BNS Somudra Joy

BNS Somudra Joy (F-28) is one of the largest and the heaviest frigate of the Bangladesh Navy. Bangladesh Navy acquired the ship from the United States under Excess Defense Articles.

History
From 1972 to 2012 the ship was known as USCGC Jarvis (WHEC-725) and served the US Coast Guard as a high endurance cutter. She was decommissioned on 30 March 2012 and was acquired by the Bangladesh under the Foreign Assistance Act as a Excess Defense Article. A team of US Coast Guard personnel visited Bangladesh in February 2013. The first group of Bangladesh Navy personnel, consisting of 7 officers and 13 sailors, left Bangladesh in February to start training on board Jarvis on 13 March 2013. She was officially handed over to the Bangladesh Navy on 23 May 2013.

Career
BNS Somudra Joy arrived at her new home Chittagong on 13 December 2013 and was commissioned on 23 December 2013. During her transit to Bangladesh from USA, she was diverted to the Philippines to distribute emergency aid for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan on behalf of Government of Bangladesh. She arrived there on 29 November 2013. The ship is currently serving with Commanding Commodore BN Flotila (COMBAN). BNS Somudra Joy was sent to Maldives on 09 December 2014, in aid to the water crisis that took place in capital Malé on 08 December, 2014. She carried 100 tonnes of drinking water and five desalination plants there. On 23 April 2015, she left for Qatar to join the multinational maritime exercise, Exercise Ferocious Falcon-2015.

Future plans
Bangladesh Navy plans to further upgrade the vessel's combat capability with the installation of modern C-802A AShM, FL-3000 or FM-90N SAM, Whitehead torpedoes and AW-109ZN or Z-9C ASW helicopter on board. After refit, this frigate will be one of the most powerful frigates of Bangladesh Navy.