HMS BELFAST

I won't take a trip to London, England without a stroll along the Thames. I love to watch the boats working up and down the river. From little fishing boats to larger cruise ships, it's a dance of vessels that only a busy port can offer.

In the shadow of the Tower Bridge along the Thames river is moored the HMS BELFAST. The BELFAST, an Edinburgh class cruiser was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A cruiser is a smaller ship usually attached with a battle fleet, it is faster and can brake away to defend or attack. Launched in August 1939 She was damaged by a mine in November of the same year. After repairs that lasted until 1942 she was engaged in the war in the North Atlantic and was instrumental in the sinking of the German battleship SCHARNHORST . She worked the Normandy invasion and was on her way to the Pacific theater when the war ended. She was damaged in the Korean War and was put in reserve in 1953. She finally retired in 1963 and was converted into a museum ship in 1971.

LOA 613'6"

Beam 69'

Draft 19'9"

Speed 32 knots