Marcílio Dias

Prototype: Destroyer Marcílio Dias - M1, was the third ship to bear this name in the Brazilian Navy, in honor of Imperial Mariner Marcílio Dias, hero of the Battles of Payssandú and Riachuelo, in the Paraguay War. The Marcilio Dias was built by the Navy Yard of Snake Island, in Rio de Janeiro, following the design of the American class Mahan. It had its keel struck on May 8, 1937, was launched and baptized on July 20, 1940 and incorporated on November 29, 1943. At that time, assumed command, Sea Captain War Renato de Almeida Guillobel .

Class History: The Marcílio Dias-class destroyers (sometimes referred to as M class) were three destroyers of the Brazilian Navy that served during World War II. They were based on the United States Navy's Mahan class. The Marcílio Dias class were the first warships to be constructed in Brazil of any type. They entered service in 1943 and served on Atlantic convoy duty with the Allies. In July 1944, the three destroyers escorted the Brazilian Expeditionary Force to Italy. Following the end of the war, the destroyers remained in service, undergoing modernisation. Two were discarded in 1966, with the last taken out of service in 1973.

Country: Brazil, a vast South American country, stretches from the Amazon Basin in the north to vineyards and massive Iguaçu Falls in the south. Rio de Janeiro, symbolized by its 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado, is famed for its busy Copacabana and Ipanema beaches as well as its enormous, raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes, and samba music and dance.