In 1983, it was decommissioned from active service in the Paraguayan Navy and made accessible to the public as a museum ship.

In 1927, President Eligio Ayala decided to expand Paraguay's navy in response to the escalating conflict with Bolivia over the Gran Chaco region, a dispute ongoing since 1887.

[1] Naval officer José Bozzano developed plans for the new vessels, emphasizing shallow draft and a significant number of deck guns at the expense of armor and mobility.

Before the war broke out, the vessel had only completed a trial voyage, an eight-day journey to Bahía Negra, which took place between 22 and 29 March 1932.

At the time of the war's outbreak, Humaitá had been barely used and, together with Paraguay, formed the modern core of the Paraguayan Navy.

[11] Humaitá's first transport voyage took place on 1 October 1932, carrying a detachment of the Tres Corrales regiment.

The only combat action the ship participated in was a skirmish with two Bolivian Curtiss P-6 Hawk[12] or Vickers Vespa aircraft.

[13] On the morning of 22 December 1932, the aircraft took part in an attack on Tacuarí, and later in the afternoon, they encountered Humaitá near Puerto Leda.

By the end of 1934, the 120 mm gun from Humaitá was dismantled, as it was needed by Paraguayan troops besieging Villamontes.

[18] During World War II, due to fuel shortages, the vessel saw minimal activity, stationed at the Sajonia base and leaving only for Fleet Week celebrations.

The next day, the vessel ran aground near the Argentine town of Ituzaingó, where it, along with its sister ship, faced further attacks by government air forces.

[19] On 15 July, government-loyal vessels Capitán Cabral, Mariscal Estigarribia, and steamships Helen Gunther and Tirador arrived to engage the stranded gunboats.

[19] On 24 and 25 July, Stroessner's forces launched coordinated attacks on the entrenched crews from both land and water.

[19] Rising water levels in the river allowed the gunboats to attempt a breakout, but Stroessner's forces thwarted the escape.

[19] Humaitá underwent a general overhaul in Buenos Aires in 1954, followed by another between September 1965 and July 1966 in Ladário, Brazil.

[20] Along with other vessels, it shelled the presidential palace, congressional buildings, and fortifications, tipping the balance in favor of the rebels.