Portuguese ironclad Vasco da Gama armored belt that was thick on either end and thick amidships. The main battery guns were protected by thick barbettes. "Vasco da Gama" was laid down at the Thames Iron Works shipyard in London, Britain in 1875, and was launched on 1 December 1876. The ship was completed in 1878. She served as part of the coastal defense force that protected Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, and the mouth of the river Tagus. On 26 June 1897, "Vasco da Gama" participated in the Fleet Review at Spithead celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. At the time, the ship was commanded by Captain
NITEL Vasco Da Gama F.C. the Second Division. However they were relegated after a record of 9 wins 10 ties and 13 losts (41 points). Vasco spent 1995 and 1996 in the second division before its management announced the disbandment of the club late November, 1996. In 1997, the team's league slot was bought by the Akwa Ibom government and reborn as the Ibom Stars FC, the predecessor of Akwa United F.C. NITEL Vasco Da Gama F.C. P & T (later NITEL) Vasco da Gama was a Nigerian football club based in Enugu. It was sponsored by the Post and Telecommunications Department (P & T)