BNS Esperito Santo (BC-1940)
Back to Other Ships
List
The Brazilian navy had the four spare turrets from the rebuilding of the Orion
class battleships. The Orion class rebuildings did not make the turrets
available till 1937. Planning for the ship had started in 1936 with a contract
sent out for the building of the ship. Several yards were interested. The
contract was awarded to the Portsmouth dockyard where two of the Orion's had
been rebuilt. Construction started mid-1937. Having the turrets and guns to hand
for fitting to the ship made construction years sooner than having to wait for
the same weapons and turrets to be built.
.PNG)
It had been decided early that the ship would partner the Pernambuco and would
be a battlecruiser rather than a battleship. The threat of the Argentinian
minelayers disrupting the commerce in and out of Brazil was taken very
seriously. The two ships would be the fast response group tasked with
interception of the Argentinian ships.
The ship was officially handed over to the Brazilian Navy on the 2nd January
1940. It passed down to Brazilian waters and arrived on the 20th January. On the
25th of January the Esperito Santo and the rest of the Fast Reaction Force were
called to action as the Argentinian minelayers were spotted. (I have the page
"Battle of the Uruguayan Shelf" done, I just have to write the battle.)
| Displacement |
32,500 tons std 37,750 tons full load |
| Length |
696 ft |
| Breadth |
92 ft |
| Draught |
30 ft |
| Machinery |
4 shaft steam turbines, 160,000shp |
| Speed |
33 knots |
| Range |
8500 miles at 16 knots |
| Armour |
11" side, 5" deck, 11" turrets |
| Armament |
8 x 13.5" (4x2)
20 x 4.5" (10x2)
56 x 2pd (6x8, 2x4)
18 x 20mm (18x1) |
| Aircraft |
2 |
| Torpedoes |
nil |
| Complement |
1500 |
| Notes |
|
Nice thought, but it might be a bit big for the 12" trial ship the British might
have built. I explored this further in
HMS Bellerophon.
The British offered to build this ship at a discount as this was the type of
ship they were trying to get all the nations to adhere to under the Washington
Treaty, 30,000 tons and 12" guns. The Brazilians supplied the guns from those
removed from the older ships when they went through their 20 year
refurbishments. The British supplied 3 new quadruple turrets and other new
weaponry as it was completed.
While the ship was termed a 'fast' battleship the ship really was a
battlecruiser type. The British did not get the type through the Naval Treaty
process and so the Esperito Santo became a one of a kind. The Brazilians were
happy to get a new ship at a much reduced price. The ship operated with British
observers aboard for much of its life and the ship was active in the coming
world war.
Back to Other Ships
List