USS Randolph (CV-15), USS Bennington (CV-20) and USS Cabot (CV-16) sailing from the South Boston Naval Annex in October 1963 to begin the long voyage to Brazil's main naval base at Belém. Renamed Paraná, Minas Gerais, and Atlântico, the three carriers served honorably for several more decades as the pride and joy of the Marinha do Brasil, with the Atlântico (the former Cabot) serving as flagship until 1996. Their most famous deployment in Brazilian service was likely in the Guerra da Lagosta with France. The French Sixth Republic, seeking to supplement their meager domestic food production after the destruction of much of the country's agricultural production by the SS in their retreat east, began paying significant cash bonus' to French fisherman. This resulted in French captains going well outside of their normal fishing areas, especially off northeastern Brazil. Brazilian protests were largely ignored by France until a small flotilla was impounded by Brazilian authorities in late 1975. The French, feeling emboldened by the removal of the last peacekeeping troops the previous year, sent much of their small navy to "escort" their fishing fleet on their next run to the Brazilian coast. To their surprise, the Brazilians deployed all 3 carriers in a show of force, with their air groups constantly harassing the French ships by making low level passes at supersonic speeds. The French eventually relented and "The Lobster War" was over.
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