HMS Diadem was
a Dido class light cruiser of the Bellona subgroup.
She
was a modified Dido design with only four turrets but improved
AA armament - aka Dido Group 2. She was built on the
Tyne with the keel being laid down on 15
December
1939. She was launched on 21 August 1942, and commissioned 6 January 1944.
Diadem served
on the Arctic convoys and raids against the Tirpitz in the early months of
1944, then became part of Force G off Juno Beach during the invasion of
Normandy. After the landings she carried out offensive patrols against German
shipping around the Brittany coast. She returned to northern waters in
September, where she covered Russian convoys and carrier raids against German
shipping routes along the Norwegian coast, as well as making offensive sweeps
herself.
Diadem remained
with the 10th Cruiser Squadron until after the war, and served in the Home
Fleet until 1950. She was placed in reserve between 1950 and 1956.
She was sold to Pakistan on 29 February 1956.