Article Posted on : - May 09, 2011

Royal Navy's HMS Diamond

LONDON (BNS): The Royal Navy has formally commissioned the new Type 45 air defence destroyers into its fleet, according to the Minstry of Defence.

HMS Diamond was commissioned on Friday in a traditional ceremony in her homeport of Portsmouth. The ship is one of the six multi-role vessels being built to provide air defence using the Sea Viper missile system.

"The Type 45 programme is an example of how we are investing in capabilities for the future. This ceremony marks another step in the delivery of six of the most powerful air defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. These new ships will provide the UK with a world class military capability that will form a key part of the Future Force 2020," Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, was quoted as saying.

The vessel can embark 60 troops and their equipment, supported by a modern medical facility that can deliver a surgical capability. She could also carry up to 700 people to support a civilian evacuation, a MoD statement said.

HMS Diamond is the third of six ‘Daring Class’ Type 45 destroyers. All the Type 45s will be based in Portsmouth. The first, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009, followed by HMS Dauntless in June last year. The fourth, Dragon, is due to arrive in Portsmouth for the first time in September. All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade, it said.