The warship was formerly called United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) CHASE. She was commissioned into the service of the US Coast Guard on 11 March1968. She is billed to be commissioned into the Nigerian Navy on Thursday 1S9 January 2012. She has a cruising range of 9600 nautical miles (17,800km) at 20 knots (40 km/h) and 80 feet (24m) flight deck making it an ideal platform for extended patrols. The war ship is equipped with a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant. The ship departed Alameda California on 21 November 2011 and Sailed through Manzanillo in Mexico to Panama, Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, Dakar in Senegal, Tema in Ghana and finally Apapa, Lagos.

The Commanding Officer of NNS THUNDER, Navy Captain Mohammed Nagenu expressed satisfaction on arrival and professed that their Voyage from the United States to Nigeria was every Seaman’s dream. The ship’s company comprising 150 officers and men onboard, were in a Joyous mood on arrival at the Apapa Jetty.

The special guest of honour at the reception of NNS THUNDER, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Erelu (Dr) Olusola Obada in her remarks, commended the efforts of the ship’s company and reiterated that the arrival of NNS THUNDER would enhance the security of the nation’s waterways.

The reception ceremony was graced by dignitaries which include, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, the Consul General of US Embassy, Mr Joseph Standford, former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ekiwe (rtd), among other well meaning Nigerians.