National Historic Ships: HMS Belfast - World Naval Ships Forums Archive (Page 3)

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National Historic Ships: HMS Belfast - World Naval Ships Forums Archive (Page 3)

National Historic Ships: HMS Belfast (Page 3)

Posts 101 to 150

Any chance of some Russian money for a new car, for an ex Belfast lad? Yes, that's the Belfast in the background (see foto), just having been moved from Whale Island to No3 basin in 1970. I was living on H.M.S. Belfast at the time, (Bellerophon accomodation ship); whilst we readied H.M.S. Palliser from reserve. I was going on leave on the Friday, the day this event happened. I normally parked my car in Whale Island whilst the Belfast was in reserve there. The Belfast had been earmarked for the London museum job, and had to made safe for the public beforehand, hence the requirement to be worked on in No3 basin. Because the Belfast was being cold moved into No3 basin, and my car was in the Whale island car park, I thought that it was going to give me a headstart in the Pompey traffic on Friday, if I moved my car around to the No3 basin area the night before, and get a flyer. This would save time in getting the ferry back from the dockyard to Whale Island to retrieve my car. What a BIG mistake! During the Thursday night at around 2 am, a stoker on a tug, berthed on the sea wall, went on deck for a smoke. He saw about four drunken "sailors?" break into my car, remove the guard-rails of the basin, and push the car into the dock. If he had not seen this, my car would still be there, I expect. As we berthed Belfast alongside on Friday, I was piped to the Gangway. I was met by a Dockyard Admiralty Constable. "Is that your car?" and he pointed over the starboard side. I was just in time to see this photo being taken! Nobody was ever charged with anything. But the tug guy said they headed for a County class destroyer, berthed nearby. It ruined my leave. I'd just put a new engine in it. I was back on the train. Happy days! Yes, great and happy memories of the Belfast, despite this episode. regards
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Thats a real sad story mate, I thought that kind of thing only happened to me. Did you ever get the car working again. Guz

That sounds like one of the many pranks that we used to get up to on returning from shore. Usually nothing as serious as your episode. It was mostly trying to nick your "Chummy" ships lifebelt at the top of the brow, or indeed trying to slip her mooring wires(an Impossible task sober never mind drunk). I was involved in an incident when on Hermes in Hamburg. Drunk as a skunk, I was stood alongside the ship trying to throttle a poor inoffensive German road sweeper (Who happened to be wearing a Uniform) and demanding to know what he had done with my ship! The Gangway staff were in stitches, and the bosuns mate was sent down to rescue the poor bloke and drag me back on board!!! Happy days...Regards Steve.:D

[QUOTE=Guz rating;101647]Thats a real sad story mate, I thought that kind of thing only happened to me. Did you ever get the car working again. Guz[/QUOTE] No, Guz. I just couldn't afford the time. The corrosion from the salt water had caused too much damage. I just claimed on the insurance, and bought another. I made sure how and where I parked it from then on! regards

wandering away from Belfast but reflecting on parking, portsmouth and Hermes; my father once parked the family navy blue cortina alongside H whilst at pompey while the mast was being painted, we were still picking off the tiny grey spots when it was sold for a mark 2 cortina years later. (He was a cortina fan, we went right through to a mark 4 and then after a passt interlude, back to a mondeo) tim

Hi Tim.Remembering your Father,I bet he just put it down to his own fault for parking there! Some Skippers would have gone raging mad!...Regards Steve.:)

[QUOTE=steve roberts;101696]That sounds like one of the many pranks that we used to get up to on returning from shore. Usually nothing as serious as your episode. It was mostly trying to nick your "Chummy" ships lifebelt at the top of the brow, or indeed trying to slip her mooring wires(an Impossible task sober never mind drunk). I was involved in an incident when on Hermes in Hamburg. Drunk as a skunk, I was stood alongside the ship trying to throttle a poor inoffensive German road sweeper (Who happened to be wearing a Uniform) and demanding to know what he had done with my ship! The Gangway staff were in stitches, and the bosuns mate was sent down to rescue the poor bloke and drag me back on board!!! Happy days...Regards Steve.:D[/QUOTE] You Bl..dy medics, always knew there was a killer instinct in you!!! :p Bet thats why they stopped letting you lot use the tourniquet:eek: "Aaah yes, this looks like the best way to stop that blood pumpin out of his foot ...lets put the contrivance round this narrow part 'between his chin and his shoulders' ... tighten it up and that should clog up them two carotid arterial routes, oh yeh might as well give them two vertibral pipes round the back there a wee pinch as well while we are at it":( "Look I told you so .. his 'sole' has all dried up:D job done"... "Lets get a few more hundred geezers and scratch one of their arms and make holes in the other we can say it's preventative medicine":D Little h

Now Now Little H. No need for disparaging remarks like that.Wot would we 'ave done all day,if you lot didn't want a few days of watch,and a sleep in anice sick bay bunk?As for the holes in your arm.We had to keep our darts eye in for a game o' arrow's ashore? Many regards Steve.:D

Absolutely right, or even "spot on"! i think a tiddley ship was better than a shiny car. Driving him home still in uniform once from H at portsmouth we passed through Cowdray Park where the village street were lined with waving people, we waved back and carried on. Only when we got home we worked out that HRH had been playing polo there that day and that everyone was so used to seeing him in uniform in a dark-coloured car they automatically thought we were him! I should add that I was wearing my "beatle cap" fashionable at the time...

ekd --- what a story! Over here in "my" navy, we have our pranks too, but it seems a bit much to cost a mate a car just for a laugh. Still, I have to say, seeing the photo of the car with Belfast in the background does cause a bit of a chuckle. Sorry it happened though, imagine it set you back a tad. Tim: Good to hear Belfast is getting the attention it needs. I know we don't know each other that well, but something tells me you had more to do with that turn of events than you are posting. Any chance they'll ever put her back in her original paint??? Take care, friends

While working in Air Traffic Control at Arbroath, I was sent up to paint the railings round the roof and the flag pole. Finished the railings, but complained it was too windy to do the pole, told to get on with it so feeling a bit 'bloody minded', I did....Spent the afternoon with rags and white spirit,but with great satisfaction of 'I told you so!'

Thanks Don, to cut a very long story short it all began at a christmas party 3-4 years ago, at least well down over the horizon of memory now. Somewhere around the third glass of claret i found myself in conversation with the consulting engineer for the Museum who was bemoaning the state of the masts and that there was no budget to fix them. Around this time the Russian steel industry was going great guns making money hand over fist so in an expansive gesture I asked him if he had ever though of asking the Russians. (sine qua non that Belfast had a long and intertwined history with them via Arctic convoys etc). He replied that he didn't know any and wouldn't know where to start. Knowing hundreds of Russians from my experience working there i said leave it to me and we'll have it done in a trice. Ha-ha....Russia is not a country where "trices" are much recognised. We put our heads together and came up with a plan, and a project name of "Last Witness" for understandable reasons. We decided to prepare a document for general circulation (PDF attached which for some unaccountable reason has 2 copies the same). We later used this as the story board and commentary in Russian for a DVD. The DVD is on the web somewhere, it was made by a group of Russian artists. I will try to find it and re-post it later. Initially we got some seed-money from some of the Russian industrialists but the main reaction was that the Govt would rather see charity funding be directed to Russian projects at home which was quite understandable, they urged us to get Govt approval of the project. This was not as easy as it sounds. Eventually we found our way to put the files on the desk of the President who immediately approved for us to seek funding from Russian industry. We held a major launching reception in the British Embassy in Moscow to which we invited all the great and good we wanted to approach plus all the heads of the Russian Military. Sods law then determined that the top Russian football team was drawn to play a game in Manchester, UK, so on the night of the party which we had spent months planning, all those with the dosh were in Manchester while we had a splendid get together with the admirals, generals and military attaches! great blokes but bereft of cash. Another attack was planned and put into operation, just in time for the global economy to collapse! Now in 2010 we are into the 65th anniversary of the ending of the War; the Russians take these celebrations very very seriously and thus our project "Last Witness" has once more come alive, it ticks all boxes and give a great opportunity to remember how "When the fate of the World hung in the balance" we forgot politics and did the biz. The rest is in the article but we will keep the story going in the press as we are not quite there yet. It is the mainmast that need replacing first as this is now almost supported by the scaffolding round it; the foremast is in better condition but not good enough to repair. The main expense is lass in the fabrication of the replicas than in the works to dismantle the old and re-fit the new while still keeping the ship open to the public. So no you know what we get up to in our spare time! tim The pdf was written by me and several of the pics are from my cardboard box, the PQ18 pic of the bomb was taken from Ashanti's bridge. The young bloke in the duffel coat is my father in 1943. I took the contemporary pics with my little digital camera (now broken) so you see, anyone really can do anything. Its not brains that gets projects like ths done, its not knowing when you're beaten
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[url]http://mft39.multiply.com/video/item/56/The_British_Royal_Navy_ship_HMS_Belfast[/url] this is the link to the video, it was put on the web by one of the young security people at the party in the Embassy.

Hi Tim.Thanks for those two links.It really shows the work put in to obtain funding for the project.Hope every thing goes well in getting the funds needed..Many regards. Steve.

THanks Steve, the next two big dates will be 24th March when the Russians come to present medals to veterans onboard, then May 9th which is Victory Day. In Russia Victory Day is a public holiday, they also have a public holiday for Armed Forces Day which was last week.....we are not so respectful

Well done Tim, I hope you have the success that Belfast richly deserves. Jack

once things get going i will snow you all with photos of masts coming down , masts going up, veterans bemedalled and all the goings on that will be associated with the actions. thanks for all the good wishes tim

[QUOTE=Dave Hutson;98999]But then Jackaroo they would have to shell out for the meeting place.:eek: My sis's office is adjacent to her berth and she recently had lunch on board. Said it was a great tour but still couldn't see why her brothers spent years in grey boxes on rough waters. Girls !!! I ask yer :confused: Invincible - You probably knew Scouse Hill [Ronnie - Ex Chief Sparker] who operated the RNARS station on board, usually over the Easter Weekends ?? Dave H[/QUOTE] Dave, Just seen your post. I think I met Ronnie once, but not absolutely sure. Fortunately BELFAST is used a great deal and over a number of years I was lucky enough to meet many of those who came onboard. Some RNA Branches used my office at the weekends for their meetings. The only shame was the high costs charged by the onboard caterers - I am sure that if their charges were more reasonable then many more worthy ex Service organisations would use this unique venue.

Dear All, Today is the day we should find out how much we have impressed the Russians withour appeal to fund the replacement of the rusty masts. Attached is the programme fotr the event which will see a high-ranked official from the Russian President's administration present medals to a representative selection of veterans, several from the Belfast Association. There was an article in yesterday's evening standard who are being very helpful with publicity on the project but since the Govt in its infinite capacity for helpfulness has decreed today will be the day they add to our misery by issuing the budget most of the journalists who had promised to come have been redrafted to Westmenister. Which would we prefer to hear about!! I will post as many pics as possible tomorrow or friday. Tim
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Tim: Hadn't come back to this post very quickly....but my congratulations on the culmination of such great effort. Things are looking good, and I find that it's truly great from my point of view. HMS Belfast is the only British warship I've ever been "up close" to, when she stopped in Pearl Harbor enroute home from the Chinas Station for the last time. Well done. I look forward to reading the .pdf. Regards,

Tim, Very good news. I still do not like BELFAST in her "war paint". When I joined her she looked like this - so much more attractive!!
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I'm thinking of building a model of Belfast as she is today. One area I'm struggling for pictures of is facing forwards, looking at the rear of the superstructure from the boat deck - effectively looking at the 'hangar doors' as was. Anyone able to help with a picture or two ?

Is that a set of pics as she is now or as she was then? its no problem for me to send you all the pics you need as i am there more or less weekly, just say the period you need. Now pics are of course easier! The event yesterday went very well; the veterans, including some Russian, all got their gongs from Vladimir Osipov from the President's Administration. The ship got a special framed citation for her physical role as the "Last Witness" from President Medvedev in his capacity as Commander in Chief as well as President of Russia, signed and sealed in his own hand, and a copy of the signed Presidential order authorising support from Russia for the mast replacement project. This was presented by the Ambassador who was there with several of his staff. The shipyards and Lloyds Register were there ready to do the actual fabrication work and engineering so with a fair wind, all should now go ahead over the summer. There was huge coverage on Russian TV, it was on all channels my friends in moscow called to say, but our own TV was pretty limp being overshadowed by Darling's utterly missable budget. The Evening Standard will cover it again today (i was told). I left the picture taking to the ship's photographer so i hope to post these later today or tomorrow when they send them. Foolishly i dropped my digital camera a few months ago and havent got round to replacing it yet, it was one week outside its 3-year guarantee! MacLaren stood above the boatdeck and piped his lament to HMS Edinburgh and the lost souls from the convoys; the Massandra winery gave some 1945 port to reception for the old chaps to drink a toast. There was a musical duo who played traditional Russian wartime tunes while the beautiful Russian lady journalist from the biggest circulation paper there danced with all of the old chaps to celebrate their medals. Admiral Alan West, Lord West, made a sterling speech, the 1st Sea Lord attended, Admiral Sir Jim Eberle was there as president of HMS Belfast Association, he served in her as a junior. A young Russian author, Ivan Mazur, who has written a book about the Arctic Convoys gave copies of his book to the veterans. I would say that it was a thoroughly comradely get-together which will ultimately deliver the goods in the shape of new masts. The mainmast must be done first, if it were not for the scaffolding genorously donated by SGB this would be a danger to life and limb. All best and thanks to you all for the good wishes and support. tim

Hi Tim - thanks for the offer. I'm looking at her 'as is' and I have a pretty good general set, plus loads downloaded from the web. It was only when sorting them I realised that I didn't have any looking towards the 'hangar' ( cafe !) and I need to see how this changed after her refit.

Congratulations Tim, on the culmination of the efforts to restore Belfast. We all know that you were the main driving force behind that all happening. I hope you receive the recognition you deserve for helping to preserve on of history's truly great ships. We are all proud of what has been accomplished and look forward to pictures of those masts in place! Best regards,

Ditto from me Tim. Well done to both you and the Russians.

Thanks everyone; really it was, is, a huge team effort, no heroes, just a great bunch of dedicated people; here is the summary of the media coverage so far, you might need to be quick-ish to utilise the links, actually most are fairly similar, but it gives measure to the depth of interest in the old girl. I will look thru my pics for the back of the old hangers, the one on the left is now the Walrus Cafe, the one on the right is now termed the Gunroom and used as a meeting venue which can be hired. even if I cannot find any now i will be there on tuesday so will take some fresh ones then. As I no longer have an office in the City i try to use, and get all my firends to do the same, the ships facilities whenever poss as every time they earn something it helps. I noticed yesterday they were working away on restoration of one of the Bofors (port side, aft) I already did a bunch of pics on a bofors restoration so you prob don't want more, they are all the same. I was taling with the director this morning about what to do about the radars on the foremast when it comes down. Ideally the answer is to remouve the wornout and very heavy motors from the non-functional sets and to find a way to convert one of the old scanners to use a modern outfit so there is something going round and the kids can see how things work.
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Dear All, Here are some pics of the event last wednesday which capture some of the flavour; the pics are each around 2mb plus so for the sake of ease of posting i put them into a reduced PDF, if anyone wants the original in all its megapixel detail i am happy to send it direct, just drop me a pm and t'will be done in a trice. It was a great day, now down to work. all best tim PS. I will go to the ship on wednesday and will not forget the pics of the boat-deck etc....
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Hi Tim.Thanks for posting those pictures.It looks to have been avery moving event.Regards Steve.

[url]http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/transport/maritime+history/art77311[/url] Here is another article on the event; the site is rather good and might appeal to forum members as it covers a wide range of museums including maritime ones and an "what's on" in museums. The trick now is to make sure we keep the momentum rolling along and the promises so ernestly made are fulfilled, organisation and encouragement! All best tim

Hello Tim, thanks for keeping us up to date and I do hope the new masts come to fruition soon. Some lovely photographs in your link. Jim

guys, She was always be one of my favorites! I'm just glad Britain still has her! here my favorite Colors with her! let me know what you guys think! Nikki
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Dear Nikki, the paint scheme of Belfast is a subject of endless debate, camo or plain "crabfat" grey? Number or no number (C35) but at the end of the day its only paint and not hugely difficult to change from time to time. For those who do not know the A & B turrets are aimed and elevated to theoretically straddle the motorway services petrol station and cafe at Scratchwood on the M25 London orbital highway, about 12 miles or 19 kms distant, i have never thought to ask why! tim

tim, she's still a cool ship! She was one of 14 ships that help to sink Scharnhorst! Force 1 was: HMS Belfast, Norfolk, Sheffield, Musketeer, Matchless, Opportune, Virago and Force 2 was: HMS Duke of York, Jamaica, Savage, Scorpion, Saumarez, Sword, Stord. what do you guys thing? Nikki

[QUOTE] For those who do not know the A & B turrets are aimed and elevated to theoretically straddle the motorway services petrol station and cafe at Scratchwood on the M25 London orbital highway, about 12 miles or 19 kms distant, i have never thought to ask why! tim [/QUOTE] Tim, if you've ever stopped off at Scratchwood services you'd know why, service is terrible:D Here's a great shot of the 'Old Lady' one of my favourites in plain pussers grey. Regards Alan
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Alan, have to agree on this one, is she going into Guz? I think our cruisers were the finest warships in the world, they were absoloutly beautiful

[QUOTE=alanandbren;108381]Alan, have to agree on this one, is she going into Guz? I think our cruisers were the finest warships in the world, they were absoloutly beautiful[/QUOTE] Agree our cruisers were most certainly fine looking ships, particularly the Southampton class. The Edinburgh class (BELFAST & EDINBURGH) were unusual in that they had the second funnel set behind the mainmast, which made them look slightly odd as all the other contemporary British cruisers had the two funnels between the two masts, even the TIGERs. A question I was often asked when working on board BELFAST was "Is she a light cruiser or a heavy cruiser? - (answers on a postcard....)
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Guys, Do they have her guns pointed upward, or can people touch them? Nikki

[QUOTE=NASAAN101;108432]Guys, Do they have her guns pointed upward, or can people touch them? Nikki[/QUOTE] Rather depends on how tall you are. I was standing and holding the camera at eye level when I took this picture. You can however go inside the turrets.
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Guys, She's still a hack of a ship! I wish i had a passport to come see her, I'd spend all day with her! A those cover in the guns or what? Dose anyone know were i can find a good book on her? Nikki

Dear All, some of you were lookingfor pics of the back of the bridge of HMS Belfast and the boat deck, yesterday I was there planning ofr the grand hooley for the dedication of the completion of the installation of the new masts which is provisionally scheduled for Trafalgar Day this year so i took thes pics to help with the planning and which should fill the request for the old hangers site, they are 2.2mb each if you need to see every flake in the paint, just ask by pm. The view looking aft shows the mainmast which is now so rusty it needs scaffolding. The 4" gun is an extra to show how well they are restoring these. all best tim
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[url]http://mft39.multiply.com/video/item/56/The_British_Royal_Navy_ship_HMS_Belfast[/url] for those who did not see it here is the link to the Russian web copy of the belfast video

Tim Terrific video. I remember seeing HMS Belfast on her frequent visits to Portland when I was detached to HMS Osprey for 4 months. Mel

Dear All, You will remember me banging on about the campaign to replace the masts of HMS Belfast with Russian replicas made from Russian steel, in a Russian yard, by Russian engineers to symbolise and encapsulate the 24 months of service Belfast saw on the Kola Run culminating in the Battle of North Cape. Earlier this year the Russian President took up the cause and ordered it done. This was in late March when a delegation cam to the ship from the Kremlin and presented medals to a group of veterans (see earlier pics). The yard, Severnaya Werf in St. Petersburg, went immediately to work and by the time Victory Day, May 9th, rolled round the main work on the mast was done, and here they are, or at least the mainmast. There is some details to be completed and this is in process as i write. The intention is to dismantle the old and terminally rusted masts and install the new, reinstating all of the antennae, during September after the summer busy season. A dedication ceroemony about which i will post more when its cooked, is planned for October. Also attached is a pic of the mainmast in its current condition, at least the scaffolding will be helpful in taking it down. And, since all kindness deserves recognition, the scaffolding is sponsored by SGB scaffolding company and is extremely important to the work in progress. tim

dont know what happened to the pics in the last post but here they are....
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Navywouldnothaveme; your pics of the back of the hanger have been posted but i can do it again if necessary in a private message to you....did you see them? maybe one of the moderators could consolidate the various Belfast threads? tim

Tim: Just marvelous to see Belfast getting the attention she needs to remain a fine historic attraction for years to come. I certainly hope your part in seeing this through, and I know it's more than you admit to, gets the recognition it deserves! BZ and more. Regards,

Tim, Thank you for the updates both written and pictorial. Further to Dons' post #102 above, the contents of which I wholeheardedly endorse. May I say that your mentioning the sporsorship of the scaffolding suppliers is significant, since the hire and erecting of such structures is an extremely expensive item. I though this when you mentioned it in a previous report but I wasn't at that time clear whether the structure was sponsored or by whom. So further BZ's I think, to both the Russians for their replacement masts and SGB for their scaffolding. Little h

Thanks Harry, you are absolutely right; now for something i would really appreciate the feedback of the Forum members on, you are my "focus Group. In my limited role in this project i have proposed that the event should have a really spiffo souvenir programme book, more of a souvenir book than a programme. The content of the book would be some contributions from famous ex-Belfasts, a foreword from military historian. Lots of pictures, then/now; the synopsis of the Last Witness project with pics, and a DVD of some archive footage, the making and errection of the masts and a bit of a new idea; a famous reporter from the BBC has agreed to make despatches, as in a modern news broadcast, as though he was actually there reporting from the scene, live, of events in Belfast's history at which there were no reporters at all. I have in mind (1) the capture of SS Cap Norte in the first days of the war. (2) the final stages of North Cape (3) dawn on the 6th June 1944 as belfast runs out her guns to launch the first symbolic salvo onto the Normandy Beaches opening the Second Front. I though a different approach would be interesting and allow us to recreate eye-witness type action .... Feedback please? tim

Hi Tim, it sounds as if you have the makings of a good project for Belfast with the 3 events that you have mentioned. In this age of computer generated imagery, maybe that could be added to the 'live' comentary. Just a little bit of feedback for you. Regards Jack.

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