The previous Quitosuyu class ships highlighted the problem the Incan Empire had. A very long coast line on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and not enough ships of size to be able to patrol the sea lanes. What was required was ships large enough to be able to intercept any potential merchant raiders and defeat them. The Incan Empires old enemies, the Spanish and French, were building large cruisers as commerce raiders and those were the ships the Incan ships were built to defeat.
Like a lot of cruisers of the time the Belem Class were longer but narrower than the battleships of the Quitosuyu type. At 477 feet long by 70 feet wide they were big ships. A displacement of 13,250 tons was not much less than the Quitosuyus 16,000 tons. The difference was that much more of the hull was devoted to the propulsion system, the triple expansion engines producing 25,000hp through two shafts for a maximum speed of 24 knots. Protection was also sublimated to speed with only a 5.5" main belt and 2" of deck armour. The armament was the largest that could be fitted and for cruisers that were to face the French 7.6", British 9.2", German 8.2", the four 10" (254mm) in two twin turrets gave the Belem class a decided edge. The secondary armament of twelve 6" in casemates was not to be sneezed at either. Eight anti-torpedo boat guns of 100mm were also fitted.
Ten units of the class were completed between 1902 and 1905 and it was not till 1906-07 that the Incans next capital ships were built.
(I will make up some appropriate names soon.)