Post by regiamarina1939 on May 6, 2017 19:12:26 GMT
-During the late 19th century, the Brazilian fleet had been outstripped in it's operational capabilities by the fleets of Argentina and Chile. This was especially true in terms of capital ships. Brazil had just 5 serviceable capital ships in 1898, including the battleships of the Riachuelo class. Against these, Chile had the battleship Capitan Prat and 2 protected cruisers, and Argentina possessed a powerful arrangement of 2 pre-dreadnought battleships, 3 ironclads, and 4 armored cruisers. The ironclads had been laid up and disarmed for 5 years now, and were not a threat. Brazil's own ironclads had undergone a modernization that replaced their old armament and obsolete features, essentially making them into second-class cruisers or coastal defense ships.
-In 1900, the Brazilian fleet consisted of 7 battleships/coastal defense ships, though 3 of these were laid up for scrapping and 2 were in the yard for modernization. This meant that Brazil only had 2 serviceable battleships against more than 5 Argentinian capital ships. At this point, Brazil had 5 armored cruisers and 6 protected/scout cruisers. This gave them numerical superiority, but nearly all of these ships had slow-firing, outdated guns and equipment. 14 destroyers completed the bulk of the fleet, most of which were outdated designs. The Brazilians were thus in a perilous position, and if they wanted to preserve their sovereignty and power in South America, they would have to expand their military.
-1899 witnessed the rise of a new Emperor. Emperor Dom Joao Carlos was an aggressive imperialist who had observed the European Imperialist movements around the globe. He knew that he controlled the most populated and wealthy country in South America, and was disgusted at how his predecessors didn't effectively utilize these resources. His rise to power was marked by a sharp spike in industrialization. He helped create big business and industry in the nation's population centers, and used these facilities to boost military expansion. His vision was for a state that would stretch incorporate Paraguay and Uruguay, but he knew that Chile and Argentina would react swiftly and aggressively to a Brazilian military offensive into either of these nations. Thus, Emperor Carlos authorized a new fleet program that would make Brazil into the continents largest military power. The plan was enormous: the nations 4 best battleships would be retained, while the other 3 would be scrapped and replaced with 4 new state-of-the-art designs. At the same time, the existing capital ships (including armored cruisers) would be modernized. 3 new fast scout cruisers would be laid down in Great Britain, Brazil's largest supporter. 12 destroyers would be called for as well, to be built locally to a French design. Dozens of other vessels would be laid down too, to make the nation into the South Atlantic's biggest naval power. 12 gunboats, 4 patrol vessels, 6 sloops, 32 torpedo boats, and 5 torpedo gunboats were to be built locally and abroad.
-The first orders were placed in 1900 with local yards and arsenals, as well as foreign contractors. Great Britain was to build an estimated 50% of the ships called for under the program, with another 5% in France, 2% in Germany, 1% in the United States, and the rest locally. This grandiose program sent a signal both to the other South American nations and to the rest of the world that the Brazilian Empire was a growing nation, and one that would not be pushed around. The era of Brazilian Imperialism had begun.
-In 1900, the Brazilian fleet consisted of 7 battleships/coastal defense ships, though 3 of these were laid up for scrapping and 2 were in the yard for modernization. This meant that Brazil only had 2 serviceable battleships against more than 5 Argentinian capital ships. At this point, Brazil had 5 armored cruisers and 6 protected/scout cruisers. This gave them numerical superiority, but nearly all of these ships had slow-firing, outdated guns and equipment. 14 destroyers completed the bulk of the fleet, most of which were outdated designs. The Brazilians were thus in a perilous position, and if they wanted to preserve their sovereignty and power in South America, they would have to expand their military.
-1899 witnessed the rise of a new Emperor. Emperor Dom Joao Carlos was an aggressive imperialist who had observed the European Imperialist movements around the globe. He knew that he controlled the most populated and wealthy country in South America, and was disgusted at how his predecessors didn't effectively utilize these resources. His rise to power was marked by a sharp spike in industrialization. He helped create big business and industry in the nation's population centers, and used these facilities to boost military expansion. His vision was for a state that would stretch incorporate Paraguay and Uruguay, but he knew that Chile and Argentina would react swiftly and aggressively to a Brazilian military offensive into either of these nations. Thus, Emperor Carlos authorized a new fleet program that would make Brazil into the continents largest military power. The plan was enormous: the nations 4 best battleships would be retained, while the other 3 would be scrapped and replaced with 4 new state-of-the-art designs. At the same time, the existing capital ships (including armored cruisers) would be modernized. 3 new fast scout cruisers would be laid down in Great Britain, Brazil's largest supporter. 12 destroyers would be called for as well, to be built locally to a French design. Dozens of other vessels would be laid down too, to make the nation into the South Atlantic's biggest naval power. 12 gunboats, 4 patrol vessels, 6 sloops, 32 torpedo boats, and 5 torpedo gunboats were to be built locally and abroad.
-The first orders were placed in 1900 with local yards and arsenals, as well as foreign contractors. Great Britain was to build an estimated 50% of the ships called for under the program, with another 5% in France, 2% in Germany, 1% in the United States, and the rest locally. This grandiose program sent a signal both to the other South American nations and to the rest of the world that the Brazilian Empire was a growing nation, and one that would not be pushed around. The era of Brazilian Imperialism had begun.