HMS Diomede was launched in April 1969 by Lady Mills, wife of the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Admiral Sir Charles Mills. The ship was a batch three stretched Leander class Frigate and was the first Leander to have her towed array sonar removed before she was launched and consequently had a flat stern. Her first commission began in July 1971.

The above image shows the flat stern of the ship but is also testament to her starring role in the television hit series “Warship”. The series was almost exclusively filmed onboard HMS Phoebe with the Diomede having to stand in when she was not available on at least two occasions. What can be seen here is the star of the show, HMS Hero’s pennant number beneath Diomede’s F16, proving she had the role in the BBC series Warship.