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HMS Diamond (D34)
Organisation / Units & Squadrons

HMS Diamond (D34)

A jewel in the naval crown, HMS Diamond is the third of the highly capable Type 45 air defence destroyers and one of the most advanced warships in the world.

Surface fleet

Role

HMS Diamond’s primary role is to provide her fellow ships with air defence using the formidable Sea Viper anti-air missile system – detecting enemy threats at range, interrogating them, and neutralising them if required.
 
Outside of the air defence role, HMS Diamond is a versatile and capable platform with the ability to carry out a wide range of war-fighting and constabulary duties, ranging from counter-narcotics boarding operations, acting as a task group flagship or providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

She will also act as part of the Carrier Task Group for the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, providing air surveillance and protection for the entire task group.
 

Daring Class
Facts

Capability

Nearly as tall as Nelson’s Column, Diamond‘s sleek lines are designed for stealth at sea, appearing virtually invisible on enemy radar.

Packing cutting-edge military sensors and a range of sophisticated weapons systems, Diamond is ready to detect and destroy any airborne, surface and sub surface threat.

Her motto befits her name: ‘honor clarissima gemma’ – which means ‘honour is the brightest jewel’.

She is proud to be affiliated with the cities of Coventry and Aberdeen, and with the Livery Companies the Worshipful Company of Barbers and the Worshipful Company of Playing Card Makers.

Crew

The personnel of Diamond are highly trained. Their skills are mainly based around defending the fleet from air attack. They include: 

  • Long range air target searching
  • Multiple Target tracking
  • Long distance target engagement
  • Helicopter Platform – Merlin and Wildcat

Unit history

1588

An illustrious history

Ships with of this name have been in service of the crown for over 400 years, with at least 14 in total.
1652

The First warship

The first warship to bear the name is a 40-gun frigate commissioned in 1652. She earns several battle honours before being lost in 1693.
1931

Second World War

The thirteenth Diamond is commissioned in 1931 and sees extensive action in the Second World War before being sunk by German aircraft in 1941.
1931

Second World War

The thirteenth Diamond is commissioned in 1931 and sees extensive action in the Second World War before being sunk by German aircraft in 1941.
1950

Daring class

The penultimate Diamond is a Daring-class destroyer commissioned in 1950. She is used as a dockside training vessel from 1970 before being sold in 1980.
1950

Daring class

The penultimate Diamond is a Daring-class destroyer commissioned in 1950. She is used as a dockside training vessel from 1970 before being sold in 1980.
2011

Type 45

In 2011 HMS Diamond became the third Type 45 Destroyer to be commissioned into the Fleet. By the summer of that year she was operational and was deployed to the Middle East for six months.
2014

Operation RECSYR

HMS Diamond deployed again in January 2014. She was originally planned to return to the Gulf, however the Ship was re-tasked en route to conduct Op RECSYR (REmoval of Chemical weapons from SRYia).

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