Humaita (Paraguayan River Gunboat)
The Paraguayan river gunboat ARP Humaita, one of the most powerful riverine warships ever built. The two Humaita-class gunboats served with distinction in the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia, together ferrying over 100,000 troops, along with countless supplies, across the Paraguay River. By ensuring Paraguayan naval dominance in the riverways leading up to the Chaco, they would be crucial in securing the extremely unlikely Paraguayan victory over Bolivia, providing Paraguay official ownership of the expansive Chaco region.
The Humaita would also distinguish herself by ferrying the Argentinian president Juan Perón to exile in 1955, along with decisively eliminating pro-government forces of the military dictator Alfredo Stroessner in 1989. Both ships are preserved as museum ships today.
