HMS Diamond returns to Portsmouth following deployment to Yemen
The warship was deployed to the Red Sea to act as a deterrent
One of the Royal Navy's most prized warships has returned to the UK following a front-line mission in Yemen.
The HMS Diamond came back to Portsmouth on Saturday (July 6th) after being deployed to the Red Sea to act as a deterrent for Houthi rebels.
Rebels in the country have been seizing ships in the Bab-al-Mandab Strait at the mouth of the Red Sea, holding them ransom and disrupting trade.
As a result of the attacks, which are being carried out as a show of the group's solidarity with Gaza, many ships have diverted their routes around Africa, adding more to the total cost of products.
As a result, the HMS Diamond was brought to the Gulf of Aden in order to safeguard merchant ships passing through the Red Sea to secure trade through the Suez Canal.
The ship has been at sea for six months, shooting down drones from rebels aimed at attacking merchant vessels.
On January 9th, the ship brought down seven drones in one evening - a record for the most aerial aircrafts being taken down in modern times.
Speaking about the evening, Lieutenant Freddy Hamblin - who stayed on the ship - said that the team were thrilled with the speed and accuracy of the crew to bring down the aircrafts.
"I’d just come on watch after sunset when we anticipated the large-scale drone attack," he said.
“As they closed on us the apprehension and excitement built and it was great to see the crew’s training kicking in.
"When US Navy units began engaging the sky lit up with orange sparks like fireworks. When you engage with Sea Viper missiles, the whole bridge shakes and there’s a bright flash and a loud whoosh, followed by silence and darkness."
The ship pulled into the harbour on Saturday afternoon, much to the delight of the crew and their families, who have been reunited after seven months apart.
Petty Officer Engineering Technician Daniel Kirsopp said: "Now we’re coming home it’s strange; there’s disbelief that you ever will be. This is my last trip in the Royal Navy so I’ve got a lot of mixed emotions.
“I’m relieved to have got the job done but it’s sad at the same time. I’ll definitely be proud to have finished the whole trip. The whole ship’s company should be proud, we’ve achieved a lot.”