The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it is considering medallic recognition for the crew of HMS Diamond for their service between November 2023 and July 2024, a period that saw the destroyer engage in multiple live combat operations in the Red Sea.
The statement came in response to a written parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley (Newton Abbot) on 13 October.
Replying on behalf of the department, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Louise Sandher-Jones said that “medallic recognition for the operational activity undertaken by HMS Diamond during the period November 2023 and July 2024 is under consideration by the Ministry of Defence in accordance with the existing process.”
The process typically involves an assessment by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals before any formal recommendation is made to the Defence Secretary and ultimately to the King.
HMS Diamond, a Type 45 air-defence destroyer, played a key role in international maritime operations following a series of Houthi attacks on commercial and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
In December 2023, Diamond shot down a suspected attack drone launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen using its Sea Viper missile system, marking the first time in decades that a Royal Navy ship had engaged an aerial target in combat.
The destroyer went on to repel multiple missile and drone barrages in January 2024, including one of the largest coordinated attacks ever mounted by the Houthis against Western naval forces.
Throughout the deployment, the ship was credited with downing nine hostile drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile while providing protection to international shipping and allied vessels, including the American container ship Maersk Yorktown.
The latter engagement marked the first ballistic missile interception by a Royal Navy vessel since the 1991 Gulf War. Equipped with the SAMPSON radar and Sea Viper missile system, HMS Diamond remains one of the Royal Navy’s most capable air-defence platforms.
I’m not sure ‘medallic’ is a word. Better to say the government is considering issuing a medal for service on HMS Diamond in the Red Sea.
That’s fine, but I am sure, hence why I included it.
OK. 🤔
Comments deleted George ?
Regular occurrence.
It’s a word
“medallic” is a formal adjective adjective of or pertaining to medals”
Correct word correct usage.
They can consider issuing medals for this but shame my father wasn’t issued a GSM for his active deployment to the Malaysian uprisings in the 60’s. All because they say he didn’t fit the criteria by missing a few days after months there. Took the Malaysian Government to recognise them. Disgusting
Psst, it’s traditional in the armed forces.
Considering the level of action, threat to the ship and crew, it would seem a medal was appropriate, but I would say the Crew of HMS Richmond would also seem to deserve a campaign medal if that was the case as she directly replaced Diamond and also engaged and destroyed air threats.
Should be General service medal with a bar such as with the wording Straits of Homus . Same as other the RN has awarded ,Suez canal ,Gulf ,Kuwait ,Former Yugoslavia .etc
Ha, let’s hope the wording is spelt right then !!! “Hormuz”
Thought it was funny, sorry for my Pedantic reply 😁
Straits of Humus is when you don’t like the taste, but social etiquette requires you to eat it anyway. Medallic recognition means knowing medallic is a real word. So educational, this site!
An early post from another new account “Anon” was deleted before people might have taken offence.
I was fearfull that the thread might disappear when the word “Medallic” was questioned !
Humus, Homas, Hormuz, Humour, they all sound very similar.
Bomber command got no medals…. Fighter command got a bar for the battle of Britain… It leaves me a bit… .I collect medals and it seems a bit to much.
Bomber Command should have been tried for War Crimes. Didn’t know they didn’t get a medal. Good, I’m glad they didn’t.
Bomber command didn’t commit any war crimes, it was total war you melt.
My Father, the war criminal…
55,000 men died doing what they were ordered to do, nearly 45% casualty rate, not sure they or their families would agree.
ridiculous comment, just like commenting on slavery hundreds of years later.
Fucking twat….
Bomber Command Clasp was issued in 2013 to be worn on 1939-45 Star
I wish HMS Diamond had a diamond painted on her hull, like HMS Dragon.
Bit of a stretch to issue a medal for shooting down a few clockwork drones and the odd rocket with a multi billion pound system. Then I guess the fish heads are still smarting from the HMS Cornwall fiasco…..
Bite me.
Love and hugs
Light Infantry xx
Weeks and weeks of living and working in watches in a hostile theatre under constant risk of constant attack from a variety of threats? Months of preparation and training to just achieve the basic standard required to be there? Short notice programme changes which constantly affect family life? Let’s not forget the years of experience and effort driving the in-theatre learning to improve readiness and response, all whilst keeping a complex platform operational in an environment that pushes the people and equipment to the limit.
A medal is a physical token of reward and recognition for people, during a workforce crisis, and if it helps inspire the men and women of the Senior Service to have pride in their unit and what they do, it can only be a good thing.
But unfortunately, the whizz-bang is what people seem to judge it on.
He pulls the pin and quietly rolls the grenade through the door, whilst giggling to himself!
🙂 🙂
They have sunk 4 ships, damaged 30 others and hit at least 100 with those clockwork drones.. including those pesky ballistic anti ship missiles that travels at Mach 5 and carries 500kgs of high explosives.. it’s amazing what you can power with a bit of clockwork and rocket juice in the right place.
It is a war zone, and the ship saw action, so yes to medals.
The Houthis are very well armed, they have more ballistic missiles. anti-ship missiles than the UK
The drones they use to attack ships are not £5 quadcopters, they are advanced Iranian designs with a long range, good-sized warhead, and loitering ability
I do not think the RN shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf War. HMS Gloucester downed a Silkworm missile with a Sea Dart missile. The Silkworm is a sea skimming missile not a ballistic misile.
I don’t understand why the ships company have not already been decorated for this. I think it’s appalling that some medals are given years after they should have been. How long did it take the arctic convoy veterans to be given the Arctic Star?