John's History of British Warships

HMS Belfast served throughout the Second World War, playing a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also the Normandy Landings. In service with the Royal Navy until 1965, she was saved for the nation in 1971 as a unique reminder of Britain’s naval heritage.She can now be visited in London on the River Thames near Tower Bridge.When you visit HMS Belfast you will have nine decks of living history to explore. The ship has been carefully preserved to reflect the different decades of her service and the campaigns that she served in.HMS Belfast under construction at H&W Belfast

In 1936, the Admiralty decided to order two enlarged and improved versions of the large light cruisers of the 'Southampton' class with sixteen 6-inch guns in four quadruple turrets, on a displacement of 10,000 tons, the maximum permitted under the terms of the Washington Treaty. In keeping with the policy of naming the 'Southamptons' after British cities, it was decided to call the two ships 'Edinburgh' and 'Belfast'.

On the outbreak of war with Germany in September 1939, HMS Belfast formed part of the 18th Cruiser Squadron operating out the Home Fleet's main base at Scapa Flow in OrkneyOver the course of the next few weeks the ship was constantly on patrol in Northern waters, as part of the Royal Navy's efforts to impose a maritime blockade on GermanyWhen she finally rejoined the Home Fleet in November 1942, under the command of Captain (later Admiral Sir Frederick) Parham, HMS Belfast was the largest and arguably the most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy. Not only had she been 'bulged' amidships, increasing her standard displacement to 11,500 tons and significantly improving her stability, but she had also been equipped with the most up-to-date radar and fire control systems. As a result, she was soon in the forefront of Britain's naval war in the Atlantic; as flagship of the Tenth Cruiser Squadron, responsible for providing close range heavy cover for the Arctic convoys taking supplies to the Soviet Union.

Between August 1941 and the end of the war, a total of 75 convoys made the perilous journey to and from north Russia, carrying four million tons of supplies, including 5,000 tanks and 7,000 aircraft for use by Soviet forces fighting against the German Army on the Eastern Front. The merchant seamen showed true heroism during their long sea passages in convoys, during which half or more of the ships could be sunk before safety was reached.HMS Belfast at sea off Korean Coast

Although the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 hastened the surrender of Imperial Japan before HMS Belfast's arrival in the Far East, she was still able to perform much useful work in helping to evacuate the emaciated survivors of Japanese prisoner of war and civilian internment camps from China, and until the autumn of 1947 she was fully occupied with peace-keeping duties in the Far East.Following her first peacetime refit, HMS Belfast returned to the Far East in December 1948 as flagship of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron.pf which HMS Birmingham & Newcastle were part of the same squadron.Belfast leaving Singapore for the last time 1962

HMS Belfast was amongst the very first British ships to go into action off Korea, bombarding in support of retreating South Korean and American troops only eleven days after the North Korean invasion.Her service in the Korean War, during which she spent no less than 404 days on active patrol, was as long and arduous as that with the Home Fleet during the Second World War.On 27 September 1952, she sailed for home, having fired her guns in anger for the last time.HMS Belfast returned to the UK and made a final visit to the City of Belfast. Following one last exercise in the Mediterranean, she finally paid off in Devonport on 24 August 1963 and her Admiral's flag was hauled down for the last time. She had earned her rest, having steamed nearly half a million miles during her operational life. In the normal course of events, her next destination would very probably have been the scrapyard. However, behind the scenes, a determined group of men led by her former captain, now Rear Admiral, Sir Morgan Morgan-Giles DSO OBE GM, decided to save her. As o[[osed to The HMS Sheffield, which I feel would have been a more fitting ship to have saved for the nation. But HMS Belfast was brought to London and opened to the public on 21 October 1971 - Trafalgar Day.

HMS Belfast Arriving at the pool of London October 1971