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H.M.S. BELFAST,1939, - Royal Navy 'Town Class' Cruiser,built by Harland & Wolff ,Belfast.
In King George V Dry Dock 9/10/1971- prior to opening to the public at Tower Bridge, later that month*.
Subsequent History:Laid down: 10 December 1936, Launched: 17 March 1938 ,Commissioned: 5 August 1939, Decommissioned: 24 August 1963.
Disposal Data:In 1967, efforts were initiated to avert BELFAST's expected scrapping and preserve her as a museum ship. A joint committee of the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Ministry of Defence was established, and reported in June 1968 that preservation was practical. In 1971 the government decided against preservation, prompting the formation of the private HMS BELFAST Trust to campaign for her preservation. The efforts of the Trust were successful, and the government transferred the ship to the Trust in July 1971. Brought to London, she was moored on the River Thames near Tower Bridge in the Pool of London .
Opened to the public in *October 1971, BELFAST became a branch of the Imperial War Museum in 1978. A popular tourist attraction, BELFAST receives around a quarter of a million visitors per year.
Rick Cox collection,unknown photographer.
In King George V Dry Dock 9/10/1971- prior to opening to the public at Tower Bridge, later that month*.
Subsequent History:Laid down: 10 December 1936, Launched: 17 March 1938 ,Commissioned: 5 August 1939, Decommissioned: 24 August 1963.
Disposal Data:In 1967, efforts were initiated to avert BELFAST's expected scrapping and preserve her as a museum ship. A joint committee of the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Ministry of Defence was established, and reported in June 1968 that preservation was practical. In 1971 the government decided against preservation, prompting the formation of the private HMS BELFAST Trust to campaign for her preservation. The efforts of the Trust were successful, and the government transferred the ship to the Trust in July 1971. Brought to London, she was moored on the River Thames near Tower Bridge in the Pool of London .
Opened to the public in *October 1971, BELFAST became a branch of the Imperial War Museum in 1978. A popular tourist attraction, BELFAST receives around a quarter of a million visitors per year.
Rick Cox collection,unknown photographer.