as armed with 2-150 pdrs guns placed in one turret and a draught of 8 feet.
Notes
1. Cowper Phipps Coles (1819-7 September 1870), captain the Royal British Navy and at the same time inventor. He died when on board of the HMS Captain, when this ships sunk off Cape Finisterre. She was built to his own designs by Laird, Birkenhead..
2. Eliza Alicia Lynch (3 June 1836 Charleville, Countr Cork, Ireland-27 July 1886 Paris, France) mistress of the Paraguayan president (1862-1870) Francisco Solana Lopez.
