HMS Richmond has taken over from HMS Diamond to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Houthi rebels.

Richmond, a Type 23 frigate, replaces the Type 45 air defence destroyer, which was deployed under Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international task force to protect merchant shipping in the region.

During this time, HMS Diamond successfully destroyed nine rebel drones using her Sea Viper missile system.

“I am confident that HMS Richmond will carry on her impressive work,” said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

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He added: “The UK is committed to protecting freedom of navigation.

“I visited HMS Diamond in January and thanked the ship’s company for their incredible work defending freedom of navigation, saving innocent lives and ensuring merchant shipping is protected from the illegal Houthi attacks.”

HMS Richmond, which left Plymouth in January, is capable of protecting shipping across a 500-square-mile stretch of ocean.

Her weapons and assets will enable her to search vast areas of the sea while on patrol, intercept hostile threats on the water and defend herself and merchant ships if necessary, using her Martlet anti-ship missiles.

Houthi rebels have been responsible for attacking and harassing numerous merchant ships in the Red Sea.

During her deployment to the Red Sea, HMS Diamond came under fire from the Iranian-backed rebels on three occasions.

HMS Diamond’s Commander Peter Evans said: “The situation in the region is fraught, and ships in the force are firing on a daily basis – we hand over the baton with our best wishes to the fantastic team in Richmond who we know will do a great job.

“Having deployed at just five days’ notice we’re used to quickly switching aim, and now our focus is on a short maintenance and ammunition resupply period before we get back to our mission in the Red Sea.”

HMS Diamond will now undergo a period of maintenance. She was recently provided with fuel by the USNS Kanawha.