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Radar - Thursday 8 July, 7pm
Price: £15.00, (£12.00 for Friends of IWM and concessions)
Naval historian, Professor Eric Grove of Salford University, will give an
evening history talk on board HMS Belfast, covering the subject of radar and
the contribution than scientists made to its’ development. The talk will be
illustrated with images and footage from the Imperial War Museum’s extensive
collection. Fellows of the Royal Society had a fundamental role in
developing radar, a technology which transformed naval warfare as few others
had done. Radar not only allowed the birth of effective anti-air warfare but
it also fundamentally affected surface warfare by detecting contacts in all
conditions and by providing effective range data. Radar meant that the place
to control a battle shifted from the bridge to the operations room inside
the ship. Using HMS Belfast as a primary but not sole example of this
transformation, Professor Grove will explain how this revolution in naval
affairs was achieved during the Second World War.
Korea Anniversary - Monday 12 July - Saturday 17 July
Veterans who served on board HMS Belfast during the Korean War will be on
board each day to talk to the public about their memories of the conflict
and life on board the Belfast in the early 1950s.
Shipshape Science Summer Fun! - Saturday, 31 July & 7, 14, 21 August
11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm
As part of the celebrations for its 350th anniversary in 2010, the Royal
Society has partnered with
leading organisations, celebrating the achievements of science, including
HMS Belfast who will be holding drop-in family science workshops during the
summer holidays. These will complement and enhance the story of ship
building as told in the ‘Launch! Exhibition, allowing visitors to explore
for themselves some of the science behind ships, in a fun and hands on way.
Summer Stowaways Trail - 1 - 31 August, 2010
During the ship’s time at sea it visited many exotic and interesting parts
of the world, though it appears that several small furry stowaways have
managed to sneak on board. Search the ship and find all ten, along the way
discover where HMS Belfast was in the world when they stowed away.
EXHIBITION
Launch! Shipbuilding Through the Ages - Until 31 December 2010
Exhibition in association with HISTORYTM. This family-orientated exhibition uses hands-on and computerised interactive
displays and engaging film and footage to demonstrate techniques of
shipbuilding, from the ‘age of sail’ to modern prefabrication methods. The
exhibition focuses on the science, engineering and social history of
shipbuilding in Great Britain, and the interactive elements of the
exhibition will allow children of all ages to get involved and experience
this history.
HMS Belfast is unique as the last remaining big-gunned warship to have seen
action in the Second World War still moored in European waters. Launched in
1938 she served with distinction in the Second World War and was amongst the
very first British ships to go into action into the Korean War in 1950. Her
service in the War, during which she spent no less than 404 days on active
patrol, was as long and arduous as that with the Home Fleet during the
Second World War.
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. A tour of
this huge and complex warship will take you from the Quarterdeck up to the
top of her bridge and all the way down through her nine decks to her massive
Boiler and Engine Rooms, well below the ship's waterline.
Nearest Tube:
HMS Belfast is moored on the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Tube: London Bridge or Tower Hill
Opening Times:
1 March - 31 October, 10.00am - 6.00pm - (last admission 5.15pm)
1 November - 28 February, 10.00am - 5.00pm (last admission 4.15pm
Admission prices:
Adults £12.95
Children (under 16) free - must be accompanied by an adult
Discounted rates available for senior citizens, concessions, students,
groups, carers. For more information visit www.iwm.org.uk
Discover how war shapes lives.
Imperial War Museum London - Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms - HMS
Belfast - Imperial War Museum Duxford - Imperial War Museum North
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