HMS Belfast

HMS Belfast played a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also the Normandy Landings. It served throughout the Second World War. Until 1965, HMS Belfast was in service with the Royal Navy. HMS Belfast is a classical and unique reminder of Britain’s naval heritage. After the First World War (1914-1918) a single category of cruiser emerged whose size was indicated by the size of its guns; thus, HMS Belfast is a 6-inch cruiser, designed for the protection of trade, for offensive action, and as a powerful support for amphibious operations. The term 'cruiser' goes back to the days of sailing ships when large combat ship could be detached from the main fleet to sail independently. HMS Belfast, is one of the two ships forming the final sub-class of the Royal Navy's Town-class cruisers, the other being HMS Edinburgh. Belfast is now a museum ship in London.

HMS Belfast was the first ship to be saved for the nation since Nelson's HMS Victory due to her historical importance. The term 'cruiser' goes back to the days of sailing ships when large frigates could be detached from the main fleet to cruise independently. The sailing cruiser, like her twentieth-century counterpart, was sufficiently powerful and fast to attack and destroy enemy commerce raiders. During the nineteenth century when sail gave way to steam and wooden ships were replaced by those built of iron, and later of steel, the cruiser evolved into a powerful warship which was used to patrol the Empire trade routes and protect friendly merchant shipping.

HMS Belfast is one of the largest and strongest surviving example of Britain's twentieth century naval power and is now a museum moored on the Thames between Tower and London Bridge. HMS Belfast is best known for her role in supporting the advancing Allied troops as they made their way onto Gold and Juno beaches on the morning of D-Day, 6 June 1944.More than 6 million people have visited her since she became an Imperial War Museum site in 197.The HMS Belfast experience provides living testament to her illustrious service, her battle stories and the conditions in which up to 950 crew members lived and fought in until her retirement from the Royal Navy in 1965.HMS Belfast is now a naval time capsule, providing nine decks of living history to explore.