HMS Diamond (D34)

HMS Diamond is the third ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence guided missile destroyers built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in 2007, and completed her contractor's sea trials and arrived at her base port in 2010. Diamond formally entered service in 2011.

It is equipped with a SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function radar system that allows the Diamond to track 2,000 threats from over 250 miles away, a Sea Viper missile system that can launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds and can guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously, a Wildcat HMA2 helicopter with Martlet air-to-surface missiles, and a 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun.

In December 2023, Diamond shot down a suspected attack drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, with a Sea Viper missile, in what the UK Ministry of Defence said was the first time in decades that the Royal Navy had shot an aerial target in anger. On 10 January 2024, the Houthis carried out a more daring attack on US and UK ships. This was a missile barrage, and all the missiles were shot down by Diamond, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and other naval vessels.

Construction and sea trials
Diamond's construction began at the BAE Systems Naval Ships yard at Govan on the River Clyde in February 2005. She was launched on 27 November 2007.

By July 2010, Diamond had been fully fitted out and finished her contractors' sea trials (stage 1 trials). She arrived in her base port of HMNB Portsmouth on 22 September 2010.

2011–19
Diamond was commissioned in a traditional ceremony on 6 May 2011 in her home port of Portsmouth. The ceremony was attended by the ship's sponsor and the Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Trevor Soar. Diamond continued undergoing sea trials until she entered operational service in July 2011 after the completion of her trials. The ship conducted operational training before beginning her first overseas deployment. Diamond began her deployment in the summer of 2012, starting with celebrations to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Diamond was in the Middle East Area of Operations in 2012. During Operation Recsyr in February 2014, she escorted MV Ark Futura carrying chemical agents from Syria.

On 8 May 2017, Diamond performed a demonstration firing of an Aster 30 missile off the coast of Scotland.

On 4 September 2017, Diamond sailed for a 9-month deployment to the Middle East. Initially scheduled to relieve HMS Monmouth (F235), she was diverted to take over as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 from sister-ship HMS Duncan (D37) when her intended relief, HMS Ocean (L12) was redeployed to provide relief to British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Diamond was relieved of her NATO duties upon the return of Ocean from the Caribbean on 30 October, and resumed her planned deployment to relieve Monmouth. On 23 November, The Times reported that Diamond was being forced to abandon her deployment and return to Portsmouth early due to mechanical issues, which was later confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.

2020–present
On 10 April 2021, Diamond left Portsmouth to conduct a 41-gun salute after the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The ship flew her ensign at half-mast.

In 2021, the ship initially deployed to the Far East as part of the UK carrier strike group centred on aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08). She detached from the group for repairs in July. due to reported "technical issues" likely linked to longstanding power and propulsion reliability issues with ships of the class. It was later reported that the ship had "suffered a failure of one of her gas turbines". Repairs were undertaken in Taranto, Italy. At the end of August, Diamond returned to sea to rejoin the group. In mid-October 2021, after rejoining the strike group, the destroyer again experienced "technical issues", this time reportedly not related to her propulsion system and a decision was made to dock in Singapore to have them addressed.

In September 2023, Diamond, with a Wildcat HMA2 helicopter, again escorted Queen Elizabeth for her "Operation Firedrake" deployment in northern European waters. In December, the destroyer deployed to the Persian Gulf to reinforce HMS Lancaster (F229), the Royal Navy's guardship in the region.

On the night of 15 December 2023, Diamond shot down a suspected attack drone launched from a Islamist Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea, with a Sea Viper (Aster) missile. The UK Ministry of Defence said it was the first time in decades that the Royal Navy had shot an aerial target in anger. The Houthis declared themselves part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-affiliated groups. The Houthis, backed by Iran, intensified their attacks in the area, targeting both commercial vessels and military ships, including those from the United Kingdom. In the aftermath of the shoot down and a spate of attacks by Houthi militia on civilian vessels Diamond was assigned to join the international task force protecting ships that travel through the Red Sea. On 9 January 2024, Diamond repelled the largest Houthi drone attack to date, alongside US Navy ships. Diamond was targeted in the attacks but successfully repelled them using Sea Viper missiles and gunfire. This attack, along with prior attacks on commercial shipping, led to the 2024 missile strikes against Yemen in response. On 10 February 2024, Diamond arrived in Gibraltar for a period of maintenance and resupply after being relieved by HMS Richmond (F239) in the Red Sea. She was adorned with kill markings for nine Houthi drones which she had shot down across three engagements.

After resupply HMS Diamond then returned to the Red Sea, including providing escort to the ships of Littoral Response Group South as they deployed to the Indian Ocean. She then resumed her role in protection of merchant shipping in the region. On 24 April 2024, Diamond defended the American container ship MV Maersk Yorktown and shot down a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile. This was the first ballistic missile kill for the Sea Viper air defence system and the first Royal Navy missile-to-missile interception in combat since the Gulf War. In May 2024, it was announced that HMS Diamond was to be relieved in theatre by her sister ship HMS Duncan (D37).

On 9 June 2024, the Houthis stated they had launched a ballistic missile at the ship.

Characteristics
Diamond is primarily designed for anti-air warfare, able to defend against targets such as fighter aircraft, drones, and highly maneuverable sea-skimming anti-ship missiles travelling at supersonic speeds.

The ship's SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function radar system allows the Diamond to track threats from over 250 miles away, and to guide friendly missiles. It can track over 2,000 targets and simultaneously control and coordinate multiple missiles in the air at once, allowing a large number of tracks to be intercepted and destroyed at any given time. The US Naval War College has suggested that the SAMPSON radar is capable of tracking 1,000 objects the size of a cricket ball travelling at three times the speed of sound (Mach 3), emphasising the system's capabilities against high-performance stealth targets. This makes it particularly difficult to swamp the system during a saturation attack, even if the attacking elements are supersonic.

The ship's Sea Viper missile system can launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds, and can guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously. MBDA describes Aster as a "hit-to-kill" anti-missile missile capable of intercepting all types of high-performance air threats at a maximum range of 120 km. The Aster missile is autonomously guided and equipped with an active RF seeker enabling it to cope with "saturated attacks" thanks to a "multiple engagement capability" and a "high rate of fire".

Diamond also carries a Wildcat helicopter with Martlet air-to-surface missiles. It is armed with a 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun, as well as sophisticated electronics.

Ship's sponsor

 * Lady Johns, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns KCB, CBE RN

Official affiliations

 * Aberdeen City Council
 * City of Coventry
 * The Worshipful Company of Barbers
 * The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
 * No. 3 Squadron RAF
 * De Beers (UK)
 * Loughborough Grammar School Naval Section CCF (Combined Cadet Force)
 * Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School Naval Section CCF (Combined Cadet Force)

Other
As part of her affiliation with Coventry, Diamond carries a cross of nails created from the remains of Coventry Cathedral. At the end of the Second World War a cross of nails was created out of the wreckage and has been presented to all ships that carry the name Coventry. It was recovered from the wreck of HMS Coventry (D118) by divers after she was sunk in the Falklands War. and presented to the crew of Diamond on her commissioning by Captain David Hart-Dyke, the commanding officer of Coventry at the time of her sinking.

The City of Sheffield was offered affiliation to Diamond, but this was turned down by Sheffield City Council and the Lord Mayor, who want the city associated with another HMS Sheffield. The affiliation has now been transferred to the City of Coventry.