The navy ship BELFAST

Improved SOUTHAMPTON Class heavy cruiser ordered on 15th August 1936 from Harland and Wolff at Belfast under the 1936 Estimates on with sister ship HMS EDINBURGH from Swan Hunter in Newcastle. The ship was laid down on 30th December 1936 and launched on 31st March 1938 as the 1st RN navy ship to carry this name. Build was completed on 3rd August 1939 and she joined the Home Fleet for working-up before outbreak of war. This cruiser was not ′adopted’ by a civil community as a result of a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941 and 1942 as she was out of commission and undergoing extensive repair.

the HMS BELFAST

The HMS BELFAST remained in the Far East after completion of her rehabilitation work and took part in UN operations off Korea in 1950. She was relieved by HM Cruiser CEYLON and returned to re-commission in UK for further service in the Far East as Flagship of the 5th Cruiser Squadron. She was deployed again with the UN off the west coast of Korea. In 1955 the navy ship paid off and was taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Devonport for modernization to suit current naval doctrines. On completion in 1959 she re-commissioned for another period of service in the Far East where she was deployed until 1962. In June of that year she joined the Home Fleet as Flagship of Flag Officer Flotillas for a few months before being placed in Reserve. She was briefly re-commissioned in 1963 to take part in RNR exercises after which the navy ship returned to the Reserve Fleet. Her future was placed in doubt by the Defense cuts announced in 1968 and she was removed from Reserve status but retained for use as an Accommodation Ship at Portsmouth. A proposal by the National Maritime Museum and the Imperial War Museum for this cruiser to be preserved and used as an example of a major WW2 warship was eventually agreed. On completion of the necessary work she was placed on display in the Pool of London and is open to visitors. RN and foreign warships frequently berth alongside when visiting London and the navy ship is also in demand by the media for use during presentations and for other publicity purposes.

The HMS BELFAST

The HMS BELFAST general characteristics :
Length — 613 feet;
Beam — 69 feet;
Draft — 19 feet;
Displacement — 11553 tons;
Armament:
Twelve 6-inch guns in four triple turrets;
Eight 4-inch HA/LA guns;
Twelve 40 mm Bofors AA (six twin mounts);