John Brown laid Diamond down in March 1943, launched her in June 1950, and delivered her for commissioning in February 1952. She was one of the all-welded Darings and used alternating-current electrical power, unlike several sisters equipped with direct-current systems. Her peacetime career included the 1953 Coronation Fleet Review, collisions with HMS Swiftsure during Exercise Mariner and HMS Salisbury during a later demonstration, and a 1959 refit at Chatham. From 1970 she served at HMS Sultan as a harbor engineering training ship, where a live steam plant supported watchkeeping familiarization until she was replaced and eventually scrapped in 1981.
Chapter · 30:28-35:35
Diamond's construction and peacetime service
Diamond's career runs from wartime laying-down through a 1952 commission, collisions, refit, and final service as a harbor engineering training ship.