HMS Diamond sails for maritime security mission in the Mediterranean

Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has today sailed from Portsmouth for operations in the Mediterranean where the Type 45 destroyer will provide reassurance to allies in the region throughout the autumn.

The deployment follows a busy few months for HMS Diamond and her crew, who spent most of the summer operating in or around UK waters.

Commander Ben Keith, the Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond, said: “I’m thrilled that HMS Diamond is once again at sea on operations to keep our nation safe. I am proud of every single sailor in this ship for the work they have put in to get us ready for this mission.

"I also want to pay tribute to our families as none of what we do could be achieved without their support while we are away from home."

HMS Diamond recently returned from a visit to the Polish port of Gdynia, and had previously been involved in monitoring Russian warship activity in areas of UK interest.

Lieutenant Commander Oliver Clark, the ship’s Logistics Officer, said:

"After a busy summer we are ready to get back to work for our next mission, having spent a short period alongside to get ready. This is going to be a challenging deployment for everyone on board, but pressure is what makes a Diamond shine."

Over the last couple of months, Diamond has been involved in monitoring Russian naval activity, visited four ports, helped train warfare officers and RAF air crew, hosted two ambassadors, represented the Royal Navy in front of a million people at Bournemouth Air Festival and joined NATO ships in the Baltic.