BNS Shaibal , formerly HMS Helford , is a River-class minesweeper of the Bangladeshi Navy. She is serving Bangladeshi Navy from 1995.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Bangladesh | |
| Name | Shaibal |
| Builder | Richards Dry Dock and Engineering Limited |
| Launched | 16 May 1984 |
| Commissioned | 27 April 1995 |
| Status | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 47 m (154 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) |
| Draught | 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, Ruston 6RKC diesels, 3,040 bhp (2,267 kW) |
| Speed | 14knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement |
|
| Armament | |
| Notes | Pennant number: M 98 |
This ship served in Royal Navy as HMS Helford (M2006). She was commissioned on 7 June 1985. She was assigned to the Northern Ireland Division of Royal Naval Reserve. She was withdrawn from service in 1993. In 1995, she was sold to Bangladesh.
BNS Shaibal was commissioned in Bangladesh Navy on 27 April 1995. She is currently being used as a patrol ship.
In March 1997, she was equipped with hydro-graphic survey equipments to serve as a survey vessel although mine countermeasure capability was retained.
The ship carries one Bofors 40 mm Mark III gun which can be used in both anti-surface and anti-air role. She also carries two L44A1 7.62 mm general purpose machine guns.[1]