Diamond Dogs

Diamond Dogs was a private military company led by Venom Snake around the 1980s. It was created as a result of the devastation of the Militaires Sans Frontières as well as the attack on Mother Base. At some point during the 1980s, Diamond Dogs managed to situate themselves on an offshore plant modeled after their former base given to them by the government of the Seychelles after they halted an attempted coup by South African mercenaries. The name stems from the group's profession as "dogs of war," who were willing to carry out unsavory jobs for clients, while at the same time maintaining pride in their work. Owing to their name, they also carried diamonds into battle, some converted from the cremated ashes of their fallen comrades, and collected raw diamonds for the funding of their Mother Base. Besides engaging in combat and various mercenary jobs, the Diamond Dogs also retrieved various animals for an environmental NGO.

The Diamond Dogs' practice of carrying diamonds into battle began after an outbreak of parasites occurred, which resulted in Venom Snake being forced to kill a large number of his comrades. After the incident, the cremated bodies' ashes were turned into diamonds.

At some point, the Diamond Dogs had decided to follow the world's example of disarming their own nukes. Their first attempt at disarming a nuke had the nuclear material rupture, also irradiating several men in 100 rads and had to be hospitalized as a result, although they had nonetheless contained the leak and presumably put it in cold storage. Eventually, they needed to grow stronger to ensure nukes were eliminated, requiring development of several armored vehicles, with Ocelot noting the irony that they had to expand the war effort to eliminate nukes.

At some point before 1995, Diamond Dogs was dissolved and absorbed into Outer Heaven - Venom Snake's independent nation.

Personnel

 * Venom Snake (commander)
 * Benedict "Kazuhira" Miller (founder/executive officer)
 * Revolver "Shalashaska" Ocelot (interrogator/weapons trainer/spymaster)
 * DD (attack dog)
 * D-Horse (steed)
 * D-Walker (robotic assistant)
 * Quiet (vanguard sharpshooter)
 * Code Talker (parasitologist)
 * Troops (including survivors of the MSF Mother Base attack)
 * Pequod (helicopter)
 * Queequeg (helicopter)
 * Enemy defectors
 * Hideo (Intel Team agent)
 * Rescued POWs
 * Silent Basilisk
 * Malak
 * The Viscount
 * Ziang Tan

Some of the recruited personnel were taken from the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, as well as former Mujahideen members, former Private Forces members, former XOF members and some British POWs that were rescued. At least one was a Soviet soldier operating as a mole for the CIA.

Huey Emmerich was not actually a formal member of Diamond Dogs due to his role in the disaster on MSF, but he was kept on Mother Base nonetheless due to both his having intel on XOF's plans and because Diamond Dogs needed his R&D scientist/bipedal weapon developer abilities with his suggested Battle Gear concept. Huey was eventually exiled from Diamond Dogs and Mother Base altogether for his role in the parasite outbreak.

Base of operations
Similar to its predecessor, Diamond Dogs also had an offshore plant called Mother Base. By the time Big Boss awakened from his coma, the base had been nearing completion, with Ocelot assisting in the finishing touches while Big Boss was off rescuing Miller in Afghanistan. They contained both square struts and hexagonal struts, and were also colored orange. Eventually, it grew to a gargantuan enough size to not only mandate driving across the base, but even create various Forward Operating Bases. Their FOBs were located on territories that had been purchased beforehand, including eastward of the Hawaiian Islands, the North Pacific Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the South Atlantic Ocean, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, among others. However, this development also led to the FOBs becoming a target for competitors who wish to raid Diamond Dogs of their supplies and manpower.

Aside from Mother Base, it also had an Aerial Command Center, which was situated within a helicopter.

Unit divisions
Like its predecessor, Diamond Dogs had various unit divisions, four of which were retained from its reformation from MSF, plus a new sixth unit. The Intel Team from MSF was further split up into two separate divisions: The Intel Unit dealt with any intelligence and enemy movements in areas the Diamond Dogs were currently infiltrating, and the Support Unit sent packages containing requested items by any Diamond Dogs operatives during a mission. They also had a Base Development Unit for building and further improving Mother Base and a Security Team for guarding the base and its various FOBs from intruders.


 * Combat Unit
 * Security Team
 * R&D Team
 * Base Development Unit
 * Support Unit
 * Medical Unit
 * Intel Unit

Training regimen
The soldiers underwent various training regimens on Mother Base, overseen by both Ocelot and Big Boss. In addition, the shooting range was moved outdoors.

Although technically not training, sometimes very serious brawls occur on the base, which even result in potential deaths.

Recruitment policy
Like MSF before it, the Diamond Dogs recruited personnel either by abducting enemy soldiers or rescuing POWs via Fulton Recovery using modified choppers. Fulton Recovery required good weather conditions, otherwise the recovery balloon would be knocked off-course and the would-be recruit would likely die. If the Fulton system was unavailable, personnel could be carried directly to a nearby chopper.

Uniform
The standard Diamond Dogs uniform consisted of:
 * Balaclava  (note: only a few of the standard infantry wear this as part of the uniform)
 * SP Headgear - Balaclava with extra protection to prevent head injuries. Worn by Diamond Dogs members in the field
 * HP Headgear - Balaclava with integrated helmet for even better protection. Used either in the field or on FOB's with Level 5 Battle Dress or Sneaking Suits equipped.
 * Head set  (note: only the standard infantry wear this as part of the uniform)
 * Utility SPIE (Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction) Harness
 * Tactical Plate Carrier Vest (Vietnam Era Chickenplate)
 * US LC-2 Individual Equipment Belt w/ QR (Quick-Release) Buckle Hello
 * US M1956 Universal Ammo Pouch
 * US 1-Quart Plastic Canteen w/ LC-1 Canteen Cover
 * US M1967 Nylon Field Pack (Butt Pack)
 * Bianchi M12 Universal Holster w/ Drop Leg Extender
 * Jungle boots
 * Jungle fatigues  (olive drab fatigues customized with knee braces on the right side and brassards with the Diamond Dogs insignia on them. Snake however wears Tiger Stripes patterned fatigues with 1 black knee brace on his right knee and black paracord tied on his left leg.)
 * Memorial Diamonds formed from the ashes of fallen comrades to serve as inspiration
 * African and Afghan raw diamonds to fund Mother Base.

In addition, there were several Diamond Dogs soldiers accompanying Ocelot who instead donned black uniforms and red berets with the Diamond Dogs logo (though some wore thermal goggles instead), and wore a different type of balaclava. They bore some resemblance to the Ocelot Unit.

Security Team Forces guarding FOB's can also wear either Sneaking Suits or Battle Dress uniforms depending on whether the Security Setting is set to Non-Lethal or Lethal respectively. They will wear balaclavas (or, with Level 5 Sneaking Suits, HP Headgear) on Non-Lethal Security Setting FOB's, but only Back-Up Units on Lethal FOB's will wear balaclavas. However, when equipped with Level 5 Battle Dress armor, the entire security detail will don HP Headgear.

Weaponry
Diamond Dogs utilized a wide variety of weaponry, including various technologies from the Western and Eastern Blocs. They came in three main categories: Primary, secondary and support. Their weapons could also be customized with various parts. In some cases, even the bathroom acted as an armory.

Close-range weapons

 * Combat Knife
 * Bionic Arm (Snake)
 * Stun Arm (Snake)
 * Rocket Arm (Snake)
 * Blast Arm (Snake)
 * Hand of Jehuty (Snake)

Handguns

 * Wu Silent Pistol
 * AM D114 Pistol (Service Pistol)
 * Uragan-5 Revolver
 * Uragan-5 Long Barrel Revolver (Ocelot)
 * Burkov
 * Geist P3
 * Windurger series 333 revolver (WU S333)
 * WU S324 LB
 * Zorn-KP
 * Water Pistol

Shotguns

 * S1000 Shotgun
 * S1000 Air-S (Standard Issue on Non-Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * Kabarga-83 Shotgun (Standard Issue on Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)

Assault rifles

 * AM MRS-4 Rifle (Standard Issue on Mother Base and for Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * AM MRS-4 Rifle (SL)
 * AM MRS-4 Rilfe M3
 * AM Rifle Type 69 ("AM MRS-4R Rifle"; Standard Issue for Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * AM-69 AAS Rifle
 * G44
 * G44K
 * G44-9
 * G44MG
 * PG-76
 * PG-67
 * SVG-76
 * SVG-76U
 * SVG-67
 * SVG-67U
 * UN-ARC
 * UN-ARC-NL(Standard Issue on Non-Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * UN-ARC-PT
 * Unidentified assault rifle
 * Secret Weapon

Submachine guns

 * Riot SMG (Standard Issue on Non-Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * Sz.-336 SMG
 * ZE'EV (Standard Issue for Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * Macht 37
 * Macht 37K
 * Macht 37L

Machine Guns

 * ALM 48 (Standard Issue for Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * ALM 48H
 * ALM 48S
 * UNAAM
 * LPG-61

Sniper rifles

 * Bambetov Sniper Rifle
 * M2000 Sniper D (Standard Issue on Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)
 * M2000-NL
 * Serval AMR-7
 * AM-MRS-73 Rifle (Standard Issue on Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)

Grenade Launcher

 * Isando RGL-220

Missiles

 * CGM 25
 * FB MR R-Launcher
 * FB MR R-Launcher Mk. II
 * GROM-II
 * Killer Bee (Issued to Soldiers on Lethal Equipment Security Setting FOB's)

Shield

 * Personal Ballistic Shield (Issued to Soldiers on FOB's)
 * Olive
 * White
 * Silver
 * Gold

Throwing weapons

 * Decoy
 * Active Decoy
 * E-Stun Decoy
 * Hand grenade
 * Flare grenade
 * Smoke grenade
 * Stun grenade
 * Sleep grenade
 * Magazine
 * Threat grenade

Placeable Weapons

 * C4
 * Capture cage
 * M21 D-Mine

Emplaced weaponry
Emplaced weaponry could be procured via Fulton recovery.
 * Anti-aircraft guns
 * Mortars

The Diamond Dogs would later have access to a nuclear arsenal.

Barrel

 * SVG type barrel
 * MRS type barrel
 * MRS type R-barrel
 * MRS type SR-barrel
 * MRS type LR-barrel
 * ARC type S-barrel
 * ARC type SR-barrel
 * ARC type FS-barrel
 * ARC type F2-barrel
 * Bambetov barrel

Magazine

 * 5.56 MAG x30

Stock

 * MRS type stock

Muzzle

 * MRS type muzzle

Muzzle Accessory

 * Sup. GP-W (R2)

Optics 1

 * Dot Sight II

Underbarrel

 * M-foregrip
 * F-foregrip
 * S-1000 UDB: SG
 * FAKEL UDB: GL
 * DGL UDBL GL

Equipment
The Diamond Dogs also possessed various equipment. They came in two categories: Items and Tools.

Items

 * Cardboard box
 * Desert
 * Night vision goggles
 * Thermal goggles
 * Int-Scope
 * Stealth Camouflage PP
 * Phantom Cigars
 * Pentazemin
 * Noctocyanin

Tools

 * iDroid
 * Walkman
 * Fulton Device
 * Medical Spray
 * Storage containers/resources
 * Common metals
 * Parachute
 * Diamonds
 * Raw Diamonds (L)
 * Raw Diamonds (S)
 * Memorial Diamonds

Storage containers could be procured via Fulton recovery.

Fauna

 * Goats
 * Horse
 * Diamond Horse
 * Sheep
 * Wolf
 * DD

Various animals could be procured via Fulton recovery.

Vehicles and aircraft

 * Motorcycle (at least one)
 * Jeeps
 * ZaAZ-S84/4W
 * APE T-41LV
 * Trucks
 * Zi-GRA 6T
 * BOAR-53 CT
 * Infantry fighting vehicles and Armored personnel carriers
 * STOUT IFV-SC
 * ZHUK BR-3
 * ZHUK RS-Z0
 * STOUT IFV-FS
 * Tanks
 * TT77 NOSOROG
 * M84A MAGLOADER
 * Military helicopters
 * HP-48 KROKODIL
 * UTH-66 Blackfoot
 * Unidentified Heavy-Lift Helicopter
 * Modified whaling vessel/transport (one)
 * Heiwa Maru

Several of these vehicles could be procured via Fulton recovery. In addition, Mother Base also had some jeeps present to allow for travel between struts.

By late 1984, Diamond Dogs had expanded its vehicular armament to include 12 non-combat vehicles, 32 armored vehicles, 24 tanks, and 25 Walker Gears to better ensure they disarmed all nukes as the world saw fit. Ocelot would later note the irony behind this.

Security systems

 * Gun cameras
 * Surveillance cameras
 * Unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle sentry
 * Infrared sensors
 * Antitheft device
 * Mines
 * Decoys
 * Various emplaced weapons
 * Anti-Air Guns
 * Mortars
 * Machine Gun Positions

Logo
The Diamond Dogs logo depicted a cut diamond, with a black Rhodesian Ridgeback hound's head snarling in profile. A yellow banner underneath featured the name of the organization.

Behind the scenes
The Diamond Dogs first appeared in the form of an emblem on Big Boss's uniform, in a "classified" artwork unveiled online by Kojima Productions. The artwork was used to promote the recruitment of engineers to help develop the next canonical game in the Metal Gear series, which was later revealed to be Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The artwork in question depicts Big Boss accompanied by a dog, presumably either a foxhound or a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Due to the angle of the artwork, only the word "Dogs" is legible, on the right side of Big Boss's uniform. However, Hideo Kojima tweeted a full image of the logo, revealing the entire name. On January 30, 2013, Kojima tweeted that he had an iPhone case that bore the logo of Diamond Dogs, but that it wasn't for sale.

Aside from the aforementioned meanings behind the name "Diamond Dogs," it is also a reference to the David Bowie album of the same name, whose work has previously been referenced in other games in the series. It might also be a reference to blood diamonds, which are diamonds that are mined and sold in countries during major conflicts, usually within Africa. Both potential origins of the name were acknowledged by Kojima, who commented that some of these suggestions indeed touched on the meanings behind it. On a side note, Bowie's song of the same name was a cover that summarized George Orwell's book 1984, which was also an inspiration for the plot of the game.

A Diamond Dogs T-shirt is being sold at EB Games, GameStop, and GameMania, as well as the Spanish game provider GAME.

The coup against the government of the Seychelles prevented by Diamond Dogs is based on a real event which occurred in 1981 whereby a group of South African mercenaries masquerading as holidaying Rugby players attempted a coup against the government of then president France-Albert René. This was known as The Seychelles Affair.

One of the bonus Mother Base staff members, Canine, has a Diamond Dogs tattoo on either their right or left cheek, depending on whether the soldier unlocked was female or male.

This article assumes that the Diamond Dogs chose to commit to nuclear disarmament. A hidden cutscene found in the PC version of The Phantom Pain shows the Diamond Dogs eventually succeeding in ridding the world of every single nuclear weapon, while continuing to keep on guard for their resurgence. The conditions required to unlock this cutscene have been given some elaboration in both the Famitsu guide as well as a PDF addon to the Piggyback Guides strategy guide for the game, although the "certain event" alluded to is not identified yet.

During several cutscenes, Diamond Dogs personnel can be seen equipped with weaponry not yet developed by Snake.

Interactions
While on Mother Base, Venom Snake can interact with recruited soldiers by walking up to them, raising their morale, attacking them with CQC, boosting their combat skills, as well as their morale, or hide out of sight to listen to conversations.

Some of the conversations Snake can overhear usually are about what's happening in the plot, but more conversations can be heard if players are careful enough.
 * 1) Miller's rescue from Afghanistan.
 * 2) DD being fully grown, and a heated debate about whether he's a dog or a wolf. Emmerich will later point out in a tape that DD is clearly a wolf.
 * 3) One of the soldiers wanting to touch DD's paw pads, while the other has no idea why he would want to.
 * 4) The expansion of Mother Base
 * 5) The Animal Conservation Platform.
 * 6) "That woman" Snake brought back.
 * 7) Fear over the vocal cord parasite.
 * 8) Two or more soldiers talking about now being infertile, one states he doesn't have kids but never planned on getting married, another states his ex-wife took his kids and didn't plan on having anymore, a third, female soldier will state her "husband will be pissed."
 * 9) How the children Snake had rescued are faring on Mother Base, and how poor role models they are for the children.
 * 10) A male recruit will ask a female how she's liking life on the base, she states that she likes it so far and has decided to stay for the time being. The male recruit points out there was no discrimination for skin color or country of origin and the female recruit agrees.
 * 11) Two soldiers will talk about why Snake's old unit was taken out, the other will state it was because the unit had gotten too big for comfort.
 * 12) Some soldiers will comment on how Snake's frequently going to an under-construction area of Mother Base and how odd it is (note, this acts as foreshadowing towards "Paz" actually being a hallucination, as the only place that's under construction after Mother Base is fully built is the area next to where "Paz" was "recovering" at). After her missions are complete, it is revealed that the "hospital room" was still under construction and only consisted of a metal floor.
 * 13) Soldiers will also complain if a certain unit isn't getting enough attention, examples being, if there aren't enough members in the Security Unit, they will complain there aren't enough people to protect the facility, if there aren't enough in the Medical Unit, they will complain about getting colds, if there aren't enough in the R & D Unit, they will complain about not enough tech being created to keep up with the other PF's, if there aren't enough in the Intel or Support Unit, they will simply state those struts look like "ghost towns."
 * 14) After the epidemic at the Quarantine platform, two or more soldiers will talk about how "amazing" Big Boss is, while the other will state "Snake isn't a guy to piss off." While the optional third will state they have considered leaving in fear that Snake might snap and start killing people.
 * 15) After completing the main story, two soldiers will start talking about how "weak the boss has become" after allowing Huey to leave the base instead of killing him. The other will state he can see why Snake chose to spare him, but he still doesn't like it.
 * 16) Two soldiers will start talking about how Miller is so angry all the time, how he's looking for someone to take their vengeance out on now that Skull Face is dead, and one states he wishes Miller would "stop cramming revenge" down their throats.
 * 17) If players use the Butterfly Emblem and keep Quiet past Episode 46:Truth:The Man Who Sold the World, NPCs will start talking about "that woman the Boss brought back", the same as before, however one will comment that "maybe she isn't as bad" as he once thought, while the other states he still doesn't like her.
 * 18) Two soldiers will talk about why Snake is called Big Boss, how he received the codename, and about The Boss and her Cobra Unit.
 * 19) Once all the struts are completed to their maximum, soldiers will state their amazement how quickly the base was completed, how big it all is, and how happy they are to be there.
 * 20) A female soldier will ask another if she's "Team Miller" or "Team Ocelot", also pointing out that most of the female soldiers go for one or another and that "The Boss is... well, the Boss." The other female soldier will say that she has no preference or interest in a relationship at the moment. She'll also say that Miller kind of scares her and that she can never tell what Ocelot's really thinking.
 * 21) NPCs may also walk up to Snake and ask him to do tasks, offer assistance, or give their input on plot points, these include:
 * 22) They may ask Snake to expand Mother Base, they may also ask for specific expansions (e.g. "Boss, the R & D needs more support", "Boss, the Intel Unit isn't looking too good"). If there are too many people in the Waiting Room or one of the unit's capacity is full, NPC's will state, "Boss, could you expand Mother Base?"
 * 23) They may thank Snake for recruiting them, performing certain missions or certain tasks, such as rescuing DD, they will thank him for "rescuing that cute puppy." and tell him that "he's family now." After rescuing two Intel members, they will state "Thank you for getting our men out." After the Quarantine, they will thank Snake for putting those who were suffering out of their misery.
 * 24) After the main story, the NPC's will start stating they don't care who Snake is(referencing the Truth ending, where it's revealed Snake isn't Big Boss), and they will continue serving him.
 * 25) NPCs will tell Snake they are ready to help him in the field, "Boss, if you need supplies, let us know!", "Boss, if you need fire support, give us a call."
 * 26) NPCs will ask for missions, "Boss, send me out on my next mission!"