She participated in the 1864–70 War of the Triple Alliance between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay against Paraguay, and took part in the Passage of Humaitá.

The engines produced a total of 1,640 indicated horsepower (1,220 kW) and gave Bahia a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[2] Bahia, named after the eponymous Brazilian state, was originally ordered by Paraguay from the British shipbuilding firm of Laird Brothers and was laid down in 1864 with the name of Minerva[4] and the yard number 326 at their Birkenhead shipyard.

[5] She was purchased by Brazil the following year, after the start of the war when Paraguay was cut off from the outside world and could no longer make payments.

Bahia was refitted in 1887 during which her boilers were replaced and a bridge was added between the turret and the funnel.