Brazilian battleship Aquidabã facts for kids

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The Aquidabã was a powerful warship built for Brazil in the 1880s. It was an ironclad, meaning it had strong metal armor to protect it during battles. This ship was involved in two important naval rebellions in Brazil. During the second rebellion, it was sunk by a government torpedo boat.

After being brought back to the surface, the Aquidabã was sent to Germany for repairs and upgrades. Sadly, in 1906, while on a regular trip, the ship's ammunition storage areas exploded. This caused the ship to sink very quickly, and many lives were lost.

History
Empire of Brazil
Name	Aquidabã
Namesake	Aquidabán River
Builder	Samuda Brothers, Cubitt Town, London
Launched	17 January 1885
Completed	1887
Nickname(s)	Steel Lion
Fate	Sank 21 January 1906 after powder magazine exploded
General characteristics
Type	Ironclad warship
Displacement	4,921 tonnes (4,843 long tons)
Length	280.2 ft (85.4 m)
Beam	52.03 ft (15.86 m)
Draft	18 ft 4 in (5.59 m)
Installed power	8 × cylindrical boilers 6,500 ihp (4,800 kW)
Propulsion	2 × shafts 2 × compound-expansion steam engines
Speed	15.8 knots (29.3 km/h; 18.2 mph)
Range	4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement	277
Armament	2 × twin 9.2 in (234 mm) guns 4 × single 5.5 in (140 mm) guns 13 × single 1 pounder guns 5 × 14 in (356 mm) torpedo tubes
Armor	Waterline belt: 7–11 in (178–279 mm) Deck: 2 in (51 mm) Gun turrets: 10 in (254 mm)

Building a Mighty Warship

Aquidabã seen before 1898, when its masts were different

The Aquidabã was built in England by a company called Samuda Brothers. It cost a lot of money, about £345,000! Its construction began on 18 June 1883, and it was officially launched into the water on 17 January 1885.

This ship was a bit smaller than another famous Brazilian battleship, the Riachuelo. The Aquidabã was about 280 feet (85 meters) long and 52 feet (16 meters) wide. It had a crew of 277 sailors and officers.

How the Aquidabã Moved

The Aquidabã used two powerful steam engines to move through the water. These engines were powered by eight large boilers, which made steam. This allowed the ship to reach a top speed of about 15.8 knots (29 kilometers per hour). That was quite fast for a warship back then!

What Weapons Did It Have?

The Aquidabã was armed with many weapons to defend itself and attack enemies:

• Big Guns: It had four large 9.2-inch (230 mm) guns, placed in two special turning towers called gun turrets.
• Smaller Guns: It also had four 5.5-inch (140 mm) guns and thirteen smaller 1-pounder guns.
• Torpedoes: The ship was also equipped with five 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo tubes. Torpedoes are underwater weapons that can hit other ships below the waterline.

Strong Armor Protection

To protect itself in battle, the Aquidabã had thick armor made of a strong material called compound armor.

• The thickest part of its armor belt was 11 inches (280 mm) thick. This protected the most important parts of the ship, like the engines and ammunition storage.
• The gun turrets, where the big guns were, had 10 inches (250 mm) of armor.

Life and Rebellions at Sea

After it was finished, the Aquidabã sailed from England in December 1885. It stopped in Lisbon and Bahia before finally arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 29 January 1886.

Taking Part in Rebellions

Aquidabã firing at the forts of Rio de Janeiro in 1893

The Aquidabã became famous for its role in two naval rebellions in Brazil.

• First Rebellion (1891): The ship was part of a rebellion that began on 23 November 1891, led by Rear Admiral Custódio José de Melo.
• Second Rebellion (1893): Two years later, the Aquidabã was the main ship, or flagship, of another rebellion called the Revolt of the Navy, again led by de Melo.

On 16 April 1894, while the Aquidabã was anchored near Santa Catarina, it was attacked by a government torpedo boat called Gustavo Sampaio. Two torpedoes hit the Aquidabã, causing it to sink in shallow water. Luckily, the damage was not too severe.

This battle was important because it was the first time the Brazilian military used torpedoes. It also helped end the rebellion. The Aquidabã was later brought back to the surface in June 1894. Because the ship had rebelled twice, it was briefly renamed 16 April and then 24 May before getting its original name back.

Repairs and Modernization

After being refloated, the Aquidabã was sent to Germany and England for full repairs and upgrades. This work lasted from 1897 to 1898. It included adding two heavy fighting masts.

Later Years and Tragic End

Aquidabã between 1898 and 1904, with its two heavy masts

In 1900, the ship's original name, Aquidabã, was given back. In 1904, it received more upgrades near Rio de Janeiro. During this time, the two heavy masts were removed, and some torpedo tubes were taken out. The Aquidabã was often used for testing new technologies like wireless telegraphy and for training young naval officers.

On 21 January 1906, the powder magazines of the Aquidabã blew up, sinking the ship within three minutes (drawing by Angelo Agostini, 1906)

On 21 January 1906, a terrible accident happened. The Aquidabã was anchored in Jacuacanga Bay when its powder magazines (where ammunition was stored) suddenly exploded. The ship sank in just three minutes. This tragic event killed 212 people, including three admirals and most of the ship's officers. Only 98 people survived.