Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond deploys to the Mediterranean

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond got underway from Portsmouth on September 29 for maritime security operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

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.

“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,” Commander Ben Keith, the commanding officer of HMS Diamond, said.

“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.

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.