Anhambaí

Anhambaí is a museum ship and former gunboat operated by the navies of the Empire of Brazil and Paraguay. It is on display in the Vapor Cué National Park, located in the municipality of Caraguatay, Cordillera Department, Paraguay. The boat was built in England and incorporated into the Brazilian Imperial Navy on June 25, 1858. In the Paraguayan War, during the initial offensive of the Paraguayans on Brazil in December 1865, it acted in the defense of the New Coimbra Fort, offering artillery fire and support during the withdrawal of Brazilian forces. The following month, while its crew were trying to flee to Cuiabá, it was captured by the Paraguayans, resulting in the death of a major part of the crew. In 1867, under Paraguayan control, it supported the Paraguayan forces in Corumbá against Brazilian attempts to retake the city. About two years later, after the imperial troops advanced on Caraguatay, where it was stationed, the crew set fire to it and sank it to avoid its capture. It remained submerged in the Yhaguy River until the 1970s, when it was recovered and restored, and has been on display at the Vapor Cué museum ever since.