HMS Diamond to return to Red Sea to guard shipping from Houthi drone attacks

HMS Diamond is heading back to the Red Sea to help safeguard international shipping from attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The Type 45 destroyer eliminated several drones as part of the international Operation Prosperity Guardian – a task force that was set up to protect global commercial shipping amid the attacks.

She used her Sea Viper missile system to destroy nine drones - and her flank markings denote the kills.

Following her Red Sea stint from November to January, the Royal Navy vessel docked in Gibraltar to restock and resupply.

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During a visit to Gibraltar, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey praised the crew, saying: "HMS Diamond has played a vital role defending freedom of navigation, saving innocent lives and protecting merchant shipping from illegal Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

"It was a pleasure to visit the ship and her crew while they were alongside in Gibraltar.

"I am hugely thankful for British Forces Gibraltar's support for HMS Diamond and, in turn, their contribution to Operation Prosperity Guardian."

HMS Richmond replaced her on Operation Prosperity Guardian while HMS Diamond restocked.

Since leaving Portsmouth on deployment in the autumn, HMS Diamond sailed almost 20,000 nautical miles on patrols, and her Wildcat helicopter completed over 53 hours of sorties over the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden – making her crew the busiest in the Royal Navy.