Jump to content

Brazilian corvette Pedro II

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
History
Empire of Brazil
NamePedro II
NamesakePedro II of Brazil
BuilderPonta da Areia Shipyard
Launched13 May 1850
Commissioned22 February 1851
Decommissioned26 October 1861
FateSunk
General characteristics
TypePaddle corvette
Displacement900 metric tons (890 long tons)
Length54.55 m (179 ft 0 in)
Beam8.22 m (27 ft 0 in)
Depth5.18 m (17.0 ft)
Installed power220 ihp (160 kW)
PropulsionSteam
Armament

Pedro II was a steam corvette warship that served in the Imperial Brazilian Navy in the second half of the 19th century. It took part in the Platine War.

Construction

[edit]

The corvette was built at the Ponta da Areia Foundry and Shipyard Establishment in Niterói in 1850, being one of the first ships built in this shipyard. It received the name Pedro II in honor of the second emperor of Brazil Pedro de Alcântara. After being launched into the sea in 1850 and undergoing armament tests in 1851, it was incorporated into the Brazilian fleet on 22 February 1851, with its first commander being captain-lieutenant Francisco Xavier de Alcântara. In that same year, it was sent south to participate in Brazilian operations in the conflict known as the Platine War against the Argentine Confederation.[1]

Service

[edit]

Platine War

[edit]

On 17 December 1851, the corvette Pedro II, with six warships under the command of John Pascoe Grenfell, forced its way through the obstacles opposing navigation on the Paraná River where, in the Tonelero pass, near the Acevedo ravine, a fortification with 16 pieces of artillery and 2,000 Argentine marines had been installed, under the command of Lucio Norberto Mansilla.[2] Argentine troops exchanged fire with the Brazilian warships, but could not prevent their passage.[3]

Final years

[edit]

After the conflict, the ship was part of the Pernambuco Naval Station between 1859 and 1861. Still in 1861, it sunk near the Punta Brava Lighthouse in Montevideo, Uruguay.[1]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Vapor/Corveta Pedro II". Naval. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. ^ Maia 1975, p. 257.
  3. ^ Barroso 2000, p. 112.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Maia, João do Prado (1975). A Marinha de Guerra do Brasil na Colônia e no Império (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Livraria Editora Cátedra.
  • Barroso, Gustavo (2000). Guerra do Rosas: 1851-1852 (in Portuguese). Fortaleza: SECULT.