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Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Photograph © London Tourist Board.
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Built:
1936- 1938
Cost: £2,141,514
Designed by: Harland and Wolff Shipyard
Type: Museum
Maximum length: 613.5 feet / 187 meters
Location: Morgan's Lane at Tooley Street
City: London
State: England
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T
he British have a long and proud naval history, and part of that history is on display in the heart of London. The HMS Belfast is moored in the Thames River amid some of the most popular tourist attractions in the nation. The Belfast was intended to be a different kind of cruiser - a "Southampton" class ship with 16 six-inch guns, instead of the 12 it ended up with. Design problems forced the Royal Navy to scale back on its plans for the ship and make it an "Edinburgh" class vessel. As the Second World War approached, the Belfast's role in protecting Britain became more important. That was illustrated in 1939 when the ship ran into a mine, suffering severe damage. The ship was out of commission for three years for repairs. But this was fortunate, because at the same time it was upgraded into one of the most fearsome ships in the fleet. Its capabilities were put to use as a flagship in the Arctic. After the war ended, the Belfast next saw action in the Korean War where it spent many long months on patrol before returning home.
**The Belfast is an Edinburgh class ship.
**The ship has 12 six-inch guns, 12 two-inch anti-aircraft guns, and eight four-inch guns.
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