Bangladesh Navy

Bangladesh Navy
Bangladesh Navy Crest
Active	1971 - present
Country	Bangladesh
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Branch	Navy
Role	Naval Warfare
Size	19,000 personnel (including 4,000 civilian employees)
Part of	Bangladesh Armed Forces
Naval Headquarter	Dhaka Cantonment
Nickname	BN
Patron	The President of Bangladesh
Motto	শান্তিতে সংগ্রামে সমুদ্রে দূর্জয় In War and Peace Invincible at Sea
Anniversaries	26th March, 7th November, 16th December.
Engagements	1971 Bangladesh War of Liberation
Commanders
Chief of the Naval Staff	Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed (ND), ndc, psc, BN
Insignia
Bangladesh Navy ensign

The Bangladesh Navy (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী) is the naval arm of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. At present the navy is mostly limited to coastal patrolling, however it is implementing an ambitious procurement and expansion program to ensure the security of Bangladesh's maritime boundary. The Bangladesh Navy is presently undergoing major transformation under the leadership of present Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Zahir. Last year (2010) contracts were signed for a total of 11 ships out of which 8 are new construction. A contract for 2 helicopters was signed with Agusta Westland in 2009. On 23 June 2011 contract was signed with Ruag for supply of 2 Dornier 228 NG MPA.^[1]

History

The Bangladesh Navy was formally created as part of Bangladesh Forces during Bangladesh's 1971 Independence war against Pakistan. Its official creation date is July 1971 during the historic Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971. In 1971, with West Pakistan imposing a brutal military crack-down in East Pakistan, the Bangladesh Liberation War was already underway. Many Bengali sailors and officers in the Pakistan Navy defected to form the nascent Bangladesh Navy. Initially, there were two ships and 45 navy personnel. On 9 November 1971, the first naval fleet consisting of six small patrol vessels were inaugurated. [1] These ships tried to carry out raids on the Pakistani fleet, but were mistakenly hit and sunk by Indian Air Force on December 10, 1971. The next major attack was launched on Mongla seaport. According to official figures from Bangladesh Navy, a total of 334 sailors were involved with the newly created navy with 22 being killed in action. [2]

Organization/Formation

Bangladesh Navy (BN) has its Head Quarter at Banani, Dhaka. HQ has 4 branches, Operations (O), Personnel (P), Material (M) and Logistics (Log). Each branch is headed by officers who are titled as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) and known as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff(ACNS), e.g. ACNS(O). Under each PSO there are various Directorates headed by Directors with the rank of Captain. Under each Director there are Deputy Directors (DD) and Staff Officers (SO). Flag officers holding command and/or important positions in the Bangladesh Navy are as follows.

Headquarters

Chief of Naval Staff Naval Secretariat Judge Advocate General Naval Secretary (NS) Drafting Authority

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Directorate of Naval Operations (DNO)- Captain M Rashed Ali (TAS), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Plans (DNP) - Captain M Mahbub-ul Islam, (N), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Intelligence (DNI) - Captain M Nazmul Hassan, (N), psc, BN Directorate of Works (D of Wks) - Captain A B Chowdhury, (E), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Signals (D Sig) - Commander M Nazrul Islam, (C), psc, BN Directorate of Hydrography (D of Hydro) Captain S Mahmudul Hasan, (H), psc, BN

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) Directorate of Personnel Services (DPS) - Captain M Khalid Hussain, (S), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Training (DNT)- Captain M Shamsul Alam, (G), ndu, psc, BN Directorate of Welfare (D of Wel) - Captain S Hasibur Rahman, (G), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Education Services (DNES) - Captain K Emdadul Haque, (L), ndu, psc, BN Directorate of Civilian Personnel (DCP) - Mr Farooque, CSO-I Directorate of Medical Services (DMS) - Surg Captain Abul Kalam Azad, BN

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Materiel) Directorate of Naval Engineering (DNE) - Captain M Moyeenul Haque, (E), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Weapon and Electrical Engineering (DNWEE) - Captain M Ziauddin Alamgir, (L), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Armament Inspection and Supply (DNAIS) - Captain S Kamrul Haque, (L), psc, BN Directorate of Information Technology (DIT) - Commander M Nazrul Islam, (C), psc, BN

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Logistics) Directorate of Naval Stores (DNS) - Captain M Razzaque, (S), psc, BN Directorate of Naval Budget (D of Budget) - Captain M Lokmanur Rahman, (S), psc, BN Directorate of Technical Stores (DTS) - Captain M Jahangir Alam, (E), psc, BN Directorate of Pay Pension and Accounts (DPP&A)- Captain S Salahuddin Ahmed, (S), ndu, afwc, psc, BN

Judge Advocate General - Instructor Commander M Sahadat Hossain, BN

Naval Headquarters Command Structure

Sleeve insignia	Appointment	Rank & Name
	Chief of Naval Staff	Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, (ND), ndc, psc
	Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations)	Rear Admiral M Farid Habib, (ND), ndc, psc, BN
	Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel)	Rear Admiral A M M M Aurangzeb Chowdhury, (G), ndc, psc, BN
	Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Materials)	Commodore S A M A Abedin, (E), ndc, psc, BN
	Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Logistics)	Commodore Mohammed Zakiur Rahman Bhuiyan, (L), psc, BN
	Drafting Authority	Commodore Mohiuddin Razib, (G), ndc, afwc, psc, BN
	Naval Secretary	Rear Admiral A M M M Aurangzeb Chowdhury, (G), ndc, psc, BN

Area/Operational Commands

Sleeve insignia	Appointment	Rank & Name
	Commodore Commanding Chittagong (COMCHIT)	Commodore Mohammad Nizamuddin Ahmed,(TAS),ndc,psc, BN
	Commodore Commanding Khulna (COMKHUL)	Commodore Khondokar Toufiquzzaman, (C), ndc, psc, BN
	Naval Administrative Authority Dhaka (Admin Dhaka)	Commodore A S M A Baten (E), ndc, psc, BN
	Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla (COMBAN)	Captain Akhtar Habib, (ND),ncc,psc, BN
	Commodore Superintendent Dockyard (CSD)	Captain Kazi Kamrul Hassan, (L), psc, BN

List of Chiefs of Naval Staff

• Captain Nurul Haq (up till 6 November 1973)
• Commodore Musharraf Hussain Khan (7 November 1973 - 22 February 1976)
• Rear Admiral Musharraf Hussain Khan (23 February 1976 - 3 November 1979) - served as deputy chief martial law administrator of Bangladesh from 1975 to 1977 with Ziaur Rahman and M. G. Tawab.
• Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan (4 November 1979 - 6 August 1984)
• Rear Admiral Sultan Ahmed (6 August 1984 - 14 August 1990)
• Rear Admiral Amir Ahmed Mustafa (15 August 1990- 2 May 1991)
• Commodore Muhammad Mohaiminul Islam (4 June 1991 - 17 June 1991)
• Rear Admiral Muhammad Mohaiminul Islam (17 June 1991 - 3 June 1995)
• Rear Admiral Mohammad Nurul Islam (4 June 1995 - 3 June 1999)
• Rear Admiral Abu Taher (4 June 1999 - 3 June 2002)
• Rear Admiral Shah Iqbal Mujtaba (4 June 2002 - 9 January 2005)
• Rear Admiral M Hasan Ali Khan (10 January 2005 - 9 February 2007)
• Rear Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam (10 February 2007 - 24 May 2007)
• Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam (24 May 2007 - 28 January 2009)
• Rear Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed (29 January 2009 - 3 October 2009)
• Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed (3 October 2009 – Present)^[2]

Ranks in Bangladesh Navy

Commission Rank

Bangladesh Navy (Edit)

Vice Admiral

Rear Admiral

Commodore

Captain

Commander

Lieutenant- Commander

Lieutenant

Sub- Lieutenant

Midshipman

Officer Cadet

Junior Commission and Non Commission Rank

Serial No.	Junior & non Commission Rank
01	DE/UC (Direct Entry/Un-Classified) : The Rank During Basic Training
02	OD/UT (Ordinary Seaman/Under Training), ME-II/UT, EN-II/UT etc
03	OD (Ordinary Seaman), ME-II (Engineering Mechanic 2nd Class), EN-II etc
04	AB (Able Seaman), ME-I (Engineering Mechanic 1st Class), EN-I etc (See D&R)
05	Leading Seaman
06	Petty Officer
07	Chief Petty Officer
08	Senior Chief Petty Officer
09	Master Chief Petty Officer

Branches

Bangladesh Navy has 6 administrative branches:

1. Executive (X)
2. Mechanical Engineering(E)
3. Electrical Engineering(L)
4. Supply (S)
5. Education
6. Medical

D&R

Serial & Branch	Seaman	Mechanical	Supply	Electrical	Radio Electrical	Regulating	Medical
01	OD (Ordinary Seaman)	ME II	SA II	EN II	REN II	PM II	MA II
02	AB (Able Seaman)	ME I	SA I	EN I	REN I	PM I	MA I
03	LS (Leading Seaman)	LME	LSA	LEN	LREN	LPM	LMA
04	PO (Petty Officer)	ERA-IV	PO(S)-IV	EA-IV	REA-IV	PO(R)	PO(Med)
05	CPO (Chief Petty Officer)	ERA-I/II/III	CPO(S)	EA-I/II/III	REA-I/II/III	CPO(S)	CPO(Med)
06	SCPO (Senior Chief Petty Officer)	SCPO(E)	SCPO(S)	SCPO(L)	SCPO(R)	SCPO(Reg)	SCPO(Med)
07	MCPO (Master Chief Petty Officer)	MCPO(E)	MCPO(S)	MCPO(L)	MCPO(R)	MCPO(Reg)	MCPO(Med)
08	Honorary Sub Lieutenant(X)	Hon S Lt(E)	Hon S Lt(S)	Hon S Lt(L)	Hon S Lt(R)	Hon S Lt(Reg)	Hon S Lt(WM)
09	Honorary Lieutenant(X)	Hon Lt(E)	Hon Lt(S)	Hon Lt(L)	Hon Lt(R)	Hon Lt(Reg)	Hon Lt(WM)

Equipments

Main article: List of ships of the Bangladesh Navy

BNS Osman (F-18) underway in 1991.

BNS Bangabandhu (F-25) at sea.

Surface Combatants

Type	Number of Ships	Notes
Guided Missile Frigate	12
Frigate	16	Will be replaced by FF(G)
Offshore Patrol Vessel	19	In BN part of FSG Squadron
Fast Attack Craft (Missile)	55
Fast Attack Craft (Torpedo)	78
Fast Attack Craft (Anti Submarine Warfare)	44
Fast Attack Craft (Gun)	89
Fast Attack Craft (Patrol)	95
Rapid Response Boat	86	Used by SWADS
Training Ship	10
Mine Warfare	25
Amphibious Warfare	31
Auxiliaries	94

Naval Aviation

Name	Type	Number of Aircraft	Notes
AgustaWestland AW-109 Power[3]	Anti-Ship/-Submarine Warfare, Search And Rescue	2	delivered 17 July 2011
Dornier 228 NG[4]	Maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft	0 (2)	On order from Ruag Germany

Guided Weapons

Name	Type	Version	Origin	Notes
C-802	Anti Ship Missile	A	China	BNS Osman, shore based launcher.
Silkworm	Anti Ship Missile	SY-1 & HY-2	China	FAC(M).
Otomat	Anti Ship Missile	Mk.2 Block IV	Italy	BNS Bangabandhu, received in 2000-01.
FM-90	Point Defence SAM System	N	China	BNS Osman & BNS Bangabandhu.
A-244	Torpedo	S	France/ Italy

Small Arms

Name	Type	Caliber	Origin	Notes
Type 92	Semi-automatic pistol	9mm	China	Standard issue sidearm.
SIG Sauer P226/228/229	Semi-automatic pistol	9mm	Germany	[verification needed]
Type 56	Assault rifle	7.62mm	Bangladesh	Upgraded version of Ak-47. Produced under license by BOF.
BD-08	Assault rifle	7.62mm	Bangladesh	Produced under license by BOF.
BD-08	Light machine gun	7.62mm	Bangladesh	Produced under license by BOF.
DShK	Heavy machine gun	12.7mm	Soviet Union

Marines and Special Forces

The Bangladesh Navy maintains a Marines and Special Operations unit known as the SWADS. The current strength of the unit is classified.

Future Expansion Plan

The Government of Bangladesh announced an ambitious defense procurement plan in February 2009^[5][6] for a major purchase of weaponry, equipment and hardware for its armed forces, including anti-tank and anti-ship missile systems, aircraft for maritime patrol, frigates, tanks and helicopters. The Parliamentary standing committee in principle agreed to a 10-year development program in June 2009,^[7][8] under which the navy is to acquire 3 missile frigates, 3 large offshore patrol vessels with helicopter deck (2 already acquired, with a third in the process), 12 patrol craft, submarines, 2 landing craft (utility), 2 hydro-graphic research ship ( 1 acquired), 1 salvage vessel, 4 Fast Attack Craft (Missile) and install guided weapons systems in some ships to strengthen their combat capability. Following BNS Osman,^[9] BNS Bangabandhu, the most modern ship of Bangladesh Navy, is going to be equipped with maritime helicopter, air defence and anti-ship missile. Bangladesh Navy is currently in the process of replacing its three age-old ex-Royal Navy frigates (BNS Abu Bakar, BNS Ali Haider and BNS Umar Farooq) with modern frigates within the next couple of years and also preparing to add submarines to its fleet by 2019.^[10][11]

In 2010 BN has signed a contract with China Shipbuilding and Offshore Company (CSOC) to built two Large Patrol Craft in Wuchang Shipyard in China. These ships will be of 600 tons and will be armed with 4 X C-704 SSM, 1 X 76.2 mm gun with FCS and RDC. Under a separate contract with CSOC, BN will construct 5 Patrol Craft of 350 toms at Khulna Shipyard with Chinese technical assistance. BN has also signed a contract for the delivery additional C-704 SSM and QW-2 shoulder launched SAM. The C-704 SSMs will be fitted on-board the existing quad-launcher missile boats as part of mid-life upgrade. Two AW 109E helicopters arrived in Bangladesh on the 14th of June, 2011 and after being reassembled are now in active service. Another contract has been signed on the 23rd of June, 2011 with Ruag Germany for the delivery of two Dornier 228 NG MPA within the next 24 months.

As of April,2010 the rapid modernization program of BN involves order of:

1. 2x F-22B guided missile frigate (China),
2. 2x 600 ton large patrol craft/missile corvette (China),
3. 1x Hydrographic Survey ship (Indigenous),
4. 1x Fleet Replenishment Oil Tanker (Indigenous),
5. 2x LCU (Indigenous),
6. 1x Salvage ship (Indigenous),
7. 12x Patrol boats -Indigenous,
8. 3x Harbin Z-9C Anti-Submarine helicopter (China),
9. C-802 ASM missiles for 3 frigate and 4 missile boats (China),
10. FM-90N SAM for 3 frigates (China) - already fitted onboard BNS BANGABANDHU.
11. 2x Dornier 228 NG MPA (Germany) - contract signed on 23 June 2011.
12. 2x guided missile corvette (Tender won by China)

On discussion:

1. 3x guided missile frigates in addition to the couple ordered from China,
2. New generation of light and heavy Torpedoes (EU + China),
3. 3x Submarine (Turkey / Germany / South Korea).

Bangladesh Naval Academy

Bangladesh Naval Academy is the commissioned officer training academy of Bangladesh Navy located at the port city Chittagong.

See also

• SWADS
• Bangladesh Army
• Bangladesh Air Force
• Bangladesh Coast Guard

References

1. ^ :The Daily Star: Internet Edition
2. ^ Bangladesh Navy Official website
3. ^ AW-109 Power^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Bangladesh navy buys two Ruag Do 228NGs
5. ^ Defence Security Report
6. ^ Bangladesh plans major defence purchases - Thaindian News
7. ^ Navy eyes sub, new frigates
8. ^ http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jun/24/front.html#3 Archived June 29, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ http://www.bdmilitary.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=133551
10. ^ Australia tries to placate China over navy expansion | Reuters
11. ^ Obama Defense Budget - 'From Supremacy to Adequacy' | Homeland Security Right Side News

External links

• Official site of Bangladesh navy
• Official site of Bangladesh Coast Guard
• Bangladesh Military Forces Website
• Bangladesh Navy Photo Gallery
• Bangladesh Navy on Virtual Bangladesh