HMS ''Gifford'' was one of 23 boats of the of

patrol boat A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and the ...

s built for the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

in the 1950s. ''Gifford'' was launched on 30 June 1954. In 1968 the vessel was sold to Nigeria and renamed NNS ''Bonny''. ''Bonny'' took part in the

Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...

and was decommissioned in 1983. ''Bonny'' is preserved at the Nigerian War Museum in

Umuahia Umuahia () is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south,and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nige ...

Service history

''Gifford'' was a constructed for the

. The names of the class ships were all chosen from villages ending in "-ford". This boat was named after Gifford. She was launched on 30 June 1954 and sold to

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

in 1968. Renamed NNS ''Bonny'', she fought in the

against

Biafra Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated form ...

. She was decommissioned in 1983.

Museum ship

NNS ''Bonny'' is preserved in the Nigerian War Museum at

as a museum exhibit.

Notes

References

Ford-class seaward defence boats Royal Navy ship names 1954 ships Bonny Bonny Patrol vessels of the Nigerian Navy Museum ships {{UK-mil-ship-stub