DS30M 30 mm naval gun

The DS30M is a Royal Navy shipborne 30 mm automated small-calibre gun mount built around the Mk 44 Bushmaster II cannon. In the Red Sea Crisis it provided close-in defense on HMS Diamond, where the crew used the ship's 30 mm cannon against a Houthi drone while escorting merchant shipping through a high-threat maritime corridor.

Red Sea CrisisUnited States-led coalition

Conflict side: United States-led coalition
Built by: MSI-Defence Systems
Built in: United Kingdom

DS30M 30 mm naval gun, Naval gun, Naval Systems

Image source: HMS Medway fires its 30mm gun

Profile

Type: Naval gun
Conflict side: United States-led coalition
Origin: United Kingdom
Service note: 2007-present

naval air defense counter-uavsurface warfareunited kingdom

Service History

In service: Entered Royal Navy service in the late 2000s as an automated small-calibre ship gun.
Used by: Royal Navy
Wars: Red Sea Crisis

Production History

Designer: MSI-Defence Systems
Designed: 2000s
Built by: MSI-Defence Systems
Built in: United Kingdom
Produced: 2000s-present
Variants: DS30M Mark 2, MSI-DS SEAHAWK DS A2

Specifications

Caliber: 30 mm
Gun: Mk 44 Bushmaster II
Feed: Dual or single feed, depending on mount fit
Mount control: Remote electro-optical control with local reversion available
Ammunition capacity: Up to 400 rounds on the MSI-DS SEAHAWK DS A2 family

Conflict Usage

Red Sea Crisis: Side: United States-led coalitionRole: Close-in drone defenseair defense counter-uav
In the Red Sea Crisis, HMS Diamond used its 30mm cannon to shoot down a Houthi drone while protecting merchant shipping.

DS30M 30 mm naval gun Images

DS30M 30 mm naval gun, Naval gun, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: HMS Medway fires its 30mm gun

DS30M 30 mm naval gun, Naval gun, Naval Systems - view 2 — Source: HMS Northumberland DS30M at West India South Dock

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Sources

MSI-DS SEAHAWK DS A2Publisher: MSI-Defence Systems | Note: Supports DS30M family background, manufacturer context, mount controls, and 30 mm gun configuration. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 HMS Diamond shoots down Houthi missilePublisher: Royal Navy | Note: In the Red Sea Crisis, HMS Diamond used its 30mm cannon to shoot down a Houthi drone while protecting merchant shipping. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 HMS Medway fires its 30mm gunPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain licensing for the DS30M mount shown on HMS Medway. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 HMS Northumberland DS30M at West India South DockPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain licensing for a second DS30M shipboard view. | Accessed: 2026-06-22