Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer's downing of drone hailed after first attack in 12 years

An Uber boat passes HMS Diamond as it is pulled along the Thames by tugboats

HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile to prevent it from striking a commercial merchant vessel, saw defence secretary Grant Shapps.

The Type-45 destroyer was sent to the region two weeks ago to join a loose coalition of other vessels from the US and France to deter attacks on commercial vessels.

It followed a decision by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, to target commercial shipping in order to pressure Israel to agree to cease its two-month war in Gaza.

Under “inherent defence” rules, HMS Diamond’s Commanding Officer, Commander Peter Evans, is not thought to have required permission from UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), in Bahrain before taking the action.

The overnight action is the first time the Royal Navy has fired in anger since the Libyan campaign of 2011, and the first surface to air missile engagement since the 1991 first Gulf War.

Before deploying to the Mediterranean on November 29 Commander Evans, who joined the Royal Navy in 2005, said the Gulf mission came at short notice but his 200 men and women were ready to respond.

“We’ve spent the last few days saying our farewells to our families and they gathered at Round Tower in Portsmouth to wave us off,” he added.

Global shipping has become a target during the war between Israel and Hamas, which like the Houthis is backed by Iran.

The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel.

Earlier this month, three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen, and a US warship shot down three drones during the assault.

On Friday Maersk, the world’s biggest shipping company, told all its vessels planning to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea to “pause their journey until further notice” after a missile attack on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said attacks on commercial ships in the global trade artery by Yemen’s Houthi rebels “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security.”

“The UK remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade,” he said last night.

“The recent spate of illegal attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security in the Red Sea. The UK remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade.”

The move was praised by former naval commanders last night.

Cmdr Pete Evans, who gave the order to fire.

Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West said: “This is extremely good news. The Type 45 destroyer is a superb anti-warfare vessel and it was sensible to deploy one to the Red Sea where Houthis are taking action against international law.

“This is something we must stand up to because we run global shipping from London. We need to show that we support the free movement of merchant and commercial shopping.”

Maritime expert Commander Tom Sharpe said: “We must give credit to the Government’s good planning here. It saw how the threat environment was slowly building and responded promptly by sending an important asset.”

He said there were two ways that a Royal Naval vessel could fire in anger without obtaining express permission: a clearly defined set Rules of Engagement formulated before deployment, and inherent defence.

“This doesn’t have to refer to an attack aimed at itself, but can also be expanded to defending other vessels from imminent danger” he said.

However, he warned that the action further demonstrated the need for a formal maritime coalition with clear rules of engagement.

“At the moment vessels are operating under rational rules and this is already becoming messy. Sooner or later someone will have to take charge, and it will probably be the Americans under Combined Task Force (CTF) 153.”

Both Admiral West and Commander Sharpe also warned about Britain’s missile stocks.

“The issue of missile stocks is important and one which should bear in mind,” said Cmdr Sharpe.

Earlier this month the US guided missile destroyer USS Carney came to the defence of the merchant vessels in a single day.

“USS Carney shot down 19 drones and 3 cruise missiles and most of this was done with its 5-inch guns,” said Cmdr Sharpe

“The 4.5-inch guns we use once had an anti-air capability, but this was removed decades ago under cost saving measures. It means we are more reliant on missiles.

“If the Houthis decided to throw 20 drones at HMS Diamond, that would require restocking, which means being out of action for a long time.”