The Portuguese Navy had struggled to secure funding for new ships after the 1890s, when a number of protected cruisers and smaller craft had been built.

After the toppling of the Portuguese monarchy in 1910, the navy submitted another large construction plan in 1912, which the new republican government passed (and then reduced in scope in 1913).

Vasco da Gama traded shots with the artillery, but after about twenty-five minutes of shooting, abandoned the effort and flew a white flag, prompting Douro and Guadiana to do the same.

[5] After coming under rifle fire from soldiers ashore, the men from Guadiana and Douro abandoned ship and took shelter behind the American patrol boat Corsair, which was anchored in the harbor at that time.

[7] Aba towed Guadiana a total of 422 nautical miles (782 km; 486 mi) through stormy weather that prevented evacuating the crew with lifeboats.