HMS Diamond

HMS Diamond

HMS Diamond

Britain

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.7	4.7	4.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Destroyer

Purchase:2 980

Description

HMS Diamond was a Royal Navy Daring-class destroyer commissioned in February 1952. She participated in the significant 1953 Fleet Review and the Suez Crisis of 1956. She was also involved in two notable collisions: first with HMS Swiftsure during a 1953 naval exercise, and later with HMS Salisbury in 1964. She went through one major refit, in 1959. The last episode of her service was as an engineering training ship from 1970 at Gosport until 1981, when she was scrapped in Rainham, Kent.

The Daring-class, HMS Diamond (D35), 1958 is a premium destroyer introduced in Update "Alpha Strike" as the third vessel of her class added to the game. Thanks to her large hull size, she can survive a significant number of hits, especially from HE ammunition, but she's very prone to ammo-rack explosions, as her aft and auxiliary ammunition racks are above the waterline. She features excellent main guns with a wide choice of ammunition, very good torpedoes, and competent anti-air guns to discourage enemy bombers or torpedo boats. Finally, she has a radar with a lead indicator, making it easier to hit distant aerial targets with HE-VT rounds.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Main fire tower10 / 10 / 10 mm

Hull16 mm (steel)

Superstructure4 mm (steel)

Number of section6

Displacement3 820 t

Crew330 people

In terms of survivability, HMS Diamond demonstrates commendable resilience, despite lacking anti-fragmentation armour around its hull. Its sleek design, coupled with its primary ammunition storage being largely shielded below the waterline (particularly the forward 4.5 inch magazines), significantly enhance its survivability in combat scenarios. However, with a relatively modest crew complement of 330 personnel, the ship remains vulnerable to sustained fire from rapid-firing cannons, particularly those equipped with the potent Mk.22 cannon mount commonly found on American destroyers. Moreover, the threat posed by Soviet 130 mm rounds cannot be underestimated, given their powerful explosive filler and potential to inflict significant damage. Fortunately, mitigating factors exist to improve the ship's survivability: Removing the torpedoes, for instance, can drastically reduce the ship's vulnerability to fire. While the torpedoes offer a distinct advantage, their overall performance may not warrant the associated risk, despite their respectable capabilities compared to other torpedo systems.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB79 / 32 km/h

RB64 / 26 km/h

HMS Diamond may have modest mobility, but it stands out as one of the fastest ships within its battle rating, particularly when encountering lower-tier adversaries. Its top speed of 64 km/h allows for swift navigation across maps, offering an advantage in naval engagements. Despite its classification as a destroyer, its relatively compact size grants it agility akin to that of a corvette, affording it a surprisingly tight turn radius.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	79	32
RB/SB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	64	26

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB2 937

RB2 282

Crew training10 000

Experts360 000

Aces820

Research Aces870 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 290 / 600 / 50 %

2 × 160 / 160 / 160 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Rudder Replacement Propeller Replacement Engine Maintenance	Damage Control Division Fire Division Smokescreen Shrapnel Protection Ventilation New Pumps Ammo Wetting	114mm_uk_sap_ammo_pack 40 mm HE clips 114mm_uk_aa_distant_fuse_ammo_pack 40 mm AP clips Auxiliary Armament Targeting Improved Rangefinder Improved Rangefinder Primary Armament Targeting 114mm_uk_aa_radio_fuse_ammo_pack Torpedo Mode

Armament

Primary armament

3 х Turret2 x 4.5 inch/45 QF Mark V cannon

Ammunition600 rounds

Vertical guidance-5° / 80°

The 4.5 inch/45 QF Mark V cannons aboard HMS Diamond prove to be formidable armaments, particularly effective against light to medium armoured ships and aerial targets. Despite their relatively modest explosive yield compared to other munitions of similar calibre, they deliver a considerable punch, ensuring devastating impacts upon target engagement. With an upgraded crew, HMS Diamond achieves an impressive firing rate of up to 20 rounds per minute, mirroring the capabilities of the USS Moffett. A notable feature of these cannons is their consistent firing rate, as there is no need to pause for reloading due to the absence of a ready rack. However, disruptions such as fires or flooding onboard may temporarily hinder this rapid rate of fire. To optimize ammunition usage and effectiveness, it is recommended to utilize HE-VT projectiles whenever possible. These projectiles offer the same explosive filler as standard HE rounds but with the added advantage of a proximity fuze, maximizing the ship's combat efficiency while conserving valuable ammunition space. In situations requiring engagement of armoured targets or encounters at challenging angles, such as front aspect shots, SAP projectiles are advised.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		1,000 m	2,500 m	5,000 m	7,500 m	10,000 m	15,000 m
4.5 inch HE	HE	28	28	28	28	28	28
4.5 inch SAP	SAP	117	100	77	61	50	41
4.5 inch HE-TF	HE-TF	28	28	28	28	28	28
4.5 inch HE-VT	HE-VT	28	28	28	28	28	28

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (s)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
4.5 inch HE	HE	746	24.95	0	0.1	2,320	79°	80°	81°
4.5 inch SAP	SAP	746	23	0.015	5	910	47°	60°	65°
4.5 inch HE-TF	HE-TF	746	24.95	0	0.1	2,320	79°	80°	81°

Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Arming distance (m)	Trigger radius (m)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
									0%	50%	100%
4.5 inch HE-VT	HE-VT	746	24.95	0	0.1	244	23	2,320	79°	80°	81°

Secondary armament

2 х Turret2 x 40 mm QF STAAG Mark II gun

Ammunition4000 rounds

Belt capacity4 rounds

Fire rate156 shots/min

Turret2 x 40 mm QF Mark V gun

Ammunition4000 rounds

Belt capacity4 rounds

Fire rate156 shots/min

The 40 mm autocannons serve as versatile weapons with potent capabilities for both air defense and point-blank defense. In air defense roles, these autocannons excel at engaging low-flying aircraft and as a deterrence for high-flying aircraft. Their high rate of fire and effective range make them formidable tools for intercepting fast-moving targets with precision accuracy. Additionally, their ammunition options include a set of munitions ready for all scenarios, universal clip is advised. In point-blank defense scenarios, 40 mm autocannons provide reliable firepower for engaging close-range threats such as small boats. Their rapid rate of fire and substantial calibre make them effective deterrents against targets at short distances.

• Universal: AP-T · HEFI-T
• 40 mm HE clips: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · AP-T
• 40 mm AP clips: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEFI-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
HEFI-T	3	3	3	3	3	3
AP-T	81	78	68	58	49	41

Shell details
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
						0%	50%	100%
HEFI-T	874	0.9	0	0.1	67.13	79°	80°	81°
AP-T	874	0.89	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°

Additional armament

Setup 110 x 533 mm Mk.IX** torpedo

As with the HMS Daring in the standard tech tree, the name ship of her class, HMS Diamond is equipped with ten 533 mm Mk.IX** torpedoes, launched from two quintuple launchers located amidships. Notably, this is twice as many as the HMS Diana, the other Daring-class destroyer in the standard tech tree. With 587.2 kg of TNT explosive equivalent and a decent speed of 76 km/h, the powerful Mk.IX** torpedo is useful against any target, especially at close range. However, the torpedo launchers' poor firing arcs restrict their usefulness, as Diamond's captains will be forced to show her vulnerable broadsides to launch them.

Usage in battles

Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Six fast-firing and powerful 4.5 inch guns with no first-stage ammo racks
• Turret has good traverse speed and coverage
• Survivable against destroyers due to high crew count
• Good anti-air coverage

Cons:

• Critical modules were largely unarmoured, vulnerable to armour-piercing shells
• Auxiliary shell room at the bow and rear magazine is above the waterline, making it a fatal weak spot
• Relatively sluggish for a destroyer due to high displacement
• Carries only five torpedoes with restrictive firing arc

History

HMS Diamond was a Royal Navy Daring-class destroyer, laid down on 15 March 1949 at the J. Brown & Co. shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, launched on 14 June 1950, and commissioned on 21 February 1952. Her motto was Honor clarissima gemma, meaning "Honour is the brightest jewel."

HMS Diamond participated in several significant operations during her active service. In 1953, she took part in the Fleet Review marking the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Later that same year, on 29 September, she was involved in a collision with the cruiser HMS Swiftsure during Exercise Mariner near the coast of Iceland. The incident was attributed to challenging weather conditions and the lack of communication or navigation lights enforced by the exercise. As a result, Diamond sustained damage to her bow but returned safely to the shipyard for repairs. Following this, she was deployed during the Suez Crisis in 1956.

After a refit at Chatham Dockyard in 1959, HMS Diamond resumed operations but was involved in a second collision, this time with HMS Salisbury on 25 June 1964 in the English Channel during a naval demonstration. High-speed manoeuvres of multiple vessels in close proximity were found to be at fault. Following repairs, she returned to active service for several more years.

In 1970, HMS Diamond was repurposed as a Harbour Training Ship, moored at Priddy's Hard in Gosport, where she was used for training by the Marine Engineering School. Her steam plant remained functional for watchkeeping training until she was replaced by HMS Londonderry. After serving in this capacity for several years, HMS Diamond was eventually scrapped in November 1981 in Rainham, Kent.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the ship;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Wikipedia] HMS Diamond (D35)
• [IWM] Royal Navy, DIAMOND (HMS), destroyer (1931)
• [Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk] HMS Diamond

John Brown & Company
Destroyers
Daring-class	HMS Diamond
Light Cruisers
Emerald-class	HMS Enterprise
Town-class	HMS Southampton
Tiger-class	HMS Tiger
Battlecruisers
Renown-class	HMS Repulse
Admiral-class	HMS Hood
Battleships
Queen Elizabeth-class	HMS Barham

Britain premium ships
Motor torpedo boats	MTB-1(2) · MTB-422 · Fairmile D (5001) · HMS Gay Archer
Motor gun boats	MGB-75 · SGB Grey Goose
Gunboats	HMS Spey
Sub-chasers	LÉ Orla
Frigates	HMS Whitby
Destroyers	HMS Montgomery · HMS Valhalla · HMS Verdun · ORP Garland · HMS Jervis · HMCS Haida · HMS Mohawk · HMS Cadiz · HMS Diamond
Light cruisers	HMS Belfast
Battleships	HMS Iron Duke