HMS Diamond (D34)

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Career (United Kingdom)
HMS Diamond under construction at VT Group plc buildings at HMNB Portsmouth Navy Days, July 2, 2005.
Ordered:	December 2000
Builder:	BAE Systems
Laid down:	25 February 2005
Launched:	27 November 2007
Commissioned:	Expected 2010
Motto:	Honor clarissima gemma ("Honour is the brightest jewel")
Honours and awards:	Armada 1588, Kentish Knock 1652, Portland 1653, Gabbard 1653, Scheveningen 1653, Lowestoft 1665, Four Days Battle 1666, Orfordness 1666, Solebay 1672, Schoonveldt 1673, Texel 1673, Bantry Bay 1680, Portobello 1739, Santa Maria 1740, Chagres 1740, Toulon 1744, Black Sea 1854, Spartivento 1940, Mediterranean 1941, Malta Convoys 1941, Greece 1941
Fate:	Fitting out
Badge:
General characteristics
Displacement:	7,205 tonnes Light Seagoing (8,092 tonnes Deep load) (both figures are 'start of life')
Length:	152.4 m
Beam:	21.2 m
Draught:	7.4 m
Propulsion:	2 Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, Alstom electric motors
Speed:	29+ knots^[1]
Range:	7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at economical speed
Complement:	190
Sensors and processing systems:	SAMPSON radar S1850M 3D radar MFS 7000 Sonar
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Seagnat SSTD^[2]
Armament:	PAAMS Air Defence System 6 x 8 cell SYLVER VLS Aster 15 missiles Aster 30 missiles 2 Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapons system) BAE Systems 114 mm (4.5 inch) Mk 8 Mod. 1 gun 2 x 30 mm guns
Aircraft carried:	1 x Lynx HMA8 or 1 x Westland Merlin HM1^[3]

For other ships to have carried the name, see HMS Diamond.

See also: Diamond Rock

HMS Diamond is the third ship of the Type 45 or 'D' Class of air defence destroyer (AAW) being built for the Royal Navy.

1 Construction and Launch
2 Design
3 Affiliations
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Construction and Launch

Diamond's construction began at the BAE Systems Naval Ships yard at Govan on the River Clyde in February 2005. She was launched on 27 November 2007.^[4] As of this date, Diamond is being fitted out. HMS Diamond is the third ship of its class launched with a guard from the Northern Area Sea Cadets [1].

[edit] Design

The Type 45 has frequently been cited by the British press as being the first class of warship to include e-mail and entertainment systems (including iPod charging points)^[5] within the messdecks. These reports relate to 240v domestic supplies and access to external e-mail, both of which have been common features in most RN vessels for several years^[6].

The Daring class will be one of the most advanced air-defence warship classes in the world.^[7] The ship's capabilities centre on the SAMPSON Multi Function Radar which can detect targets out to a distance of 400 km and the PAAMS missile system.

[edit] Affiliations

Ship's Sponsor

Lady Johns, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns KCB RN

Official Affiliations

The City of Sheffield was offered affiliation to HMS Diamond, but this was turned down by Sheffield City Council and the Lord Mayor, who want the city associated with another HMS Sheffield. The affiliation has now been transferred to the City of Coventry.^[8]