Brazilian monitor Solimões (1875)
Solimões was an armored monitor operated by the Imperial Brazilian Navy. The warship was built at the French shipyard Forges et chantiers de la Méditrranée and launched to sea in 1875, being commissioned on April 23 of that year. She was the most powerful ship of the navy at the time of her incorporation. Solimões had four cannons and armor reaching up to on the gun turrets. The ship was expected to have good navigation capabilities on the high seas, but had little agility in maneuvering and could not operate in rough seas due to her low side. These characteristics forced the ship to always sail close to shore. The Solimões was part of the Evolution Fleet in 1884, composed of the best ships in the fleet. In May 1892, she sailed together with other vessels bound for the province of Mato Grosso to help forces loyal to the federal government against separatist rebels. As they approached the Uruguayan coast, the Solimões sank with most of its crew, leaving only five survivors. The circumstances of the sinking were never clarified and caused a public controversy in Brazil. Sabotage was thought to have been committed by the survivors since they all