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Secondary Armament

HMS Belfast mounts 8 4-inch guns as secondary weapons in banks of two to each gun, and a total of twelve 40mm Bofors AA guns.

Racks of shells lie in cabinets alongside each gun – and the AA guns point expectantly at the sky.

Just imagine the carnage even these small weapons could cause to the surrounding buildings.

Command & Control

As befits my status as an Armchair Admiral, here I am on the Flag Bridge sitting in the Admiral’s chair. Now where’s my tea? Meanwhile, on a different deck, the Captain’s chair is vacant – slacker. Designed from the outset to operate as a Flagship, the provision of a separate Bridge area for a commanding Admiral meant that he could exercise control over the ships in his squadron without crowding the main Bridge above.

Below decks, the Operations Room heaves with activity, with mannequins stationed as the crew might have been sat during the Battle of North Cape.

A map plots the ship’s course as it followed the Scharnhorst.

Meanwhile, Officers shout commands to the crew as the battle rages.

Up on the Bridge, Officers of the Watch stand by to chart the course of the ship. Along with the observers on the open Flag Deck, the entire ship would be co-ordinated.

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