H. M. S. B E L F A S T
"Improved SOUTHAMPTON"
Class heavy cruiser ordered on 15th
August 1936 from Harland and Wolff at
Belfast under
the 1936 Estimates on with sister ship HMS EDINBURGH from Swan Hunter in Newcastle.
The ship was laid down on 30th December 1936 and launched on 31st March 1938 as the 1st RN ship to
carry this name. Build was completed on 3rd August 1939 and she joined the
Home Fleet for working-up before outbreak of war. This cruiser was not
'adopted’ by a civil community as a result of a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign during 1941 and 1942 as she was out of commission and undergoing
extensive repair (See below).
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
ARCTIC 1943 -
NORTH CAPE 1943 -
NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, upon waves in base White and Blue,
a sea horse gorged with a mural crown proper.
M o t t
o
Pro tanto quid retribuamus :
'We give as good as we get'
D e t a i
l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e.
1 9 3 9.
July
Contractors trials
August
3rd Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
5th Commissioned for service in Home
Fleet.
On completion of trials and storing worked-up for service in Home
waters.
September
Joined HM Cruisers AURORA, EDINBURGH and SHEFFIELD in 18th Cruiser
Squadron, Home Fleet for interception of German warships and blockade
runners
in NW Approaches.
October
Deployed for patrol in NW Approaches to intercept blockade runners.
5th Intercepted Swedish whaling ship
which was allowed to proceed.
7th Intercepted Swedish mercantile
LILJEVATCH which was also allowed to proceed.
9th Intercepted and boarded Norwegian
mercantile TAI YIN.
(Note: Mercantile
taken to Kirkwall for examination.).
Intercepted and
captured German Liner CAP NORTE (13,000 CRT).
(Note: This was the
largest enemy mercantile captured during WW2).
Escorted CAP NORTE
to Shetlands and on relief by HM Cruiser DEHLI resumed patrol
and surveillance in
NW Approaches.
For details of naval
activities in Home waters in 1939 see Naval Staff History).
November
Squadron deployment in continuation.
21st Sailed with HM Cruisers AURORA,
EDINBURGH and SHEFFIELD to carry out a search for
German warships reported on passage to
attack convoy traffic in Atlantic.
On departure from
Rosyth detonated magnetic mine in Firth of Forth and sustained major damage.
(Note: The
explosion caused major 'whipping' of ships structure and as a result equipment
was
damaged
throughout her length and her back was broken.
For
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Bamett
and
A
CENTURY OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTION by David Brown).
Returned to Rosyth.
23rd Under temporary repair by HM Dockyard
to allow passage for permanent repair
December Under repair at Rosyth
1
9 4 0
January
Under repair at Rosyth.
to
April.
May
Prepared for passage to Devonport for permanent repair.
June Passage to Devonport.
Paid off into Dockyard Control.
July
Under Dockyard control and placed in dry dock.
August
Under repair
to
(Note: Work including fitting of external bulge around centre armour.
December This added 2ft 6 inches
to beam and increased displacement
. Athough stability was improved speed was reduced by 2
knots.)
1 9 4 1
January Under repair.
to (Note: Radar
equipment was installed for the first time to provide warning of
December approach of aircraft
(Type 281) and for detection of surface targets and
land (Type
273).Fire control Radar for main (Type 284) and secondary
AA
armament was also fitted (Types 283 and 285).
1 9 4 2
January Under repair
to (Note: Radar equipment was
progressively installed with latest modification.)
September Ship undocked during this period.
October Commissioned for service in Home
Fleet and carried out post refit trials.
November Post refit trials in continuation and took
passage to Scapa Flow to work-up for
service in 10th
Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet.
Deployed with
Squadron in NW Approaches for cover of Russian convoys and for the
interception of
German warships and commerce raiders during their passage to Atlantic
for attacks on
convoys.
December Work-up with Home Fleet in
continuation prior to joined 10th Cruiser Squadron.
(Note: Squadron
comprised HM Cruisers BELFAST, SHEFFIELD and CUMBERLAND).
1 9 4 3
January Deployed with Squadron in NW
Approaches and North Sea in continuation.
(Note: An early production model of Radar
Type 273 had been fitted by this date.
See
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
February Passage to Loch Ewe to join Force
R covering passage of Russian Convoy JW53-
Flagship of Force R
commanded by Rear Admiral R Burnett.
14th Departure from Loch Ewe with HM
Cruiser SHEFFIELD and CUMBERLAND delayed
due to a defective
capstan (See CONVOY ! by P Kemp).
16th Sailed to join 'Force R’.
18th Arrived at Seidisfjord
but unable to enter to refuel.
Passage to Akureyi
(Note: The extreme
weather conditions during the passage to Iceland caused major
structural damage to HMS SHEFFIELD which was withdrawn from Force 'R’
for
repair in UK.
HM
Cruiser NORFOLK replaced HMS SHEFFIELD.)
21st Sailed with Force R to join JW53.
23rd Detached from Convoy with Force R
to investigate report of surface threat.
No contact made and
rejoined JW53-
26th Left convoy on arrival near Kola
Inlet.
(Note: Air attacks
were limited and only one mercantile was damaged).
For
details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by
R A Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield,
CONVOY ! by
P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R.
Woodman).
March
2nd Deployed with Force R to cover
passage of returning Convoy RA53-
9th Detached from RA53 and returned to
Scapa Flow.
April
Squadron interception and patrol duty in continuation.
May
26th Provided Ocean Escort for HM
Auxiliary Minelayers AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and
PORT QUEBEC of 1st Minelaying Squadron during passage for minelay in
Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN123B - See Naval Staff History (Mining).).
June
11th Escorted HMS AGAMEMNON, HMS
MENESIHEUS and HMS PORT QUEBEC during
minelay in the Northern Barrage (Operation SN123C).
July
Deployed with Squadron in NW Approaches and North Sea.
Took part in
demonstration sweep by Home Fleet off Norway as diversion during the
HUSKY allied
assault landings in Sicily (Operation CAMERA).
(Note: HM King
George VI visited Home Fleet at Scapa Flow after this operation).
August Home Fleet interception and
patrol duties with Squadron in continuation.
to
September
October
4th Deployed as escort for HM
Battleships DUKE OF YORK and ANSON with US cruiser USS
TUSCALOOSA to
cover US Aircraft Carrier USS RANGER during air attacks on coastal
convoys and shipping in harbour at Bodo, Norway (Operation LEADER).
(Note: USS
TUSCALOOSA had been loaned to Home Fleet - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY.)
November
2nd Provided cruiser cover with HMS
KENT and HMS NORFOLK for passage of the returning
Russian Convoy
RA54A.
(Note: This was
first west bound convoy of winter season.)
8th Detached from RA54A which had an
undetected passage
28th Deployed with HMS
ANSON, screened by HM Destroyers ASHANTI, MATCHLESS,
MUSKETEER and
OBDURATE to provide Distant Cover during passage of Russian Convoy
JW54B and also
returning Convoy RA54B.
(Note:
Replaced USS TUSCALOOSA).
December
2nd Resumed Squadron duties after
release from convoy cover.
Returned to Scapa Flow.
15th Provided Cruiser Cover for the
passage of Russian Convoys JW55A with H M Cruisers
NORFOLK and
SHEFFIELD.
19th Detached from JW55A to join HMS
DUKE OF YORK and Home Fleet ships at Kola Inlet.
22nd Sailed with HMS NORFOLK and HMS
SHEFFIELD to provide cover for passage of Convoy
JW55B and
returning Convoy RA55A
26th Made radar contact with German
SCHARNHORST and engaged with HMS NORFOLK and
HMS SHEFFIELD as
Force 1.
Took part in Battle
of North Cape.
(For details see
KOLA RUN by I Campbell and D MacIntyre, 73 NORTH BY
Dudley Pope
and above
references).
Fired torpedoes at
the stricken German warship.
(Note:
SCHARNHORST was almost certainly sunk after torpedo hits. Her armour had
protected her from fatal damage and she had withstood a total of 2, 195
rounds of
various calibres of shell.
In all 35 torpedoes were fired and 11 hits were claimed.
See
BRITISH BATTLESHIPS OF WW2 by A Raven and J Roberts).
After the sinking
of SCHARNORST took passage to Kola Inlet with HMS NORFOLK and
HMS SHEFFIELD.
27th Arrived at Kola Inlet.
Kola Inlet (NPAlan for Mr S Vallely)
1 9 4 4
January
Passage to Scapa
Flow.
(Note: Rear
Admiral Burnett was awarded a KBE on January 4th).
Resumed Squadron
duties in Home Fleet.
February
Home Fleet interception and patrol duties at Scapa Flow.
to (Note: Russian Convoys
JW56A&B and return Convoy RA56 were on passage during
March the period but
cruiser cover recorded in above references does not include this ship.
It
is however recorded in HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
April
3rd Joined HM
Battleships ANSON and DUKE OF YORK with HM Cruisers ROYALIST,
SHEFFIELD and
JAMAICA as covering force during air attacks by HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS on German
battleship TIRPTTZ in Altenfjord, the passage of
Russian Convoy
JW58 and returning Convoy RA58 (Operation TUNGSTEN).
10th On return to Scapa
Flow prepared for refit.
May
Under refit
Nominated for
support of allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).
On completion
joined HM Cruiser DIADEM in Bombarding Force E as Flagship of Rear
Admiral Dalrymple-Hamilton.
(Note: Target
allocated in Pre-Arranged Fire Plan - Gun Battery at Ver-sur-
Mere.and to
provide naval gunfire support for landings on JUNO Beach.
Took part in
bombardment exercises with Home Fleet ships prior to gunfire support and
Eastern Task
Force deployment in Force J
. Passage to Clyde
to join Bombardment Force E.
June Joined HMS DIADEM in
Clyde estuary.
3rd Sailed with HMS DIADEM escorted by
HM Destroyers ULSTER and URCHIN as Convoy
G14.
4th
Operation delayed for 24 hours. Remained at sea in SW Approaches.
5th Sailed through swept channel from
Solent to JUNO beachead with Convoy G11.
6th Provided naval gunfire support for
assault on LOVE Beach.
to Deployed in Eastern Task Force
Area for gunfire support.
28th Provided naval gunfire support
during military attacks on Caen with HM Battleship
RODNEY, HM
Monitor ROBERTS, HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and DIADEM.
July Remained in Channel
area for naval gunfire support on completion of NEPTUNE.
Provided naval
gunfire support to military operations on eastern flank of assault area.
Nominated for
service with British Pacific Fleet after refit.
August Taken in hand for refit.
September Under refit.
to (Note: During this
refit extensive modernisation of fighter direction and Anti-Aircraft
December protection took place
for service in the Far East
Radar Type 281B using
single mast replaced Type 281 for air cover.
Radar Type 293 replaced Radar Type 273Q for surface warning.
Radar Type 274 replaced Radar Type 284 for main armament fire-control.
Interrogation equipment (IFF) and modern plan position radar displays
(PPI)
were
fitted together with improved radio telephone equipment for control of
aircraft.
1 9 4 5
January
Under refit
to
March
April
Post refit trials and passage to join Home Fleet.
May
Deployed at Scapa Flow for work-up prior to service with British Pacific
Fleet.,
to
June
July
Passage to join British Pacific Fleet
August
After end of hostilities diverted to join British Task Force 111 in
South China Sea.
(Note: TF111 was
formed after British ships ware released from U S Navy control).
Joined HM Light
Fleet Aircraft Carrier COLOSSUS, HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and
BERMUDA, HM
Destroyers TYRIAN, TUMULT, TUSCAN and QUIBERON as
Task Group 111.3
Deployed for
support of rehabilitation of allied nationals held in China.
Arrived at
Shanghai with HMS ARGONAUT for re-occupation duty and repatriation of
British subjects
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
BELFAST remained in the Far East after completion of her rehabilitation work
and took part in UN operations
off Korea in 1950. She was relieved by HM Cruiser CEYLON and returned to
re-commission in UK
for further service in the Far East as Flagship of the 5th Cruiser Squadron.
She was deployed again with
the UN off the west coast of Korea. In 1955 the ship paid off and was taken in
hand by HM Dockyard, Devonport
for modernisation to suit current naval doctrines. On completion in 1959 she
re-commissioned for another period of service in the Far East where she
was deployed until 1962. In June of that year she joined the Home
Fleet as Flagship of Flag Officer Flotillas for a few months before being
placed in Reserve. She was briefly re-commissioned
in 1963 to take part in RNR exercises after which the ship returned to the
Reserve Fleet. Her future
was placed in doubt by the Defence cuts announced in 1968 and she was removed
from Reserve status but retained
for use as an Accommodation Ship at Portsmouth. A proposal by the National
Maritime Museum and the Imperial War Museum for this cruiser to be preserved
and used as an example of a major WW2 warship was eventually
agreed. On completion of the necessary work she was placed on display in the
Pool of London and is
open to visitors. RN and foreign warships frequently berth alongside when
visiting London and the ship is also in
demand by the media for use during presentations and for other publicity
purposes.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BELFAST
by Don Kindell
Date
convoy Joined convoy
Convoy
No. Left convoy Date convoy
sailed as escort arrived
15/02/43 21/02/43 JW 053 26/02/43 27/02/43
01/03/43 02/03/43 RA 053 09/03/43 14/03/43
01/11/43 02/11/43 RA 054A 08/11/43 14/11/43
22/11/43 28/11/43 JW 054B 02/12/43 03/12/43
26/11/43 28/11/43 RA 054B 03/12/43 09/12/43
12/12/43 16/12/43 JW 055A 19/12/43 22/12/43
20/12/43 23/12/43 JW 055B 27/12/43 30/12/43
22/12/43 23/12/43 RA 055A 25/12/43 01/01/44
(Note on Convoys)
