Brazil's Minas Gerais

[Daltron]

As you've most likely read in my earlier article about HMS Agincourt, in the late 1800's Brazil's navy was suddenly obsolete. Also, you probably read that there was suddenly an economic boom caused by demand for coffee and rubber that let t he Brazilians expand their navy. In 1904, plans were laid down for several ship classes, including three battleships. These plans were sent to Armstrong in England.

 

One was subleased to Vickers, but around the time the keels were laid the Dreadnought was commissioned, cramming a giant middle finger up the butts of every other battleship design short of the American South Carolina class. Thus, in face of total obsolescence  the three battleships were scrapped on the spot and the plans for three new dreadnoughts were drawn up. They cost enough to where the Admiralty said 'lolol we can't bro,' and the third ship was suspended while work on the other two proceeded as planned.

 

 

 

This is not what the Brazilians had.

 

What they DID have, however, was fear factoring. When the enemies of Brazil heard that the Brazilians had a ship that could easily wipe out their fleet by itself, they dropped a Cleveland steamer on each others chest out of fear and were like 'BALLS'.

 

This is an accurate representation of the Argentinian admiralty:

 

 

 

This also shocked Russia, Germany, and pretty much everyone else since they were only behind the UK and US in ordering dreadnoughts. The US tried to seduce Brazil to be allies because if you have someone down south who can destroy pretty much anything that's right up the American's alley of killing everyone and cramming apple pie up their butt while teabagging them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, even though the Americans started the Superfiring trend first, tons of nations sent observers to look at the Sao Paulo's gun performance, notably, the effect on lower gun crews and how smoke obscured views  Judging by all other battleship designs, they went well.

 

After trails were done, they were commissioned. Pretty much the instant they were commissioned the Brazilian economy collapsed.

 

Around this time, Brazilian officers in the navy were enforcing rules so hard that the entire fleet mutinied. Well supplied with food, water, and accommodations  all they asked for was to not be butt-[edited] every time they screwed up just a little. A couple officers were killed on these two ships and there was threat of the admiralty sending out ships to attack the rebels, but a bill got passed and the butthurt brigades were called off because the mutineers were happy.

 

World War I killed the Brazilian economy again because trade was seized up. Ironically, the most powerful ships in South America (Minas Gerais class), when asked if they needed to join the High Seas Fleet of England, were rejected due to poor maintenance and the fact that they had really old fire control. In fact, fourteen of eighteen boilers on the Sao Paulo's boilers failed while en route to NY for an upgrade. It's like 'lol we don't want your ships, they ratchet. Well.... they need a ratchet... good thing you were on the way to the yards.'

 

Inter-war years had several major modification involved which changed a lot of crap I don't want to list because it's 11:37 and I'm tired and I just want to finish writing this so I can sleep. Here's a post-mod photo from 1942:

 

 

 

As in WWI, WWII found these ships in incredibly poor repair, and besides, they were like 30 years old so lol who would want to rent these ships I mean holy crap.

 

Minas Gerais was used as the headquarters for the CIC from her decommissioning in April 1952 until December of that year. They were both sold quietly to the Italians and broken up, after more than forty years of service.

 

WIKIPEDIA STATISTICS

 

Class & type: Minas Geraes-class battleship

Displacement: 19,281 tonnes (18,976 long tons; 21,254 short tons) normal

  21,200 t (20,900 long tons; 23,400 short tons) full load

Length: 543 ft (165.5 m) overall

Beam: 83 ft (25.3 m)

Draft: 25 ft (7.6 m)

Propulsion: 2-shaft Vickers VTE

18 Babcock and Wilcox boilers

23,500 shp

Speed: 21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h)

Range: 10,000 nm (12,000 mi; 19,000 km) at 10 knots (12 mph; 19 km/h)

Complement: 900[A]

Armament: (as built)

   12 × 12 in (305 mm)/45 cal guns (6 × 2)

   22 × 4.7 (120 mm)/50 cal guns

   8 × 3 pdr (37 mm) guns

Armor:

   Belt: 9 in (229 mm)

   Belt extremities: 6–4 in (152–102 mm)

   Casemate: 9 in (230 mm)

   Turrets: 12–9 in (305–229 mm)

   Conning tower: 12 in (300 mm)

 

Name: Minas Geraes

Namesake: Minas Gerais

Ordered: 1906

Builder: Armstrong Whitworth

Cost: $8,863,842

Yard number: 791

Laid down: 17 April 1907

Launched: 10 September 1908

Completed: 5 January 1910

Commissioned: 18 April 1910

Struck: 31 December 1952

Fate: Scrapped 1954

[Exponan]

http://forum.worldof...um-image-issue/

[Super_Dreadnought]

Daltron, on 01 February 2013 - 05:47 AM, said:

SERIOUSLY THIS ADMIN IS PISSING ME OFF.

cramming a giant middle finger up the butts of every other battleship design

They cost enough to where the Admiralty said 'lolol we can't bro,'

'BALLS'.

that's right up the American's alley of killing everyone and cramming apple pie up their butt while teabagging them.

but a bill got passed and the butthurt brigades were called off

'lol we don't want your ships, they ratchet. Well.... they need a ratchet...'

lol who would want to rent these ships I mean holy crap.

ROFLMAO!!! :Smile_teethhappy:

I didn't actually learn anything about Minas Gerais, but that was a funny read nonetheless. What interesting language you use. Part of me expects the mods to jump on you, and part of me hopes that won't happen because the post was so amusing.

[mr3awsome]

I second that.

[Jager_Panther1]

there you go... dont know why it isnt working for you

 

[Zamolxet]

Butthurt ...

[igorfc]

I were going to write something about then, but I'am too lazy to do it, so I'am glad you've done, though it's a funny read, it's not that "informative"...

 

PS: By the time she was named the correct spelling was "Minas Geraes", this was later changed to "Minas Gerais". In Brazil Minas Gerais is a state, also called on some nation province, the name of the state was also "Minas Geraes" and was also changed to "Minas Gerais" the first one is old tradicional portuguese.

[Cannibal_Clown]

Well I would have to say that was an interesting use of vocabulary  :Smile_unsure:

[Capcon]

Wasn't Minas Geraes the city in Lord of the Rings across the river from Minas Tirith?

[Gohibniu]

Minas Morgul?

[Capcon]

Gohibniu, on 01 February 2013 - 02:57 PM, said:

Minas Morgul?

I was kidding but yes.  :Smile_teethhappy:

After it was conquered it was renamed the Tower of Black Sorcery from the Tower of the Rising Moon., Minas Ithil.

In the made up language of the pointy eared, leaf eaters.

But we digress.

[Meriv]

Meriv, on 11 January 2013 - 05:31 PM, said:

" i higly dislike brasilian imperialism too, but politics are forbiden in this forum :("

Autoquoting myself, ship or not ship there is no way of running away from Monroe Doctrine, America to the "Americans" if you understand what i mean

[nixxxie]

Meriv, on 01 February 2013 - 03:34 PM, said:

Autoquoting myself, ship or not ship there is no way of running away from Monroe Doctrine, America to the "Americans" if you understand what i mean

Yea, and Earth to the Earthworms!  :Smile_trollface:

[Wunderwaffen1945]

rollin'

[Daltron]

Wunderwaffen1945, on 01 February 2013 - 08:11 PM, said:

rollin'

hatin'

[ReiAyanami]

I think Mikasa was rebuilt using parts of the Minas Geras when she was scrapped in Japan? Or which was it?