HMS Diamond taking over Red Sea duties from first UK warship to fire Sea Ceptor in anger

HMS Diamond is going back to the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from Houthi attacks, taking over from the history-making HMS Richmond.

Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond shot down two Houthi attack drones at the weekend using Sea Ceptor missiles and became the first UK warship to fire them in combat.

The deployment is part of Operation Prosperity Guardian – an international coalition to protect international shipping in the region.

• Watch: HMS Richmond shoots down two Houthi drones in Sea Ceptor first
• HMS Diamond returns to Red Sea to guard shipping from Houthi drone attacks
• HMS Diamond crew praised for repelling Houthi attacks as destroyer ready to return to operations

On her previous deployment to the Red Sea in December and January, HMS Diamond destroyed nine drones using her Sea Viper missile system and guns, and her flank markings denote the kills.

The UK's response to Houthi attacks has also included interception of weapon smuggling to Yemen, the imposition of sanctions and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Protecting shipping around the world is one of the Navy's key tasks and this deployment shows how our highly skilled sailors and advanced warships are helping to keep our sea lanes safe.

"Britain continues to be at the forefront of the international response to the Houthis' dangerous attacks on commercial vessels, which have claimed the lives of international mariners.

"I thank the crew of HMS Richmond for their incredible work and am confident that HMS Diamond will continue to stand up for freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers."

HMS Richmond left Plymouth at the beginning of January and will return to the UK via Saudi Arabia for maintenance and resupply.

The Houthis, based in Yemen, have claimed their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea are in response to events in Gaza, although the merchant vessels targeted have often had little or no link to Israel.

The attacks on vessels using the Red Sea have resulted in some ships diverting around southern Africa rather than using the Suez Canal between Europe and Asia, adding to costs and creating a potential global economic risk.