PNS Zulfiqar was a River-class frigate serving in the Pakistan Navy, originally constructed for the Royal Navy during World War II under the name HMS Deveron. Following the war, she was transferred to the Royal Indian Navy in 1945, renamed HMIS Dhanush, and later transferred to the newly formed Pakistan Navy after Partition, where she was converted into a survey vessel. During this conversion, her rear 4-inch gun was removed, reflecting her change in role from combat to surveying duties. The vessel's specifications include her classification as a River-class frigate, although specific dimensions and armament details are not provided in the source. Her pennant number was changed from F265 to 262 in 1963, indicating her active service status within the Pakistan Navy. Throughout her service, PNS Zulfiqar participated in notable events, including her attendance at the Coronation Review of Queen Elizabeth II at Spithead in June 1953. She served until her decommissioning in 1983, marking a long career spanning several decades. A significant and tragic event in her history occurred during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. On December 6, 1971, amid heightened tensions and false alarms about Indian Navy vessels off Karachi, a PIA Fokker Friendship reconnaissance aircraft mistakenly reported a Pakistan Navy frigate, presumed to be an Indian missile boat. This led to an air attack by Pakistan Air Force F-86 jets, which strafed Zulfiqar at 0645 hours. The attack involved over 900 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition, resulting in damage to the vessel and casualties among her crew. The incident was ultimately resolved when her crew managed to identify her as a Pakistan Navy ship, halting the attack. This event underscored the chaos of wartime identification and interservice miscommunication, and it played a role in the broader context of the conflict, influencing subsequent military decisions and movements. Overall, PNS Zulfiqar's service highlights her as a vessel with a storied history, from her wartime origins to her role in Pakistan's naval operations and her involvement in one of the most significant conflicts in South Asian history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.