Sunday 8 July 2012

CAROLINE To Leave Belfast ? - HMS CAROLINE the C Class Light Crusier commissioned in 1914, and thus the second oldest ship in Royal Navy service, (after HMS VICTORY) had since 1924 been the static headquarters and training ship for the Royal Navy Reserve at Belfast.   HMS CAROLINE is the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland still afloat.    Although no longer capable of making way under power, the rather stark ooking ship (devoid of much of its top hamper) remains afloat and in excellent condition.    The Royal Naval Reserve Unit decommissioned from the ship in December 2009 moving ashore and recommissioning as HMS HIBERNIA (a shore establishment).    The ship was formally decommissioned at the end of March 2011 with a traditional ceremony. On decommissioning HMS CAROLINE was placed into the care of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and one proposal was for the ship to remain in Belfast as a Museum Ship and another is a move to Portsmouth with many of her original fittings reinstated and return her as much as possible to her World War One appearance.  It would seem that the vessel is likely to move to Portsmouth.

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