HMS Jaguar (F37)

HMS Jaguar (F37), was a Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate of the British Royal Navy, named after the jaguar. The Jaguar was the last frigate built by William Denny and Brothers for the Royal Navy. Unlike the rest of her class, the Jaguar was fitted with controllable pitch propellers.

Royal Navy Service
The STAAG 40mm mount was replaced by a single 40mm gun early in life.

She was refitted in the mid 1960s replacing the Type 960 long range air warning radar with Type 965. The lattice mainmast was replaced by a plated structure to support the heavier AKE1 aerial used by the Type 965. The Type 293Q target designation radar on the foremast was replaced by Type 993. New ESM and SCCM equipment was installed on the foremast. It was intended that Seacat missile would replaced the 40mm gun, but this was not done to save money.

The Jaguar sailed from Chatham UK in January 1969 and undertook a world cruise calling at Gibraltar, South Africa, Mombasa, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Fiji, Tonga, Raratonga, Tahiti, Pitcairn, Panama and Florida. During this cruise she provided medical aid at Astove, in the Seychelles. She arrived back in UK December 1969. She was deployed to Icelandic waters for the Second Cod War in 1973. On 10 September 1973, she collided with the Icelandic gunboat Thor (Þór), and had her bows holed. She was then assigned to the standby squadron, but was recommissioned in 1976 for service in Icelandic waters again for the Third Cod War. To protect her bows and stern from damage from collisions with Icelandic gunboats, she was fitted with heavy wooden sheathing.

Bangladesh Navy Service
After a spell in reserve, she was sold on 6 July 1978 to the Bangladesh Navy for £2 million, and commissioned in 1978 as BNS Ali Haider (F17). Currently the Ali Haider serves as a training ship.

It is claimed that on 27 July 2010 the ship has been decommissioned or no longer in active service.