D-Day landings come to life onboard HMS Belfast

To commemorate her role in D-Day, wartime history will be re-enacted this May half-term break onboard HMS Belfast, London's 11,550 tonne floating naval museum moored on the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.  On 6th June 1944, thousands of Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in northern France, starting the invasion which ultimately led to victory in Europe.  In a week of activities between Monday 26th and Saturday 31st May 2008, visitors to the 613ft ship will find out what life was really like for crew during the landings.  They will relive events by listening to stories from different actors, talking about their roles in the invasion.  Guests will also be able to take part in fun, interactive, educational activities such as... 

The Wavy Navy living history group will be carrying out a range of activities throughout the week including a series of 4-inch gun drills.  These guns would have protected Belfast against attack by enemy aircraft during the Normandy Landings.  The drills take place every day at 11.00am, 1.30pm, 4.00 and 5pm.  There is a daily free raffle to win the rare opportunity to fire a 4-inch gun at the above scheduled times.

Professional actors on board will play different crew characters (an admiral, war correspondent, engineering officer, midshipman and seaman) and explain their roles in the landings.  Visitors can talk to and take photos of these colourful characters, receive old fashioned date stamps from each character to be added in their Second World War Security pass (which they receive on entry and can be kept as a memento) and hear the extraordinary tales of tension, anticipation and sheer adrenaline of the moment as land, air and sea forces receive their orders for Operation Overlord.

Visitors will be called to 'action stations' as the ship prepares for attack from enemy fire, and witness damage control sessions as the crew skilfully shores up HMS Belfast from damage that could sink the ship and all 950 men onboard.  There's also a chance to view film clips and news reels from the Normandy Landings. 

There is dressing-up for children (entry is free for kids under 16) so that they can try on battledress and naval uniforms.

D-Day artefacts used by the men who landed on the Normandy Beaches over 60 years ago and original documents relating to HMS Belfast's involvement with D-Day and Operation Overlord will be on display.

Brad King, director of HMS Belfast commented, "The invasion of Normandy was the largest amphibious assault ever launched and it marked the turning point in the war for the Allies.  It involved five army divisions in the initial assault, over 7,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft.  In total 75,215 British and Canadian troops and 57,500 US troops were landed by sea on D-Day.  Another 23,400 were landed by air.  The event is one of the most important in wartime history and it is being brought to life on board HMS Belfast in an interactive and informative way so that people will not forget the part of that naval history played in the Second World War." 

HMS Belfast can be found at Morgan's Lane, Tooley Street, London, SE1 2JH, moored on the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge - the nearest Tube stations are London Bridge and Tower Hill.  Have a look at their website for more information about opening times and prices. 

HMS Belfast is a cruiser, the last remaining big-gun armoured warship from the Second World War left in Europe. She was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, and was launched on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1938.  On Boxing Day, 1943, she played a leading part in the destruction of the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst at the Battle of North Cape.  In June 1944 HMS Belfast took part in the D-Day landings as the flagship of Bombardment Force 'E' of the Eastern Naval Task Force, providing gunfire support to troops landing on Gold and Juno beaches.  After the war, she supported United Nations forces in Korea and remained in service with the Royal Navy until 1965, after which she became a Harbour Accommodation Ship.  In May 1971, after 32 years service, HMS Belfast was 'Reduced to Disposal', in preparation for her sale and destruction by the ship's breakers. With the encouragement of the Imperial War Museum, an independent trust was formed, led by one of HMS Belfast's former captains, Rear-Admiral Sir Morgan Morgan Giles.  The trust succeeded in bringing her to London where she opened to visitors on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1971.  HMS Belfast has been part of the Imperial War Museum since 1978 and is the first ship to be preserved for the nation since Nelson's Victory.