Cruiser Belfast (HMS Belfast) description and photos - Great Britain: London (Topic)

Cruiser Belfast (HMS Belfast) description and photos - Great Britain: London. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is HMS Belfast.

Photo and description

Her Majesty's ship light cruiser Belfast permanently docked on the River Thames in central London. It is currently a museum ship, a branch of the Imperial War Museum.

This ship, named after the capital of Ireland, Belfast, has a glorious and heroic history. It was laid down in December 1936 and launched on St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 1938 by Anna Chamberlain, wife of then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. August 31, 1939 Belfast became a member of the 18 cruising squadron, and the next day Nazi Germany attacked Poland. On September 3, 1939, Great Britain and France officially entered World War II. " Belfast " took part in the establishment of the naval blockade of Germany, but in November it was seriously damaged by a magnetic mine and repairs to the ship continued until 1942. After that Belfast takes part in the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz, covered the landing of the allied forces in Normandy and went in the Arctic convoys that delivered the military aid of the allies to the Soviet Union.

" Belfast " played a key role in one of the most famous naval battles of World War II - the Battle of North Cape, which resulted in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. Then the cruiser was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet and he met the end of the war in the Far East, where he continued to serve. Later, as part of the UN Naval Forces Belfast took part in the Korean War.

In the early 60s, the cruiser was written off to the reserve and, perhaps, would have been melted down, but the Imperial War Museum became interested in it. Long negotiations with the government led to the fact that the cruiser was given the status of a ship-museum, and she was laid up in the center of London. Except " Victoria " - the ship of Admiral Nelson - only this warship was decided to be kept for posterity. Despite the fact that Belfast no longer part of Her Majesty's Naval Forces, he is awarded the right to fly the British Naval Flag.

From the first crew of Belfast three veterans are still alive. They still keep in touch with the ship, and one of them, despite being 96 years old, comes to Belfast every week. and for several hours it becomes the center of the exposition - a kind of living exhibit - answering questions from visitors.

Russia remembers and appreciates the contribution of the cruiser Belfast; into a common victory. In 2010, shipbuilders from St. Petersburg took part in the restoration of the ships and made new masts according to the original drawings of the middle of the last century. The restoration work was paid for by Russian businessmen.

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Topic: Cruiser Belfast (HMS Belfast) description and photos - Great Britain: London.