Her Majesty's ship, the light cruiser Belfast, is permanently moored on the the River Thames in the centre of London. It is now a museum ship, a branch of the of the Imperial War Museum.
This ship, named in honour of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, has a glorious and heroic history. She was laid down in December 1936 and launched on St Patrick's Day on 17 March 1938 by Anne Chamberlain, wife of the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. On 31 August 1939, "Belfast" became part of the the 18th Cruiser Squadron, and the next day Hitler's Germany attacked Poland. On 3 September 1939, Britain and France officially entered the World War II. "Belfast" took part in the establishment of a naval blockade of Germany, but in November was severely damaged by a magnetic mine and repairs to the ship continued until 1942. After that, the Belfast took part in the attack on the German battleship "Tirpitz", covered the Allied landings in Normandy and sailed as part of Arctic convoys delivering Allied military aid to the Soviet Union. Allied military aid to the Soviet Union.
The Belfast played a key role in one of the most famous naval battles of World War II, the Battle of Cape Nordkapp, which resulted in the sinking the German battleship Scharnhorst. The cruiser was then transferred to the British Pacific Fleet and ended the war in the Far East, where it continued to serve. Later, as part of the United Nations Navy, the Belfast took part in the Korean War.
In the early 60's the cruiser was written off in the reserve and probably would have gone to the meltdown, but the Imperial War Museum became interested. Long negotiations with the government resulted in the cruiser being given the status of a museum ship, and it's moored in the centre of London. Apart from the Victoria, the ship of Admiral Nelson's ship - only this warship was decided to be preserved for posterity. Although the Belfast is no longer part of Her Majesty's Navy, she is honoured with the right to fly the British Naval Flag.
Of the Belfast's original crew, three veterans are still alive. They still keep in touch with the ship, and one of them, despite being 96 years old, comes to the Belfast every week and for a few hours becomes the centre of the display - a kind of "living exhibit" answering visitors' questions.
Russia remembers and appreciates the contribution of the cruiser "Belfast" to the common victory. In 2010. master shipbuilders from St Petersburg took part in the restoration of the of the ship and, using original drawings from the middle of the last century, made new masts. The restoration work was paid for by Russian businessmen.
