HMS Diamond (D34)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Diamond.

300px Career (United Kingdom) Name: HMS Diamond Ordered: December 2000 Builder: BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions Yard number: 1063 Laid down: 25 February 2005 Launched: 27 November 2007 Sponsored by: Lady Johns Commissioned: Expected 2011 Identification: Deck Code: Pennant number: D34 International callsign: GPLC IMO number: 4907763 Motto: Honor clarissima gemma ("Honour is the brightest jewel") Status: Sea trials prior to commission Badge: 100px General characteristics Class and type: Type 45 air-warfare destroyer Displacement: 7,500 tonnes (8,100 tonnes full load) (both figures are 'start of life') Length: 152.4 metres (500 ft) Beam: 21.2 metres (70 ft) Draught: 7.4 metres (24 ft) Propulsion: 2 Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, Converteam electric motors Speed: Over 29 knots (54 km/h) 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 Armament: Provision for and fitted with; 1 x PAAMS Air Defence System SYLVER VLS of 48; (total of 48 anti air aster missiles) Aster 15 missiles - short to medium range. (2-30kms) Aster 30 missiles - long range missile. (3-120kms) Also anti ballistic capable. 2 x Phalanx CIWS (to be fitted by 2011-2015) 1 x BAE Systems 4.5 inch Mk 8 Mod. 1 gun 2 x 30 mm guns 2 x Miniguns and up to 6 x General Purpose Machine Guns Provision for but not fitted with; 2 x Quad Boeing AGM-84 Harpoon launchers (total of 8 harpoon missiles) BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles (if VLS is upgraded or replaced) Aircraft carried: 1 x Lynx HMA8 or 1 x Westland Merlin HM1

File:HMS Diamond D34.jpg HMS Diamond under construction at VT Group plc buildings at HMNB Portsmouth Navy Days, 2 July 2005.

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

Construction

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. As of this date, Diamond is being fitted out. Diamond is the third ship of her class launched with a guard from the Northern Area Sea Cadets. As of 2010 Diamond is on stage 1 sea trials prior to her commission in early 2011.

Design

Main article: Type 45 Destroyer

The Type 45 (or Daring) class will be the most advanced air-defence warship in the world. The ship's capabilities centre on the SAMPSON Multi Function Radar, which can detect targets out to a distance of 400 kilometres (220 nmi), and the PAAMS missile system.

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) within the messdecks. These reports relate to 230-volt domestic supplies and access to external e-mail, both of which have been common features in most RN vessels for several years.

Affiliations

Ship's Sponsor:

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

Official Affiliations:

• City of Coventry
• City of Aberdeen
• The Worshipful Company of Barbers
• No. 3 Squadron RAF
• The Lordswood CCF (Combined Cadet Force) Naval Contingent will be affiliated once the ship is completed.

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