BNS Karatoa

History
Bangladesh
Name:	BNS Karatoa
Builder:	Hall, Russell & Company, Aberdeen
Yard number:	984
Laid down:	11 June 1978
Launched:	27 February 1979
Acquired:	29 July 2002
Commissioned:	4 May 2003
Homeport:	Khulna
Identification:	Pennant number: P 913
Status:	in active service, as of 2025
General characteristics
Class & type:	Island-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement:	1,260 tons (full load)
Length:	59.5 m (195 ft)
Beam:	11 m (36 ft)
Draught:	4.5 m (15 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × Ruston 12RKC diesels; 5,640 hp (4,210 kW) sustained; 1 × shaft; cp prop
Speed:	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
Range:	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement:	39
Sensors and processing systems:	Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Type 1006; I-band Combat Data Systems: Racal CANE DEA-1 action data automation
Armament:	Guns: 1 × Bofors 40 mm/60 Mk 3 2 × FN 7.62 mm machine guns Countermeasures ESM: Orange Crop; intercept

BNS Karatoa is an Island-class offshore patrol vessel of the Bangladeshi Navy. She entered service with the Bangladeshi Navy in 2003.

History

Built by Hall, Russell & Company, she was modelled on the ocean-going trawlers FPV Jura (1973) and FPV Westra (1974). The vessel was laid down on 11 June 1978 and launched on 27 February 1979. She was commissioned into Royal Navy as HMS Alderney (P278) on 6 October 1979. In 2002 she was sold to the Bangladesh Navy.

Career

The Bangladesh Navy acquired the ship on 29 July 2002. On 4 May 2003, BNS Karatoa was commissioned into the Bangladesh Navy. She is currently serving under the command of the Commodore Commanding BN Khulna (COMKHUL).

See also

• List of active ships of the Bangladesh Navy
• Image as HMS Alderney