London - HMS Belfast

HMS Belfast, the last large cruiser of the Royal Navy, came into service in 1938. Only a few months later the ship was severely damaged by a German mine in the Firth of Forth. It did not become operational again until November 1942 and it subsequently played a major role in escorting convoys to Russia and more especially in the battle around the North Cape in December 1943 which ended with the sinking of the German "pocket" battleship Scharnhorst. In June 1944 the Belfast supported the landing of Allied troops on D-Day. After World War II the cruiser was engaged in operations in the Far East. In 1963 it was withdrawn from service and has been inaugurated as a museum ship, open to the public.