Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes test-firing two of her 12-inch guns, circa 1909. Upon completion,

Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes test-firing two of her 12-inch guns, circa 1909. Upon completion, she was one of the most powerful dreadnoughts afloat at the time, but the rapidity of the global naval arms race ensured that her technical superiority was short-lived.