Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has set sail from Portsmouth Naval Base for a nine-month operational deployment in the Gulf.
The destroyer left her home port to cheering crowds on the Round Tower and received a flypast from a Wildcat helicopter based with 815 Naval Air Squadron in Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.
She will be taking over the Navy’s long-standing commitment to the region from HMS Monmouth, a Type 23 frigate based in Plymouth.
HMS Diamond will be working with international and NATO allies to protect some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, safeguarding them from criminal activities.
Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond Commander Ben Keith said: “Morale is high on the ship at the moment, we have quite a large contingent of young sailors on board who have not previously deployed so there is a real sense of excitement. We have trained and practised for a long time now to prepare for our deployment to the Gulf so we are ready to take on any tasking that is required of us.
“This is a highly versatile and capable warship so we will be undertaking a variety of roles once we deploy. HMS Diamond will escort partners though some of the world’s hot spots such as the Bab el-Mandeb strait near Yemen, we will also undertake defence engagement activities and exercise with foreign navies and of course we remain ready to complete any warfighting duties should we be called upon.”
image © MOD Crown Copyright
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