皇冠体育app

During the exercise warfare specialists in Diamond鈥檚 operations room helped to choreograph sorties of F-18 Super Hornets and other aircraft, which add to the Carrier Strike Group鈥檚 potency.

As her sister ship Daring did just a few months ago, Diamond joined forces with the 鈥楤ig E鈥� to show how a Type 45 destroyer can shield a task group from air attack - exactly what she was built for.

皇冠体育app 拢1bn Royal Navy warship can track multiple targets courtesy of her Sampson radar and take them out, if necessary, at ranges of up to 70 miles (113km) away courtesy of the Sea Viper missiles in the silo on her forecastle. And she can also direct strike missions by guiding aircraft onto targets as well as generally co-ordinating friendly air activity.

皇冠体育app Portsmouth-based warship took her place alongside Enterprise鈥檚 more usual escorts, the cruiser Vicksburg and the destroyer Nitze. Whilst providing protection to the Carrier Strike Group, Diamond was able to close in to just 500 metres of the Enterprise, giving her ship鈥檚 company a 鈥榬ingside seat鈥� to US carrier operations.

Diamond鈥檚 crew observed as the F-18s were catapulted off the deck of the Enterprise - which is the longest warship in the world, longest-serving carrier in the world and the world鈥檚 first nuclear-powered carrier - and, when their missions were complete, touch down safely, brought to a halt by arrestor wires.

皇冠体育app exercises also allowed for an exchange of US and UK sailors, known in international naval circles as cross-pollination, sharing knowledge and experience among the ships.

Lieutenant Commander Mark Headley, Diamond鈥檚 Air Warfare Officer who hosted the American visitors on the British ship, said:

Working with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group has been a fantastic opportunity to build on Royal and US Navy understanding. 皇冠体育app knowledge gleaned will help the Royal Navy maximise the exciting opportunities offered by the Type 45 destroyers.

Chief among those visitors was Rear Admiral Walter Carter, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 12.

皇冠体育app Admiral liked what he saw aboard Diamond during a comprehensive tour of the 8,500-tonne warship, and what her ship鈥檚 company did during the destroyer鈥檚 time in the company of the Enterprise. He sent a signal to Diamond鈥檚 Commanding Officer, Commander Ian Clarke, which read:

Bravo Zulu to HMS Diamond on an outstanding performance. You have integrated brilliantly and I am looking forward to working with you again in Carrier Strike Group 12.

皇冠体育app USS Enterprise is in the final months of her active life (her first major mission was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962) and is due to decommission in December 2012.

HMS Diamond has resumed her maiden deployment duties, helping to provide security and stability in the Gulf region.

For that wider maritime security mission the Type 45 warship carries a Royal Marines team from 43 Commando who, together with members of Diamond鈥檚 own company, specialise in boarding operations - a task which can put them in harm鈥檚 way.

To prepare them for every eventuality, the combined boarding team undergoes weekly first aid training courtesy of the medical team and the impressive sickbay facilities.

Every week a different topic is covered - anything from minor accidents while undertaking normal duties to injuries that could be sustained during boarding operations. 皇冠体育app team are coached through scenarios and then offered the chance to critique one another鈥檚 performance.

Captain Richard Hughes Royal Marines, in charge of the commando detachment aboard Diamond, said:

This invaluable training instils the confidence within the Royal Marine and Royal Navy Boarding Team that every member is able to effectively carry out lifesaving treatment.