Another Daring Diamond, D35 was launched on the Clyde in 1950

A little bit of history repeating - Diamonds are forever!
No, Dame Shirley Bassey won't be at Govan! But there was another Daring Class destroyer called DIAMOND built on the Clyde...




Today's launch at Govan on the Clyde of HMS DIAMOND, the latest Daring Class Type 45 destroyer, all going well, will bring back some memories for old-timers on Clydeside who worked in the John Brown shipyard in their younger days.

For on Wednesday, 14 June 1950, the previous HMS DIAMOND, also a Daring Class Destroyer, was launched at the famous John Brown shipyard in Clydebank further down the Clyde from where the current, much larger descendant, will be launched.

HMS DIAMOND (D35) was commissioned in 1952 but the very next year she sustained damage when during exercises off Iceland in September, she rammed the SWIFTSURE, losing part of her bow in the process, or rather, depositing it into her hapless victim! Escorted back to port she got a shiny new nose welded on and returned to service.

Unfortunately, HMS SWIFTSURE didn't come off so lightly, her damage was so great she was paid off!

HMS DIAMOND later saw action during the Suez crisis and was used to bombard the beaches at Port Said.

June 23rd 1964 HMS DIAMOND and HMS SALISBURY collided whilst steaming too close together. Yet again the 'kiss' of death. SALISBURY was paid off the following year!

I have read that in the same year DIAMOND collided with HMS DUCHESS - it seems a bit much to believe and I stand to be corrected. It does however seem like something out of The Navy Lark! (younger readers say "eh?")

Let's hope that the shiny new DIAMOND has better luck in her career, and that today's repeat of history stops at the name, the class, and the river of birth!