hms diamond hms diamond class destroyer built royal_navy early 1930s ship spent bulk career briefly assigned mediterranean_fleet transferred west_africa convoy escort duties diamond returned mediterranean_fleet early generally escorted convoys malta ship participated november diamond sunk german aircraft april whilst evacuating allied troops greece description diamond displaced long tons standard load long tons deep load ship overall length feet beam feet draught feet inches powered parsons geared steam turbines driving shafts developed total shaft horsepower gave maximum speed knots mph steam turbines provided admiralty drum boilers diamond carried maximum long tons fuel oil gave range nautical miles knots mph ship complement officers men ship mounted calibre inch mark guns single mounts anti aircraft defence diamond single pounder inch gun funnels millimetre pounder guns mounted bridge fitted water quadruple torpedo tube mounts inch torpedoes depth charge rail throwers fitted depth charges originally carried increased shortly war began career diamond ordered february naval estimates laid yard september launched april completed november total cost excluding equipment supplied admiralty weapons ammunition wireless equipment ship initially assigned 1st destroyer flotilla mediterranean brief deployment red_sea september november diamond refitted september october service 8th later 21st arrived january remained years ship began refit singapore august transferred mediterranean_fleet completed november diamond arrived malta december transferred following month departed malta january bound joined 20th escort duties april ship returned mediterranean diamond assigned newly formed 10th short refit malta slightly damaged air attacks june near malta italians declared war allies june sisters defender australian destroyer stuart light cruisers liverpool escorted convoy egypt ports late july diamond bombarded italian seaplane base libya august week later escorted transports malta destroyers ship escorted convoy operation collar reaching malta november sailed rendezvous force coming gibraltar day british forces combined spotted italians inconclusive fought operation excess diamond defender escorted convoy malta january mid april escorted convoy malta alexandria loss evening april diamond light cruisers destroyers force began evacuating british australian new_zealand troops cruisers destroyers hms isis embarked nearly troops morning calcutta ordered evacuation force sail troop ships dutch ocean liner continued embark troops embarked troops eventually orders convoy sailed crete near mouth luftwaffe dive bombers attacked convoy hit set began abandon ship calcutta ordered diamond alongside rescue survivors rest convoy continued try reach bay crete diamond reported rescuing survivors air attack destroyers reinforced convoy calcutta sent assist diamond stem stern diamond fired torpedo sank coup diamond reported rescued survivors proceeding bay hour later signalled request aircraft cover air attack german fighters bombers sank destroyers minutes launched destroyer launched survivors set east past occupants evening wind increased causing strike boat reluctantly cast april vice admiral light forces concerned diamond returned bay answering radio signals ordered radio silence attempt radio sent destroyer position lost found survivors night survivors morning took survivors crete living survivor veteran states sunk men rescued cruiser survivors reached crete stages april aimed island exhausted landed nautical miles southeast met greek refugees british soldiers evacuated day sailing night avoid detection evening left headed south crete people towed april sighted small landing craft left near athens took aboard day reached bay
HMS Diamond (H22)