2021/22 ESCORTED TOURS

NEW WRECK HUNTING TARGETS INCLUDE BELTMORE SHILLONG, and…….

ALMIRANTE BARROZO/

Most of our find in the Red Sea have been in almost idyllic conditions, great viz warm water little or no current, and an average depth of 25 mtrs. Even so it requires a scientific approach, and any assumption can leads right down the wrong path.

So put a wreck in 70 mtrs, open water, strong currents, and shipping passing overhead. It’s an achievement in it’s own right to locate and dive, and indeed bring back details.

Despite all the work and research done over the last 30 years- and many independent bodies have provided us with “complete lists”-more  names still turn up. Even DODAS, the  hallowed and highly respected publication by LLOYDS comes up short.

The two wrecks/ships below are similar- but not identical. The obvious clues in the mis identification were there all the time; No armament, two masts instead of three, and a tiny almost auxiliary engine and not a triple expansion engine that would be required to drive a warship.

While only 30 ft longer  the  A B  was an armed corvette while the Bhima was an auxillary brig, and in essence a bigger vessel in beam and draught as well as length.

ALMIRANTE BARROZO

Built in 1880, described as a steam  corvette, The ALMIRANTE BARROZO was on a world navigation  voyage and training exercise when she experienced compass deviation and ran aground near Jebal El Ziet in the Gulf of Suez. Then a lieutenant, Admiral Botteaux and her crew were rescued by HMS Dolphin, commanded by Lieutenant Christopher Cradock.Her master was Captain J.M. Batista De Leao.

“In 1893, while under the command of Lieutenant Christopher Cradock, she rescued the crew of the Brazilian Navy corvette Almirante Barroso, which had wrecked on the coast of the Red Sea near Ras Zeith on 21 January 1893 during an around-the-world cadet cruise”

Keel laid: March 1, 1880
Release: April 17, 1882
Incorporation: July 19, 1882
Issue: May 21, 1893

Displacement: 2,050 ton.
Dimensions:  71.25 m in length and 64.00 m in length between pp, 10.97 m in width, 11.33 m in height and 5.10 m in draft.

Shielding: mixed construction; wood and steel.
Propulsion: mixed; sail, armed in Corvette with a surface of 1625 m ² and steam engine generating 2,200 hp.

Speed: 12 knots.

Armament: 6 Whitehead cannons of 70 cal. and 4 Nordenfelt machine guns of 25 mm and 6 Nordenfelt machine guns of 11 mm.

History

The Cruiser Almirante Barroso , was the second ship to bear that name in the Brazilian Navy in honour of Admiral Francisco Manuel Barroso da Silva, Baron of Amazonas. It was built by the Arsenal of Navy of Rio de Janeiro, with national iron produced by Fábrica Ipanema, according to the plans of Captain-Lieutenant (EN) João Cândido Brasil and those of machinery by Captain-Lieutenant Manoel J. Alves Barbosa. His keel was struck on March 1, 1880, launched April 17, 1882, in the presence of Emperor Pedro II and his patron, hero of the Battle of Riachuelo, in addition to other authorities. It had a cost of approximately 790: 000 $ 000. She was incorporated into the naval fleet  June 26, 1884 and submitted to the Armament Exhibition on July 13, 1884.

Under the command of Captain-de-Mar-e-Guerra Luís Filipe Saldanha da Gama, she made a famous trip to the United States, having called at Barbados, Jamaica, New Orleans, Havana, Matanzas, New York, Newport, São Miguel, Madeira , Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), São Vicente, São Tiago, Santa Catarina and Ilha Grande.

1884

On August 19, the Evolutions Squadron created by Notice no. 1541A, of the then Minister of Business of the Navy, Admiral Joaquim Raymundo de Lamare was incorporated. The Evolutions Squadron had as its first commander the Chief of Police Squadron Arthur Silveira da Mota, Barão de Jaceguai and was formed by sixteen ships, among them the battleships Riachuelo , Sete de Setembro , Solimões and Javary , the cruisers Guanabara , Almirante Barroso , Trajano and March 1 , 1st Class Torpedoes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 and the 4th Class Alfa , Beta and Gama Torpedo Boats . The Evolutions Squadron was the most modern nucleus of the Brazillian fleet (Armada) at the time,  and was equipped with ships with the best propulsion, artillery and torpedoes.

1888

She was seconded from the 2nd Cruiser Division to undertake an Instructional Trip for the Navy Guards of the Class that concluded the course at the Naval School in the year 1886.

On October 7, under the command of Captain-de-Mar-e-Guerra Custódio José de Mello, she left Rio de Janeiro on a Navy Guards Instruction Trip, her first circumnavigation trip, and the second by a Brazilian warship. On that trip he sailed 36,692 miles and climbed in Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Punta Arenas, Colonia de Magalhães, Valparaiso, Sydney, Yokohama, Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Batavia, Atjeh (Acheen), Colombo, Bombay, Aden, Jeddah, Suez, Port Said, Alexandria, Naples, Toulon, Barcelona, ​​Gibraltar and Salvador. The 2nd Lieutenant , Prince Dom Augusto Leopoldo, son of Princess Leopoldina, was part of the ship’s officiality.

1889

Its armament was upgraded to consist of six 120 mm cannons .

1890

On July 29, she arrived in Rio de Janeiro, ending her first circumnavigation trip.

1893

On May 21, under the command of Frigate Captain Joaquim Marques Batista Leão, who took command in Bombay, due to the promotion of Custódio de Mello to Rear Admiral,

THE SINKING

Due to magnetic deviation of the compass she ran aground  and began to sink.

” NEAR RAS ZEITH IN THE RED SEA.”

“NOW HAS 10FT ABOVE HER DECK”

“OFFICERS AND CREW ARE SAFE, HAVING LANDED IN A SMALL ISLET NEAR TO THE REEF SHE STRUCK”

“STRUCK A ROCK NEAR RAS GHARIB”

“AGROUND AT RACHDIB”

Authors note march 2021 to date this wreck has not been located. It is the subject of our on going wreck hunting expeditions

SS BHIMA

Built in1864 at Earles Shipbuilders Hull, for the BOMBAY STEAMSHIP CO. She was 256 ft long,32 ft beam, 20 ft draught  fitted with a 2 cylinder direct acting 100nhp  steam engine, and classified as an auxillary brig.1194 TONS TWIN MASTS.

On September 11^th 1866  while ona voyage from Bombay to Suez, she was in a collision with The steam ship NORMA

More info to follow