HMS Belfast arrives at the Pool of London 1971
Today, 21 October marks 50 years since HMS Belfast took up residence on the River Thames and opened to the public as a museum on Trafalgar Day 1971.
This footage, captured a week earlier shows HMS Belfast travelling under Tower Bridge through the Pool of London.
Learn more about HMS Belfast and plan your visit today: https://bit.ly/3aWqOfF
© IWM ADM 4524
In June 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. HMS Belfast was soon in action. She spent more than 400 days on patrol, steaming over 80,000 miles, and firing more shells than she did in the whole of the Second World War.
She even had her 6-inch guns replaced part-way through the conflict after wearing them out providing constant support for the troops on land. The Americans christened her ‘that straight-shooting ship’ and could hardly believe that her guns were partially hand-worked.
You can find out more about the Korean War on board HMS Belfast when we reopen on 8 July. Until then, learn more on our interactive timeline: https://bit.ly/3z3OiKF
Family Mission: Morse Code