HMS Diamond alongside in Mallorca as she sails home from Red Sea deployment

Hola! The Type 45 destroyer has called in at Palma to give the crew a well-earned break (UK Defence in Spain)

27th June 2024 at 12:17pm

HMS Diamond has stopped off in Mallorca as she makes her way home to the UK after months deployed in the Red Sea and Middle East.

UK Defence in Spain posted the arrival of the Type 45 destroyer in Palma, the island’s capital, expressing a warm welcome in both Spanish and English, wishing the crew a good break.

HMS Diamond made history in April when she shot down a Houthi missile – the first combat interception of this type in more than 30 years.

• UK committed to developing drone capabilities on its state-of-the-art aircraft carriers
• Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan deploys for Red Sea to relieve HMS Diamond
• Royal Navy warship shoots down a missile in combat for first time since Gulf War

Her sister ship HMS Duncan is to continue protecting shipping lanes in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.

The mission is part of Operation Prosperity Guardian – a multinational coalition to protect international shipping in the region.

Both Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers are armed with the Sea Viper missile system and equipped with the same radar systems, which can accurately detect faraway threats.

During her deployment, HMS Diamond shot down nine drones and one missile that were launched at cargo ships by Houthi rebels based in Yemen.