bigbossman
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Bangladesh's Somudra Joy sails for home
Bangladesh Navy's (BN's) new ship BNS Somudra Joy - ex-US Coast Guard (USCG) Hamilton-class cutter Jarvis - departed Alameda, California, on 26 October for its home port of Chittagong.
Having successfully completed a two-day equipment trial off San Francisco, the ship picked up ammunition for its Oto Melara 76/62 main gun in San Diego before departing US waters. The warship is expected to arrive home in mid-December.
Jarvis was hot-transferred to the BN in May 2013 at the USCG base in Alameda. The ship's Phalanx close-in weapon system and AN/SPS-40 air search radar set were removed prior to the transfer, although the Mk 92 fire control system for the main gun was left in place.
Post-transfer, while the vessel's new crew underwent training under a USCG team, other equipment was installed including navigation, communications, and radar systems. In addition, repairs to the gas turbine coupling and the ship's davit were carried out. "Additional equipment installations will occur upon arrival in Bangladesh, as long-lead times precluded installation prior to departure," said USCG officials.
The BN is understood to have turned down an offer of new fittings for a Mk 38 gun mounting. Instead, weapons from other sources - possibly China - will be fitted.
At 115 m and 3,300 tons, Somudra Joy is the BN's largest ship, and is the service's first gas turbine-powered vessel. Crucially, it gives the BN another helicopter-capable ship with the high endurance required for persistent patrolling of Bangladesh's Exclusive Economic Zone.
The BN is keen to acquire more Hamilton-class cutters, and has made a formal request to acquire a second vessel by 2014. USCG officials said "it is too early to tell" which ship might be involved.
So we declined the MK 38 Naval Gun and were going for a second ship.
Do you guys think the MK 38 Gun should have been taken up on?