A military expert has described the moment a British warship launched into action with £1m missiles to shoot down Iranian-backed Houthi drones.
UK and US naval forces have repelled Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea according to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
Carrier-based jets and warships shot down 21 drones and missiles launched by the Iran-backed group overnight after the Houthis targeted a US ship.
Now a military expert has described how the British warship HMS Diamond played its part and was successful in its aim to bring down the threat saying “it doesn’t miss.”
The Houthis have carried out 26 attacks on commercial shipping which they say are linked to Tel Aviv, in protest at Israeli actions during the war in the Gaza Strip.
The drones were heading towards HMS Diamond which has been deployed by the UK to protect shipping in the region. The ship is a Daring-Class Type 45 air defence destroyer which joined the fleet in 2011.
Military analyst Michael Clarke says that he would expect nothing less from the ship, with its Sea Viper missiles costing £1m-a-piece.
He told Sky News: “Last night, it was doing exactly the job for which it was designed – bringing down airborne threats to other shipping.”
Mr Clarke said that the Type 45 launched Sea Viper missiles but that “there is nothing much to see on a Type 45 before it goes into action.”
However, he added, that when a Sea Viper is fired “it seems to explode out of the deck” adding “and it doesn’t miss.”
The MOD has released a series of images of crew inside the ship during the engagement wearing flash suits for protection.
Mr Clarke added: “It’s a very quiet place on a fighting ship.
“Life and death judgements are made in this small room at its centre, and they are made by people speaking very quietly in a matter-of-fact sort of way.”
The US military said the drones were launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea at around 21.15 local time (18.15 GMT) last night, Tuesday, January 9.
Eighteen drones, two cruise missiles and one ballistic missile were shot down by F/A-18 warplanes from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower four destroyers which included USS Gravely, USS Laboon, USS Mason and HMS Diamond.
No injuries or damage were reported.
