Bahia
1910
(Navis 802N)
- Class: Bahia - 2 cruisers of 1907
- Displacement: 3,100 tons normal
- Dimensions: 380 (pp) x 39 x 14.5 ft.
- Machinery: Parsons geared turbines, Yarrow boilers, 3 shafts, 18,000shp = 26.5 knots
- Armor: Deck 0.75in, CT 3in
- Armament: 10-4.7in (10x1), 6-3pdr (6x1), 2-18in TT
- Complement: 350
- Builder: Armstrong, Elswick, Great Britain
- Laid down: 19 Aug 1907
- Launched: 20 Apr 1909
- Completed: 1910
- Service: Design based on the British scout cruiser Adventure. On completion Bahia and sister Rio Grande do Sol were the world's fastest small cruisers. Both were part of the Brazilian squadron that operated off the NW coast of Africa during 1917-18. They were re-engined and re-boilered in 1925 and 1926, increasing their speed to 28 knots. Both saw extensive service during World War II. On 4 Jul 1945 Bahia was serving as a plane guard midway between Brazil and Africa for aircraft following that route, when she exploded and sank in about three minutes. The cause was attributed to a mistake during anti-aircraft practice, when a 20mm gun firing at a towed kite sighted too low, hitting a depth charge on the stern. (Rumors that she might have been sunk by one of two U-boats on the way to surrender in Brazil have been discredited.) Official records give the number lost as 339, with only 36 survivors.
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