Photo. https://www.naval.com.br/
Laid Up 11 June 1936
Launched 6 November 1937
Commissioned 4 March 1938
Displacement: 620 ton
720 ton (loaded).
Dimensions: Length 60 ft, Beam: 33 ft, Draught: 6 ft
Armour: 3 inches in the engine room.
Propulsion: 2 Thornycroft triple expansion boilers with 1.300 hp, 2 screws.
Fuel: 90 ton.
Power: 1 generator of 60 kVA.
Speed: 12 knots. Max.
Range: 1.350 miles @ 10 knots.
Armament: 1 152 mm gun, 2 87 mm mortars, 2 47 mm guns and 4 Anti Aircraft machine guns.
Crew: 90.
Survey ship Parnaíba - U 17, was the fifth ship to bear that name in the Brazilian Navy, in honor to that river of the state of Piauí. It was built by the Brazilian Navy Arsenal of the Island of the Snakes, today AMRJ. She had her keel laid on June 11, 1936, by President Getulio Vargas.
Launched on November 6, 1937. She was incorporated to the Flotilha of Mato Grosso on March 4, 1938. Her first Commander was Lieutenant commander Armando Belfor Guimarães.
On 19/Apr/1943, the survey ship Parnahyba was moved from Mato Grosso to Salvador, at the request of Admiral Lemos Basto, Naval Commander of the East. After undergoing some modifications in Rio de Janeiro (especially in their armament), they were ready to operate in the Baía de todos os Santos, at Salvador. High-frequency radio direction finding devices crossed the markings with similar equipment in Recife, in order to locate enemy submarines. Parnaíba took part in six convoys and also escorted the Batttleship USS Iowa - BB 61, when the latter departed Salvador-Bahia.
This gallant ship is still in operation in the Brazilian Navy as a patrol craft in the Amazon region. Photo. http://www.naval.com.br/