HMS Belfast facts – where is the warship, when was it built and can I go inside?
All you need to know about HMS Belfast, now a popular museum and tourist attraction, which turns 80 this week
HERE'S a profile HMS Belfast, its illustrious history and what happened to it as it turns 80 on St Patrick’s Day, March 17
The Town-class light cruiser was launched by Anne Chamberlain, the wife of then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
The history of HMS Belfast
Construction of the Royal Navy ship was started in December 1936 – along with nine other cruisers - and she was launched on March 17, 1938, and commissioned on August 5, 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II.
Belfast quickly saw action during the war and was part of the naval blockade against Germany.
In November 1939 she was badly damaged after hitting a German mine and spent two years undergoing extensive repairs.
Belfast was back in action in November 1942 and was part of the armed convoys across the Arctic to the Soviet Union.
She also played an important role in the Battle of North Cape and helped in the sinking of German warship Scharnhorst.
It also took part in Operation Overlord in supporting the Normandy landings before joining the British Pacific Fleet in the Far East.
She saw active service during the Korean War and was then put in reserve in 1963.
When was HMS Belfast converted to a museum?
In 1967 it was expected that Belfast would be scrapped but a joint committee of the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Ministry of Defence was established in a bid to turn her into a museum.
But in 1971 the government decided against preserving the ship which triggered the formation of the HMS Belfast Trust and launched a campaign to preserve her.
The campaign won its battle and the government transferred ownership of Belfast to the Trust in July 1971.
It was then moved to London and moored close to Tower Bridge and began a new life as a museum in October.
Most read in news
Tourist attraction
Now part of the Imperial War Museum the ship is a popular tourist attraction and receives more than a quarter of a million visitors a year.
Visitors can explore all nine decks of the ship and discover what life was like on board.
It’s open every day between 10am-6pm.
Cost – adults £15.30, kids aged 5-15 (accompanied by an adult) £7.65, children aged 4 and under, free, concessions £12.25.
Where is it?
Moored in the Thames between London and Tower bridges. Address: The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2JH.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.