HMS Diamond has returned to Portsmouth after a two month deployment in the Mediterranean.
The Royal Navy say in a release that her deployment was part of the ongoing counter-Islamic State operations where she used her sensors to gather intelligence on the air battlespace, sharing this with the RAF and international allies in the region.
Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond Commander Ben Keith said:
“This has been a challenging, but extremely rewarding and successful deployment. I’m proud of all that my ship’s company has achieved while we’ve been away and I’m incredibly grateful to Diamond’s extended family for all their support.”
The Royal Navy say that HMS Diamond also proved her ability to integrate with the UK Air Component Commander (UKACC) by working with the RAF assets based in Cyprus.
“Training with E3s, Voyagers, Tornados, Typhoons and F-16s, Diamond practiced controlling a congested environment, observing and directing a variety of aircraft while operating with other UK Forces.
During her time in the Med, Diamond also spent a week on weapons and sensors training. She held live firing exercises with the 4.5″ Gun, the 30mm, Phalanx and small arms, using her embarked Wildcat Helicopter from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton – callsign Roughcut – to observe and direct the firings onto the targets with impressive accuracy.”
Isnt it strange that HMS Diamond returns home to her base after a two month deployment (BTW i have spent longer than that on one wave ) and yet there was no mention on here at all about HMS Albion (which btw spent ten months away )
Oh i know its becouse Diamond is based at your beloved Portsmouth and Albion is Devonport based
That’s a strange thing to get annoyed about
Get a life Barry.
I have Ben
Speaking of a ship’s homeport. This ship is looking for a home – one of only 2 operational Liberty ships left thanks to a crew of verteran’s. How sad is this? Wish I had crazy oligarch money. I’d buy an old pier, renovate, and place the operational and upkeep expenses in trust with a reliable executor to provide 10 years to get them self sufficient.
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2018/11/25/baltimores-wwii-era-liberty-ship-could-be-homeless-soon/
Cheers!
We have a poor record of preserving ships in the UK.
Poor old Plymouth went for a song because a home couldn’t be found for her.
I often wonder whether the jetty used by Warrior was ever explored as an option for her?
It’s a dam crime! We have no battleships in the uk to visit! I bet it would become a top atraction just like a good old British aircraft carrier! But no the government won’t help to fund a project that can then be taken up to help by ex millitary personel volunteers and then it can also help ex millitary personel..and turn it into a tourist hot spot and places schools can take kids to learn about war ect!! We have nothing in the uk! Apart from a few small ships and Hms Belfast a light cruiser!..oh and old sailing… Read more »
IMHO HMS Warspite richly deserved to be saved as a RN memorial to 2 world wars. She was in such bad shape that damage on her at the end was repaired with concrete instead of steel. She didn’t deserve to meet her end grounded on a lonely isle. She should be parked in the Thames where the Belfast is. In the U.S., Enterprise CV 6 was the iconic ship of the USN and she was scrapped because they wouldn’t raise a couple of million to save her. USS Washington BB56 was another. Saved the entire U.S. Navy fighting on her… Read more »
Hellions, Warspite for me too. It’s a National Travesty that this Nation has Scrapped all the Iconic Heroes of the Seas. Take a look at all the RAF and Army Museums ( which I’m really grateful for ) then take a look at the few places to visit our Glorious Royal Navy Ships. Portsmouth is fantastic and Warrior Is Amazing, Victory too but Where are all the Ships from 2 World Wars and many other historical events ? Imagine being able to visit HMS Rodney. HMS Ajax, HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Leander, HMS Vanguard, HMS Amethyst, the list Is long… Read more »
Would LOVED to have seen the Rodney- very unique class – very heavy firepower too. Actually still had her torpedo tubes which I understand she used to TORPEDO the Bismark. The QE I would have been another fine choice along with the KGV. HMS Iron Duke of Jutland fame would have been a good one to have preserved from that War. At least you still have the Caroline. The only super dreadnought left is the USS Texas in Galveston. Served in the RN’s 6th Battle Squadron Grand Fleet in Scapa Flow during WWI along with other coal burning USN battlewagons… Read more »
Helions
One correction BB-35 Texas is in La Porte (Houston side of the bay) in the ship channel at San Jacinto Battleground Park.
Galveston does have Seawolf Park though that has the a Gato class submarine USS Cavalla (SS-244) she was the boat that sank the carrier Shōkaku. They also have the escort DE-238 USS Stewart. Along with pieces of other boats.
Helions, Not sure what you would consider super dreadnoughts, but the last 4 battleships built for the US Navy, the Iowa Class are still preserved as Museum ships. They were the longest serving battleships of any Navy. They served not only in WW2, but in all major US Navy actions all the up to when they were finally deactivated in the early 1990’s. Even then, they were maintained on the Reserve List until finally being decommissioned around 2006. BB-61, USS Iowa is located in Los Angeles CA. BB-62, USS New Jersey is located in Camden NJ BB-63, USS Missouri is… Read more »
Elliot, I stand corrected. I was thinking the ship was berthed in the Galveston Ship Channel – but it’s Houston. I tried to post this link yesterday but the PTB would not let me. Hopefully third times a charm. https://battleshiptexas.org/about/ Rokuth, when I refer to a superdreadnought it’s in reference to the classes of improved battleships which were built immediately preceding and during WWI by all sides. Examples would be the U.S. New York class exemplified by the Texas, the Queen Elizabeth class built for the RN, the Tegetthoff class bult for the Austro Hungarian K.u.K Kriegsmarine, and the Bayern… Read more »
Elliott,
I DID put the extra T in the above but didn’t catch the autocorrect in time!
Sorry!
Helions,
Appreciate the clarification. I regret I haven’t had the chance to visit any of those ships. It is great that these old war wagons have been preserved.
It is interesting to note that the “Capital” or Battleship names of US Navy ships have been passed on to the SSBN fleet. Gives you an idea of what the USN now considers the “big guns” of the Navy.
It’s always been my contention that submarines will eventually replace most line surface warships as AI technology, sensing, and targeting systems reach a point where it would be suicidal to use large warships within reach of the enemy. Indeed the subsurface force is becoming more at risk as well due to the same developments. Interesting note, the Virginia Payload Modules being installed in the newest blocks of the Virginia class will not only have the capability to fire a variety of missiles, but also will be able to launch drones for various missions. So, in fact, submarines are also becoming… Read more »
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/navy-tests-and-refines-new-attack-submarine-stealth-technology
Cheers!
The HMS Victorious could have been saved as well to serve the nation as a museum ship…
HMS Victorious… no THE
She never fought but we should have kept HMS Vanguard, the epitomy of a battleship.
Oops! The naming and reference protocols across navies are a foggy lot! 😀 However, the Victorious COULD have been referred to as “the” when she was in the guise of the USS Robin. Kind of Lend Lease in reverse… 😀
http://armchairgeneral.com/uss-robin-the-victorious-u-s-carrier-that-didnt-exist.htm
Cheers!
I think we should save one of the vanguard nuclear armed submarines for future generations (not armed though lol) or maybe yes ?.. Anyway it would look great right across from a Hms Belfast…. it would be a huge tourist hot spot, only a few nations have these amazing weapons systems and we are luckily one of them and we could do it… London is tourist central and it would be a first to see such a submarine for many people…. Let’s start a campaign, once they are gone that’s it! In 100 years people will ask why not!…
I agree about saving a Nuclear Sub, just like France has ( great to visit btw ) but can we not stick It in London ? It’s a nightmare to get to, full of Triffic Wardens and congestion Charges and quite frankly, They have enough stuff already. Place It at Barrow instead.
Or Liverpool.
It would get nicked !!!!!!!!
As Seaceptor can be quad packed into the VLS on a T45 why not turn 18 silo’s over to this (72 Seaceptor) and then 30 VLS to the Aster 30. We can upgrade our Aster15s to the NT booster etc and this would ensure that a T45 has enough munitions to deal with a saturation attack. 48 Silos is enough for air defence, if the right munitions are put in them in the right quantities, sadly 48 missiles is no longer enough. Adding Mk41 should be a no brainer in my opinion and is a poor decision. Not sure how… Read more »
The ex hms Courageous SSN has been saved and is open to the public at Devonport dockyard. A simple telephone call to the yards historic department grants access to anyone. Alas it is not well advertised. Ship preservation is something close to my heart and one area I have been involved with. It is not a simple task. Selecting the correct vessel is the key. One must have a vessel that the public can relate to, it must be in reasonable condition, it will be of such a design that modifications can be made to allow access and ease of… Read more »
Very interesting post Basil. I did NOT know about the Courageous. Why not the Conqueror? PC get in the way? Glad to hear it was preserved. Thank you.
Cheers!