The HMS Belfast (C35) is the only ship of the Second world war preserved by the English and which is today in the port of London. Moored on the the Thames close to the subway station London Bridge, HMS Belfast is very close to an other attraction carrying on the military Histoire, the museum Britain At War Experience.

History

He is born with Belfast in the north of the Ireland in 1936 and is supplemented and launched the day of St-Patrick in March 1938. Cruiser of the class " Town" it is baptized by Madam Neville Chamberlain. It receives its armament the August 5th 1939 and is found attached to the base of Scapa Flow as of the release of the hostilities one month later. The November 21st, the explosion of a mine breaks it into two and it must undergo important repairs and modifications in the wearing of Davenport which will last two years. In November 1942, it takes again service for the protection of the convoys of the Arctique and the the North Sea. In December 1943, it takes part in hunting for Scharnhorst in company of HMS Norfolk , HMS Jamaica , HMS Duke Of York and HMS Sheffield . They will manage to run the German ship.

Its mission of following importance will be the participation in the unloading of Normandy in June 1944 where it will be the flagship of the force E. In 1945, it is affected in the Pacific to help to overcome Japan but the war will end before its arrival. It will be nevertheless in the sector of the Far East to take part in the war of Korea in 1950.

It will be disarmed the August 24th 1963 for finally being renovated and preserved like ship museum. As mentioned in introduction it is the only ship, in company of HMS Victory of the Admiral Nelson, with being preserved.

Visits

HMS Belfast is the light cruiser most powerful ever built , and the only building surviving of this type to have been useful during the second world war. This vessel forming integral part of the naval history opened its doors with the public for the first time at the time of Trafalgar Day in 1971; it constitutes a popular London attraction since then. Nowadays, the visitors of London can explore its nine bridges, including the enormous machine and boiler houses, see closely the anti-aircraft guns and make the experiment of the life on board.

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