HMS Belfast The Last Witness

Souvenir Book HMS BELFAST

www.iwm.org.uk

Contents

Foreword Dedication Introduction Appreciation of the Last Witness Project Arctic Convoys. The Russian Perspective Tribute to The White Berets The Battle of North Cape The Sponsors Corporate Membership

PQ 18. Eskimo and Wheatland near-missed, seen from Ashanti

Foreword In the History of the Second World War the term Arctic Convoy conjures up an image of endurance against great odds, of battles fought in the Arctic night in which ice, snow and high winds added to the horrors of war. It was indeed conditions in the Arctic which set the convoys to Northern Russia apart from other theatres of war. In winter seamen fought a continual battle against gales and ice in almost perpetual darkness; in summer the sun rarely set and there was no respite from the threat or reality of attack. In fact the Arctic convoys were amazingly successful. Of a total of forty outward convoys comprising of 811 ships only 68 were sunk. Those that got through delivered great quantities of tanks, aircraft, ammunition, and other essential war materials which made a significant contribution to Russia's role in the war.

Lewin of Greenwich Admiral of the Fleet

KG, GCB, LVO,

DSC 12 convoys, Belfast veteran First patron of the Russian Convoy Club

Dedication This project is dedicated to the enduring memory of all those Russian and Allied men and women, civilian and military, who served in the epic campaign to maintain the Arctic supply route against attack by submarines, aircraft and surface raiders and the greatest enemy of all, the Sea. HMS Belfast is the last witness to this heroic four-year struggle to preserve the civilised World.

Этот проект посвящен светлой Памяти мужчин и женщин России и всех стран союзников, как гражданских, так и военных, всем, кто совершил бессмертный подвиг Арктических Конвоев, сражаясь с подводными лодками, отражая атаки боевых кораблей, подвергаясь налетам авиации противника в условиях жесточайшей борьбы со стихией. Корабль ЕЕ Величества "Белфаст" является Последним Свидетелем этой героической битвы за цивилизованный мир.

Introduction to the Last Witness project HMS Belfast spent two gruelling years escorting convoys through Arctic waters to North Russia before taking part in the opening of the Second Front for which she had the honour of firing the first shot; The Last Witness project celebrates the long and close relationship between Great Britain and Russia by reconstructing and replacing both masts using Russian steel, Russian shipwrights and engineers and Russian funding. An ambitious project creating unique and long-lasting possibilities for our future. HMS Belfast was launched on St. Patrick's Day, 1938 in the City of Belfast, the product of new thinking for a new war. She represented the apogee of cruiser design. She had one sister, HMS Edinburgh, and six half sisters. In 1942 she was sent to war on the Kola Run, protecting the vital convoys of war materials to the Northern flank of our Soviet allies. For two years she undertook this most demanding duty, culminating in a leading role in the Battle of North Cape. Six months later she was chosen to fire the opening salvoes on June the 6th. onto the beaches of Normandy signalling the opening of the Second Front and the liberation of Europe. By 2005 after many years of sea-service the elements had begun to take their toll. Both masts were found to be corroded beyond reasonable repair and needed to be replaced. Thus the Last Witness project was created to find a way to join with our Russian friends in commemorating this era. Today, 19th October 2010 we can see the results of the project, a living tribute to what can be achieved when people work together in common cause.

HMS Belfast opens her A-arcs

Appreciation Of Last Witness The last witness project has not only brought together veterans, lovers of ships, enthusiasts for history and international engineers; it has evoked a glowing revival of the appreciation with which British and Russian have for each other when joined in a common cause. As the project has developed following its official launching in the British Embassy in Moscow in 2008 it has gathered support and appreciation from a huge range of people in Russia and Britain; it is with great pleasure that we have been able to ask some of them to contribute their thoughts to this book celebrating the triumphant completion of absolutely unique project.

Battle Honours

this

From First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei

Ivanov, Chief of the Maritime Council

From the Former Ambassador of The Russian Federation Whose meeting with Admiral Lord West rekindled the fires of enthusiasm for the completion of Last Witness. "It is impossible to underestimate the role played by the British Royal and Merchant Navy during the Second World War in protecting the vital supply routes of the Arctic Ocean. All those British and Allied sailors who were part of the Arctic Convoys are still remembered in Russia for their bravery, self-sacrifice and daily toil aimed at bringing the war to an end. It is thanks to them that the Soviet troops received thousands of new tanks, airplanes and other equipment to fight the Nazis. People in Russia understand very well how hard it was to sail and fight against the German fleet and planes in such harsh weather conditions, confronting sub-zero temperatures and snow blizzards. More than 3000 British sailors had lost their lives by 1945 and their deeds of valour will never be forgotten. This year we have presented British veterans of the Arctic Convoys with Commemorative medals to mark the 65th Anniversary of Victory in the Second World War as a sign of our appreciation and gratitude. I am delighted that at the same time we have found a way to pay tribute to HMS Belfast, the last surviving vessel that took part in the Arctic Convoys. I welcome the initiative that came from a number of Russian companies to restore the ship's two masts for she is a piece of our common history, a symbol of combat co-operation during the Second World War and continuing friendship between the Russian and British peoples. The example of this ship reminds us that members of the anti-Hitler coalition succeeded in rising above their differences and putting aside all that was secondary for the sake of achieving a common Victory as their principal task. This lesson in full measure retains its relevance in our day as well". YURY FEDOTOV, former Ambassador of Russia, currently the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV)

Ambassador Fedotov flanked by Admiral Lord West and Vladimir Osipov at the presentation of the citation from President Medvedev

And From Admiral Lord West As a former First Sea Lord and Naval Trustee of the Imperial War Museum I am delighted to write a few words about the significance of the ship and the close links that have developed with our Russian friends. HMS BELFAST is a tangible reminder of our two nations working together to defeat the Nazi menace during what the Russians call the Great Patriotic War. Commissioned one month before we declared war on Germany in 1939, HMS BELFAST suffered major damage from a magnetic mine and was almost rebuilt. She rejoined the fleet in late 1942 just in time to become flagship of the Tenth Cruiser Squadron responsible for protection of the Arctic convoys. These convoys had started in August 1941 after the German invasion of Russia and ran until the Germans surrendered in 1945. The 78 convoys and 1400 merchant ships delivered crucial supplies, which were particularly vital to the survival of Leningrad. Over 100 warships and merchant ships were lost and several hundred damaged in often hideous conditions of violent sea states, icy cold and impenetrable fog and darkness. The recognition of our sailors' sacrifice by the Russian people, and the organisations that have made this day possible, create a bond that I am sure will engender cooperation between our two great nations in many other areas. The event today has involved a great many people and I would particularly like to thank the last Russian Ambassador Yuri Fedotov and Prime Minister Putin for their unfailing support. Admiral the Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC

Admiral Lord West, 24th March 2010

Sergei Pugachev, principal shareholder, OPK - Servernaya Verf th

The 65 Anniversary of the Victory in World War II is an epoch and milestone event both for Russia and the Great Britain – trusted allies during that dreadful period of our history. HMS Belfast is now one of the most significant symbols of that alliance, and it is equally valued and respected by both our countries. The efforts to preserve and restore the cruiser by Russian companies is a sign of continuing and developing friendship between Russia and Britain in modern times strengthening our bilateral relations and paying tribute to the naval sailors who lost their lives on the Arctic Convoys and giving honour to the veterans of the war. Preservation of the memory is a guarantee that those dark pages of the world history will never be repeated. HMS Belfast, for a long time peacefully moored on the Thames in the very centre of London, today is a museum, but she remains to be a fine and formidable battleship representing not only the strength and power of the Royal British Navy, but also the allies' readiness, if it becomes necessary, to combine their efforts in defending peace in the world. The restoration project implemented under the aegis of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin allowed the Russian participants to demonstrate their latest industrial achievements. The Severnaya Verf shipyard, a United Industrial Corporation company, carried out one of the most technologically complicated operations, right in the heart of London, removing the old masts aboard the ship and installing the new ones. The shipbuilders from St. Petersburg approached this task as a great honour and a sign of confidence and performed their duties with due diligence and the highest quality. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, HMS Belfast will remain one of the hallmarks of the British capital for many years to come, and the veterans of World War II will keep gathering onboard this glorious cruiser, being an everlasting guardian keeping the memory of the heroic Sergei Pugachev. Member of the Council of Federation of Arctic Convoys! the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Phil Reed - the director of HMS Belfast and the Cabinet War Rooms In the fearful uncertainty of the vast expanses of the North Sea or the icy wastes of the northern arctic waters, where preceding convoys had suffered heavy casualties from marauding enemy submarines, sailors placed their trust in god, in fate and in their ship. By 1943 HMS Belfast had already survived a violent encounter with the enemy and covered herself in glory; had been severely at risk of sinking; and had delivered her sailors home safely. Now she was tasked with escorting easy prey merchant vessels carrying vital supplies to the besieged citizens of Russia, whose innumerable casualties and indefatigable fighters were holding back the Nazi torrent. Many died on those sorties into u-boot infested waters, while survivors cherish to this day memories of their brave embattled Russian allies. In 2010 those sacrifices, that common cause, those times of suffering, camaraderie and sadness were recalled when the shipwrights of the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St Petersburg delivered to HMS Belfast two faithful copies of the ship's masts that they had made to replace the rusting skeletons that belied the old ship's days as a grande dame of the high seas. With skill, precision and a Stakhanavite zeal they carefully dismantled the old and installed the new. The Imperial War Museum, of which HMS Belfast is a branch, owes our Russian friends a great debt of thanks. As do the citizens of London whose skyline is now once more graced with the proud profile of a vessel restored to her former glory. The Russian-made masts will stand to remind generations to come that friendships are not vagaries of protean political fashions, but are the lasting fruit of sacrifice in the cause of aiding a fellow human being's suffering. Phil Reed OBE

Russian Historians Also Expressed Their Support For The Symbolic Achievements Of Last Witness О.А.Ржешевский (профессор, научный руководитель Центра истории войн и геополитики Института Всеобщей истории РАН, президент Ассоциации историков Второй мировой войны, видеоконференция российских и британских историков, 13 апреля 2010 г.) Северные конвои, которые шли из Великобритании в Советский Союз, на первом этапе войны были важнейшим связывавшим наши страны в совместной борьбе путём, через который оказывалась военная помощь нашей стране. Что касается конкретно первых месяцев войны, эта помощь была весьма незначительной по объёму, но гораздо большее значение не только для армии, но и для всего нашего народа реально имел моральный фактор, потому что сознание того, что мы не одни, что мы ведём борьбу вместе с такими мощными союзниками, как Великобритания и Соединённые Штаты, имело большое значение для поднятия морального духа как бойцов на фронте, так и населения в тылу. Что касается в целом помощи по ленд-лизу, которую мы получили, то она высоко оценивается в нашей стране, и нет ни одной серьёзной работы, в которой об этом не говорилось бы. С позиций сегодняшнего дня мы можем только ещё раз благодарить за эту помощь, благодарить как руководителей стран, так и простых рабочих, которые на заводах делали это оружие, которое затем направлялось с Советский Союз.

Professor Oleg Rzheshevskiy, research manager of the Centre for military history and geopolitics of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute for World History, President of the Association of Second World War historians, at a videolink conference between Russian and British historians, 13 April 2010.

The Arctic Convoys from Great Britain to the Soviet Union were during the first stage of the war an extremely important route of military supplies which linked our countries in our common struggle. During the very first months of the war, this military assistance was not large in volume, but what mattered most for both the army and the people was the morale factor. Realizing the fact that we were not alone, that we were fighting side by side with such powerful allies as Britain and the United States was of paramount importance to raise the spirits of the frontline soldiers and civilians on the home front alike. As for the lend-lease supplies that we received, they are highly valued in our country, and not a single serious researcher undermines it in his works. From today's point of view, we can only once again express our gratitude for this assistance to both the country leaders and ordinary workers who produced this weaponry which was later shipped to the Soviet Union. Kola inlet

A Russian view of the Arctic Convoys From Ivan Mazour, author of "Russian Convoys-Memories of the Heart" The history of World War II gives us an example of an unprecedented level of military, technological, economic and social cooperation between the countries that formed the antiHitler coalition. In the autumn of 1941, the USA, Great Britain and the USSR signed a lendlease agreement to deliver military cargo and food supplies to the Soviet Union. Winston Churchill called this “the most selfless act in the history of both countries.” The Russian people felt the true meaning of these words. British assistance, through the lend-lease programme, played a great part in our joint victory over Nazi Germany. American and British military equipment – planes, tanks, artillery, ships and all other forms of armament – took part in the fight on both fronts, and added major strength to the brave soldiers of the Red Army. An important role was played by the deliveries of food, which helped millions of people in Russia survive times of starvation, and provided such moral support at their time of need. The Russian people saw that they were not alone, and the assistance of the major world powers brought new energy to their fight. These cargoes were carried to the Eastern Front by sea, by the brave seamen of the Allied Navies, led first of all by the Royal Navy and the Soviet Northern Fleet. For thousands of miles of sea and ocean they faced the freezing cold, as well as the danger and fear of German U-boats and the German air force. In the icy waters of the Arctic, brave British and Russian seamen fought side by side to defend their countries.

Ambassador Gusev at the handover of HMS Royal Sovereign to the Russian Fleet

The military and economic assistance to the people of the Soviet Union, made possible by these brave souls, not only led to our success at the Eastern Front but was also instrumental to our overall victory over Nazi Germany. Ivan Mazour October 2010

HMS Edinburgh lost in battle in Barents sea

Last Witness The Project To Replace The Masts Of HMS Belfast A personal perspective When my late father was diagnosed with cancer in November 1998, I was with him; realising he had very limited time left, he turned to me and said "Look, there's a few things I need you to do for me, unfinished projects, can you take them on"? I had never even considered what he went on to tell me but as he explained I realised this was not a request I could refuse. The first project was to help his friends create the memorial to the twenty-two brave Americans who volunteered to join the Royal Navy before the USA became involved in World War II, this is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich, across the road from King Charles Court where he and my mother lived during his commission as Chief of the Defence Staff at the time of the Falklands Conflict. By chance, this project will come full circle with the launch of the book on the lives of the volunteers, "Passport Not Required" on December 03rd in the Cabinet War-rooms. Once the Pandora's Box of memories is open there is no putting anything back; no sooner had the echoes of the Last Post for the volunteers faded across Grand Square when the Chairman of the George Cross Island Association asked me if I could lead their initiative to create a memorial to the Siege of Malta in London. This stands but a couple of cables away next to All Hallows church on Tower Hill, dedicated by the President of Malta, who gave us the stone, and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in August 2005, Santa Maria day, the arrival of the Pedestal Convoy in 1942 that saved the Island from starvation. This was a significant convoy for other reasons; 1942 was a very hard year for the Allies, especially Russia and Britain. In July of that year the ill-fated convoy PQ17 was decimated in the Arctic oceans trying to reach Russia. It lead to a decision to suspend convoys during the Arctic summer with its perpetual daylight, a difficult one but in so doing, it released the escorting forces to make that one last-ditch effort to save Malta. This was for the British, Stalingrad-in-the Mediterranean, a critical turning point. Many of the escorting destroyers came straight from the Arctic, still painted in their blue and white ice camouflage, my father's included. At great cost the battle was won and then it was straight back to the Arctic and Russia for PQ18 in September. Following the dedication ceremony of the "Malta Rock" the veterans were given a reception next to the memorial but the City Police had advised that the many VIPs including the Maltase President be entertained in a more secure environment, so we brought them here to HMS Belfast, so familiar to those Arctic escorts. The director of HMS Belfast was in those days Brad King, now directing an even bigger fleet in the USA. We struck an immediate friendship; that year at the ship's Christmas party I found myself in conversation with Brad

and a consulting engineer who was preparing a structural survey of Belfast. This survey showed that the masts were in such a parlous state that they were beyond repair, they needed complete replacement. I had spent my career since 1991 working in the Russian economic sector, I had followed the collapse of the old economy and the birth of the new, seen how the chaos of Perestroika has created new opportunities and new leaders, especially in business. Even better I had, and still have, many wonderful friends there. In 2005 the Russian steel industry was booming: Steel ship, steel masts, a history of immensely distinguished Arctic convoy service, here were irresistible ingredients with which to appeal to my Russian friends to join with us in doing something to restore this wonderful ship. We created a project that took its name from Belfast's survival as the last survivor of the grey fleets that traversed to roof of the World to bring support to our allies in their hour of need, Belfast was, is, the Last Witness to this most dangerous era. Working with Russian graphic designers and artists we created a DVD presentation on the restoration appeal, the DVD that is included with this book. And then we embarked on what became the four-year mission that ends here, today, on the 19th October, 2010. It's dangerous to list names as someone is always accidentally left out; it is enough to say that the warmth with which Last Witness was embraced by the Russians, industry, Government, Parliament and ordinary people was universal and overwhelming. To my surprise I found that the Russian appreciation of the Arctic Convoys is many times greater than our own. One Government Minister who offered support told me his father had driven a British tank delivered by an arctic convoy. Russian industry was sympathetic but recommended that before we sought big donations or participation in the project we should first secure official approval from the Government. This is easier said than done. Imagine how you might go about it in Britain. Fortunately, thanks to my engagement with Russia and especially Russian cultural life in the early 1990's we succeeded in finding the way to the "highest" level; The project was not only approved at the highest possible level of the authorities but warmly welcomed, as can be seen from the letter to me from First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov. The British Embassy under Ambassador Sir

The need for change

Anthony Brenton very kindly allowed us to celebrate the formal blessing of our Last Witness project by throwing a launching party in the Embassy atrium. This was attended by most of the Military elite of Russia as well as many senior business personalities, we were on our way. Brad King brought to the party a delegation from the Imperial War Museum who came with assorted souvenirs including HMS Belfast cap-ribbons; immediately these became the musthave fashion accessory, every girl in the party sported a cap-ribbon tied in a bow round their upper-arm. The momentum from the party was tremendous; the Russian media fell in love with the story and from that day to this have always been eager to report even the smallest progress. Unfortunately, there is always an unfortunately, very soon after the launch the global economy went into a worse crisis that the ship's masts. More scaffolding was erected round the masts as business harboured its resources for a better day. Slowly things improved until at the beginning of this year, the sixty-fifth anniversary of the final victory over Fascism in what the Russians call The Great Patriotic War; Admiral Lord West found himself in conversation with Ambassador Fedotov of the Russian Embassy in London. Last Witness once again drew breath, this time with the combined enthusiasm of the Embassy, the Russian Administration and the IWM; Lord West was able to restore the power and momentum of the project the enthusiasm for which was once again firmly on the radar of the top level of the Administration. In March, a high level delegation from Moscow came to London, lead by Mr. Vladimir Osipov, with anniversary commemorative medals for a band of veterans, a citation for HMS Belfast signed personally by President Medvedev in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of Russia's Armed Forces, and the wonderful news that Russia would ensure the completion of the project. Within days, a group of engineers from Severnaya Werf in St. Petersburg were onboard surveying the damage. As anyone who has ever been involved with the refit of a warship will tell you, thing do usually not happen swiftly; that is unless you are working with Russians! Between the end of March

and Victory Day on May 9th both new masts were fabricated from scratch and proudly displayed at the celebrations in St. Petersburg. The decision was taken to keep the ship free from engineering work during the busy summer period when visitors from all over the World come to relive history. As September dawned the engineers were back; a team of twelve from Severnaya Werf came to live onboard in cabins that last saw serving residents more than forty years ago. Teamed with British engineers from British and Russian coins bring traditional good luckthe to thenew, masts Houlders and Medtow they set-to first dismantling the old masts and them erecting such was the skill, organisation and efficiency of their work that the task of installation of both fore and main masts was completed on the 24th September, more than two weeks ahead of schedule. A combination of Russian and British coins were symbolically set into the foot of the new masts, some of the steel of the old masts was saved to create a very limited run of cast replica tampions from the main six-inch battery. All this, the life of the Last Witness project, has been an incredible achievement and example of what can be done when goodwill, skill and the brotherhood of the sea all coincide, two nations working for a single purpose. Tim Lewin

Belfast 1942 - another convoy delivered

Belfast 2010 - Our Russian Shipwrights

Job done, no scaffolding for the first time in four years!

Tribute To The “One of the worst things you can do to a human being is to put him in cold water" Prof. Mike Tipton, Portsmouth University on hypothermia. I was in the stokers' mess which was fairly crowded when the torpedo exploded in the oil tank below us. The whole mess-deck split in two, all the lights went out and at least fifty of us fell straight into the partially full tank" Stoker Bradley, HMS Edinburgh "Somali had broken in two by then so all of us were on the iron deck trying to help rescue the men in the water. Lt. Lewin was on the bottom of a net with a couple of others, they had hold of Somali's First Lieutenant, he was unconscious from the cold. The ship was rolling really heavily and every few seconds they were all under water. They tried to lift him out but his life-belt ripped and he vanished into the night" Fred Jewett, HMS Ashanti "You know, this looks remarkably like one of ours" Captain Saunders, watching HMS Trinidad's rogue torpedo double back and strike his own ship immediately below the bridge. "Do you chaps mind if I sit with you for a bit? You probably think I'm a bit of a Jonah, that was the fifth ship to go down under me"! Admiral Bonham-Carter after the loss of HMS Trinidad. "Jolly good show tra-la, tra-la, and many thanks to you all" Lt. Cdr. Colin Maud of HMS Somali after being rescued by Leading Seaman Albert "Lofty" Goad "We shall fight to the last shell" The last signal from Scharnhorst to the German High Command "Lads, it's a lighthouse, we've made it" Second Officer Rowland, SS Induna, on sighting the Sviatoi Light of the Kola Inlet after five days in a lifeboat and seventeen deaths from hypothermia "At the end of April we took Admiral Levchenko out to sea with some Russian sailors who were to take over the Royal Sovereign and our Swordfish squadron sank three U-boats" Doug Birch, HMS Fencer "If I were at home now I'd be taking my dog for a walk" Second engineer Winstanley to Godfrey Winn, HMS Zamalek, rescue ship, PQ17

White Berets "The Russian tanker Azerbaijan had an all-female gun crew, even when the ship was torpedoed they kept banging away and even bought one of the bombers down" Report on PQ17. “It was a day of deep disappointment over the losses suffered" Admiral Burnett reporting on PQ18 "We were called to action stations at about 2300 on the 24th, as I ran up the ladder in my duffel coat to the gunnery control tower I realised it was my 21st. birthday" J D Fyfe, HMS Wrestler "We were almost entering the Kola inlet, it was dark as hell when suddenly there was this almighty flash and explosion; by the time we got there Matabele had gone, vanished, with two hundred blokes onboard, just gone". Interview on the torpedoing of HMS Matebele "I was taken to a makeshift hospital in Murmansk, it was a school before; they found I had gangrene in both legs, so they had to come off. They chopped 'em off without anaesthetic…there were just no medical supplies….crude surgery but it saved my life". Bill Short, survivor of PQ17 in Murmansk "I had to wear a scarf across my face, if you didn't your nostrils would freeze together and you couldn't breathe" George Gardiner, merchant seaman "The weather was foul with an icy wind, we were set to chipping ice, the decks, the hand-rails and rigging. It was a never-ending battle, as soon as the ice was chipped away it formed again" A/B Arnold Finn, HMS Berwick "I call it the Russian Convoy Medal, that's what it's for, that's what I remember doing to get it: it's very precious to me. Looking back on it now you feel it was worth it, you did feel you were doing something worthwhile! Donald Harman recounting his memories on BBC "The attack lasted a mere thirteen minutes but they sank eight ships, we got five of their aircraft" Stan Forrest, HMS Cowdray, PQ18 "We arrived, I knocked on the door, out comes a Russian soldier complete with 1914 rifle, he greets us in Russian, I don't know what he said but the last word sounded as though it ended in "Offski"! then he fired a couple of rounds over our heads" Roy Willis on memories of trying to entice the girl shipyard-workers of Polyarnoe out of their barracks. "I'm off to Russia Bob, follow me when you can" Admiral Frazer, HMS Duke of York to Admiral Burnett, HMS Belfast, after the Battle of North Cape.

NORTH CAPE THE DIE IS CAST Bound together by Fate December 1943

December the 25th. Christmas day. For four long years the World has been locked in the greatest global conflict ever seen. High up on the very edge of the Arctic circle, where at this time of year darkness prevails for twenty of the twenty-four hours in a day, convoy JW55B is nearing the end of its journey to bring supplies to a tough and determined ally in the struggle; destination Murmansk. The convoy is loaded with tanks, aircraft, trucks, munitions and a mass of essential military materiel. South of the Kola inlet Russian forces are preparing to counter-attack breaking the three-year siege of Leningrad. Further South still the Red Army has pushed back the Nazi forces to the Polish border, Kiev is only one hundred kilometres from liberation. JW55B is vital to the advance, a railway line links the port with Leningrad directly.

So far, the convoy has evaded the enemy, the pitchblack nights, the snow and ice that covers the ships from stem to stern have helped them remain unseen. Ferocious storms have kept aircraft grounded but with Murmansk there is only one way in, both sides know this. At two o'clock on Christmas afternoon, the massive Nazi battle cruiser Scharnhorst with her escort of five powerful destroyers slip from their moorings in occupied Norway's North Cape. This mighty ship can singlehandedly destroy the entire convoy in hours. The ghosts of PQ17 still haunt these waters. But, JW55B is not alone in the friendless wastes of the Barents Sea, coming out from Kola is a returning convoy of empty ships, RA55A. This gathering of so many precious merchantmen close to the enemyheld shore warrants special protection. Close by in the darkness are two strong British Forces of warships. Covering the loaded East-bound convoy the usual destroyers have with them a special cruiser squadron, HM Ships Belfast, her half sister Sheffield, and the older, heavier, cruiser Norfolk. Suspecting the convoy would prove irresistible to the enemy the British have also sent the mighty battleship Duke of York with the cruiser Jamaica and a destroyer escort from Iceland to cruise nearby in case of attack. By four on Christmas afternoon the Scharnhorst has turned her bow northwards and begun to steam on an interception vector towards the convoy. The weather by now has become so terrible that the destroyers with the Scharnhorst find it impossible to maintain speed with their 38,500 tonne companion as she thunders North through the darkness; she goes on alone not knowing that out there in those same huge seas and bitter Russian night the Belfast and her two consorts are already probing the snow-filled sky with their radar to find her. In Leningrad the Red Army has begun their attack, the enemy is already falling back. The years of starvation and suffering are coming to an end. Fate is beginning to deal the Allies better cards at last.

Aboard Belfast and her sisters tension runs high; intercepted codes have confirmed that the Scharnhorst is at sea. They need to put themselves between the enemy and the convoy. Anxious eyes scan the dark horizons; gunners sleep at their action stations as the ships plunge through the mountainous waves cocooning superstructures in ice.

Here in the high latitudes between the Russian mainland and the Arctic ice shelf the narrow passage to Kola is probably the most unwelcoming place in the World, huge seas, swept along by gales race across the great open fetch of sea past Iceland onto the Barents shelf. Even cruisers the size of Belfast find it hard to keep position and stability, waves breaking over the ships mean that guns must constantly be moved to prevent icing up, in such impossible conditions it is necessary to keep the forward batteries trained abeam to keep the seas from penetrating the mountings. Watch-keepers on the wings of the bridge exposed to the full severity of the elements wear as many layers of clothing as they can to keep out the penetrating cold.

This is a time when radar is still primitive and much reliance remains on the skill of the trained human eye, most of the control of the ship is from open superstructures. It is in these conditions that the convoy slowly beats its way towards Murmansk while the cruisers sweep the darkening seas to the south searching for the hunting battle cruiser.

Aboard Scharnhorst morale runs high, this is a ship known throughout the Nazi Fleet as the “Lucky Scharnhorst”, her record of convoy raiding is strong; with a speed of thirty-four knots she can outrun most British ships, armed with eleven-inch guns she is more powerful than all but a handful of Royal Navy defenders. But, the RN holds one great advantage; experience, after nearly three years of escorting convoys through to Russia they know these waters. So many great ships, so many irreplaceable seamen, merchant and military, have been lost to gain this experience, it is about to prove decisive.

THE BATTLE The Action th

December 26 1943 Christmas day becomes Christmas night. On the bridge of HMS Belfast Admiral Burnett, commanding the cruisers receives a top-urgent signal, it confirms Scharnhorst is at sea and heading for the convoy, it is 0329 on the 26th of December. Their position is seventy-two degrees North, some one hundred and fifty kilometres from Murmansk.

Aboard the battleship Duke of York, beating west out of Vaenga into the teeth of the gale, antiaircraft guns on the focsle are ripped away by the sea, icy water pours into the messdecks below adding to the extreme discomfort of the sailors. Heavy seas break through the weathershields on “A” turret's fourteen-inch guns flooding ice-cold torrents of the North Cape into the shell-rooms. Conditions aboard the destroyers and merchantmen are ten times worse. On land, the Red Army continues to break out of the Leningrad salient; further South they recapture more than two hundred settlements on their way to the Belarusian border cutting the supply lines of the Werhmacht on the Vitebsk-Polotsk highway. Aware of the approaching danger the convoy turns North to open the distance between themselves and the Scharnhorst. The British Admiral orders the cruisers to increase speed to the South to intercept. Aboard Belfast anxious operators watch intensely their Type 273 radar for a solid contact in the welter of sea echoes. The entire

crew stand to their action stations, guns loaded and ready. The weather worsens building up the already huge waves, all of the ships are plunging and rolling savagely. 0740, the operators aboard Belfast pick up a large single ship at just over twenty-eight kilometres distant. It can only be the Scharnhorst; thirty kilometres North of the cruisers is the precious convoy, fighting its way to Murmansk, it is pitifully slow against the appalling weather. The cruisers turn towards the echo. O921, lookouts on the bridge of Belfast see twelve kilometres away the dark bulk of a battle cruiser against the faintly lighter Southern sky; they hold the advantage of being to the North where the sky remains as black as only a North Russian night can be. 0929 Admiral Burnett orders all the cruisers to open firing with their main armament, the combined fire-power of Belfast's and Sheffield's twenty-four 6-inch guns and Norfolk's eight eight-inch guns. Belfast fires starshells to illuminate the target but they fall short, the flares lighting an empty sea. Scharnhorst alters course followed by the cruisers, the angle worsens for Belfast and Sheffield but improves for Norfolk. She blast off six broadsides in less than two minutes with deadly radarcontrolled accuracy, incredible considering the wild seas and conditions. Three projectiles hit the Scharnhorst destroying her radar and high-angle gunnery control. 0940 the Scharnhorst turns South away from the convoy and increases speed to thirty knots; the cruisers follow round but against the sea they cannot keep up with their four-times h e a v i e r a d v e r s a r y. B y 1 0 0 0 Scharnhorst has disappeared from the plot. 1030 the destroyers escorting the convoy find Belfast and her sisters, they continue the search for Scharnhorst placing themselves

between her last known position and the convoy. Into the picture now comes the second British force, the heavy battleship Duke of York and the cruiser Jamaica, a half-sister to Belfast and Sheffield. 1200, with the brief mid-Winter Arctic daylight the lookouts aboard the cruisers sweep the horizon, suddenly, the radar again finds a solid echo at thirty kilometres. Scharnhorst has swept round in a sixty kilometre arc to return to the convoy's track. The cruisers are in precisely the right place to intercept, again experience of the “Kola run” and these Arctic seas has paid off. 1220, out of the swirling gloom at a range of less than ten kilometres storms the Scharnhorst, bereft of radar she cannot know that directly in her path waits the Belfast and her cruisers now with four modern fleet destroyers in company. Immediately Belfast fires starshells to illuminate the target and orders the destroyers into a torpedo attack. Scharnhorst manoeuvres violently to avoid the torpedoes and opens fire with her eleven-inch guns on Norfolk, easy to see in the darkness as she has no flashless ammunition, the brilliant orange gun flashes make her an ideal target for the Scharnhorst's optical gunnery direction. Quickly she is hit by many of the two-hundred kilo shells causing severe damage, Sheffield too is hit by splinters. Scharnhorst again turns away into the darkness. But, before she is damaged Norfolk manages to place an eight-inch shell into one of Scharnhorst's boiler-rooms, deprived of full power for her legendary speed she slows to twenty-eight knots. Aboard the cruisers Burnett in the Belfast orders a distant chase maintaining contact by radar. With Sheffield and Norfolk temporarily hors de combat Belfast is the only hope of keeping contact with the enemy. Away to the South waiting to cut off any retreat waits the Duke of York and Jamaica. 1530, the trap is beginning to close, the British battle group goes to action stations as the approach of the Scharnhorst is sensed. The tension is electric. On land the Red Army are locked in a desperate battle towards Vitebsk, later in the day they will win a decisive victory destroying ninety-five Nazi battle tanks in the process.

1617, it is already night, utter blackness shrouds everything while the wind and sea still drown all sound. Suddenly the type 273 radar aboard the Duke of York glows with a brilliant new point of light. There, more than forty-two kilometres away, bearing North East at twenty-seven knots is the

Scharnhorst. As the watchers stare at their screens a group of smaller echoes edges into the display, a cheer sounds out, it is Belfast with the cruisers and their destroyers, still plunging through the storm to keep contact with their foe. 1632, the close-range type 284 radar aboard Duke of York confirms Scharnhorst has closed in the darkness to only eighteen kilometres. The captain tells Admiral Fraser that the target is now well within range of the Duke's massive fourteen-inch main armament. The Admiral waits as he positions his destroyers on either side of the target. The trap is now without exit except through battle. 1650 Scharnhorst stands on in the blackness, with no radar her lookouts believe they are alone. Ice now covers the ship. Duke of York and Jamaica steadily close the range towards her. 1654 the range is down to ten kilometres and closing. The Duke fires starshells from her secondary battery. Her gunners stand by their loaded weapons; armour-piercing and full charges. They wait, the silence broken only by the roar of the weather and the throb of the ship's machinery. Belfast again fires her starshells to augment the effect. As the flares hang in the sky there is the Scharnhorst, turned a ghostly silver in the unreal light. Surprise is complete, her guns are still trained fore and aft.

Firing gongs ring urgently, instantly the full weight of a fourteen-inch broadside thunders out from the Duke of York, more than seven thousand kilos of destruction. It takes fifteen seconds for them to cross the nine kilometres to their target. It is impossible to miss at this range. Heavily hit Scharnhorst tries to turn away but there behind her waits Belfast and her consorts. 1700 Scharnhorst recovers from the shock and begins to return fire hitting the Duke.

1715 the destroyers race into the attack with their torpedoes but the little ships are rolling so savagely in the atrocious weather it is impossible to fire their weapons. Nevertheless they maintain the chase. Scharnhorst widens the range again but loss of steam hampers her escape. The Duke continues firing until after fifty-two broadsides, three hundred and sixty tonnes of ammunition, the Admiral orders them to cease firing. The range is increasing and the sea conditions make gunnery extremely difficult. Scharnhorst begins drawing away. Depression descends on the bridge of the flagship. But everyone has forgotten the destroyers, it has been impossible for them to approach with the gun-duel in progress but now they see a clear run. With incredible bravery they approach to within two miles of their huge prey before coming under fire. Attacking from both sides at point-blank range they fire every torpedo they have. Critically, two strike home wrecking another boiler-room and a propeller shaft. Scharnhorst's speed drops immediately to ten knots. The Duke reenters the fight. Swinging onto a parallel course she again begins to pound the battle cruiser until by 1918 her last gun falls silent. 1920 steaming in from the North comes Belfast and her group. Firing star shells Belfast illuminates the death-scene of this great vessel. Under the surreal light of the falling flares Belfast's Admiral orders his destroyers in to attack with their torpedoes, the cruisers follow suit while maintaining a deluge of shells from their main and secondary batteries. There is no further resistance.

1945 the battle is done; Scharnhorst slowly rolls over and vanishes beneath the turbulent waves of the Barents Sea, a muffled explosion from within signals her passing. Over the horizon the convoy bearing its cargo of tanks, vehicles, tonnes of munitions and tonnes of stores is approaching Murmansk. It will arrive without loss. This has been the Battle of North Cape. History has been written this day, it is the last time, ever, heavy ships will fight a gun battle at sea. It is the passing of an era. From this day technology will dominate sea power; the electronic eyes at the masthead will replace the human eyes at the lookout posts. 2030 Belfast confirms to the Commander-in-Chief aboard the Duke of York that Scharnhorst has been defeated, the destroyers have rescued only thirty-six survivors. 2145 Admiral Fraser aboard the Duke signals the Admiralty in London. Two words only describe the outcome of this Herculean maritime drama. “Scharnhorst sunk”, The Admiralty, equally economic, signals back; “Grand, well done”. 27th of December 1943, the battle groups arrive to meet Admiral Golovko at Murmansk.

Over the next two days all of the ships of the convoy dock safely and discharge their cargoes. To the South the Red Army continues to press on to relieve Kiev, the supplies from the convoy are immediately put to use. September, 2000, the new Millennium. A Norwegian survey team locates the wreck of the Scharnhorst on the seabed. She lies upside down in two parts, seventy metres of her bow blown off by exploding ammunition triggered by a final torpedo strike. She joins the wrecks of Belfast's sister Edinburgh, and Jamaica's, Trinidad, with so many other victims of this perilous route to Russia. The battle groups lead by Belfast and the Duke of York have fired more than two thousand shells and fifty torpedoes in this final duel between capital ships. October 2010, HMS Belfast remains the only survivor of the ships that took part in this historic event, the last witness. Proudly she still displays the Battle Honours “Arctic” and North Cape. These three words encapsulate more than twenty-four months on the nightmare Kola Run, and her role in the Battle of North Cape. We and our Russian friends are bound together as willing prisoners of history in remembering those days and the lessons they hold for the present.

With Grateful And Heartfelt Thanks To Our Sponsors Severnaya Verf The OAO Ship-Building Yard Severnaya Verf (formerly Putilovskaya Verf) was founded on November 14, 1912 to build ships for the Russian Empire. At present, the shipyard is the leading shipbuilding enterprise of Russia. In 1998, the shipyard was the one of the first plants in Russia, which was issued the licenses for all works in the deposit of construction, re-equipment, upgrading and disposal of ships and vessels. In the middle of 1999, the shipyard introduced a quality system based on the international standard ISO 9002, for which the Certificate of Conformity of Soyuz po sertifikatsii (Certification Union) of the Oboronsertifikat (Defense Industry Certification) system and the Approval Certificate of the Norwegian Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQi) were obtained. During its long history JSC “Shipbuilding plant “Severnaya Verf" built about 400 ships and vessels intended for various purposes, including about 170 ships for the RF (USSR) Navy, equipped with state-of-the-art weapon and armament systems for their days. The yard built missile cruisers, destroyers, large submarine hunters, frigates, patrol ships and minesweepers, tankers, dry-cargo carriers, timber carriers, container carriers, passenger and fishing vessels, towboats, ferries and floating docks, as well as research and Ro-Ro vessels.

SCF Sovcomflot SCF Sovcomflot is proud to have contributed to the restoration of HMS Belfast, a historic ship that played a valuable role in supporting Russia during the Second World War. It is only appropriate that SCF Sovcomflot, Russia's largest shipping company, should lend its support to this vital restoration work, which serves as a reminder of the enormous dedication and sacrifice of the many seafarers that served on Arctic convoys, during the Great Patriotic War.

Severstal The first to support Last Witness Severstal sends congratulation for a magnificient achievement by HMS Belfast and her team of engineers from Russia and Great Britain. Severstal is now the largest Russian steel company operating in ten countries around the world with a workforce of 92,000 and a production of more than 16.5 million tonnes of steel.

Russian Standard Vodka Russian Standard Vodka is proud to be a long-time supporter of the HMS Belfast restoration project. Russian Standard Vodka is the global leader in authentic Russian premium vodka. The Russian Standard vodka portfolio dominates the premium segment in Russia and is exported to more than 75 export markets across Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Roustam Tariko, the founder of Russian Standard, introduced Russian Standard Original in 1998 as the first authentic Russian premium vodka. Russian Standard vodkas are made with only the finest Russian ingredients, conforming to the formula for vodka established in 1894 by famed Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev for Russia's Czars. Russian Standard's businesses also include Russian Standard Bank, the country's largest private consumer finance bank and the pioneer of Russia's consumer lending industry. The bank issues 40 percent of credit cards in Russia and 20 percent of point‐of‐sale loans, as well as American Express Cards in Russia. Russian Standard Insurance is among the country's leading credit life insurance companies. www.russianstandard.com

Massandra Winery The Massandra Winery was created in the last years of the Nineteenth Century by the last Tsar of Russia to produce the best wines of the World for his own private use. A tradition that prevails to this day, wines from the Massandra Collection are justly famous throughout the World and are treasured by collectors. Massandra Winery is as proud to be supporting this great event today as to have donated the wines for the Trafalgar Bi-centenary Royal Banquet at Greenwich and the seventieth anniversary of the launching of this wonderful ship, HMS Belfast.

The Golubovich Foundation The Golubovich Foundation was created as a charity by Alexey Golubovich and his family at the same time as the Last Witness project; the Foundation is focussed principally on the arts and how they can be used to encourage and stimulate the warmth of relationships between Britain and Russia. The Foundation has longterm programmes in place with Trinity College of Music at Greenwich where the Foundation's Russian scholars have won numerous awards for excellence, and, The University of the Arts Central St. Martins school of Film and Drama: It is this latter who are creating a documentary production of the project for screening in the near future. The Golubovich Foundation is proud to have supported the Last Witness project from the first day for its unique position in the hearts and memories of the people of Britain and Russia.

The Russian government Although the Government of Russia has not specifically sponsored the project in the financial sense everyone associated with it would like to propose to the entire Administration the most sincere and warmest thanks, without the approval and encouragement of the Government as representatives of the people, we would not be here today to cheer the unparalleled success of this example of international co-operation:

Thank you Russia!

Supporting The Imperial War Museum HMS Belfast is one of five branches of the Imperial War Museum whose mission is to enrich people's understanding of the causes, course and consequences of modern war. This popular visitor attraction welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year. The five branches of the Imperial War Museum collectively welcome over 2 million visitors annually from around the world. The Imperial War Museum is a charity that is only partially funded by Grant in Aid from the Government. Corporate Support is a vital source of income for the Museum and allows members to give clients and employees the opportunity to experience sites such as HMS Belfast, the Churchill War Rooms, Duxford Air Museum, Imperial War Museum North and gain unparalleled access to our extensive collections through bespoke tours, exclusive workshops as well as enjoy discounts on Corporate Hospitality. For more information on Corporate Membership or if you would like to support the work of the Imperial War Museum through making a donation, leaving a legacy or becoming a Friend contact the Development Department who can advise on the options best suited to meet your needs. The Development Department, Imperial War Museum Phone: 020 7091 3042 Email: [email protected]'

Retirement Home

HMS Belfast lying peacefully at Portsmouth waiting to be towed to the Pool of London and become a part of the Imperial War Museum; the other two ships are now but distant memories but D97, HMS Corunna, has made her contribution. Her wheel now graces the emergency steering position in the Admiral's Flat below the quarterdeck, saved from the ignominy of life as a coffee-table.

Last Witness Gallery

A bronze plaque has been cast by Black Isle Foundry in Scotland commemorating the event and the completion of the reconstruction of the “Russian” masts. The plaque will be unveiled by HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh on the 19th October. This photo is from the Foundry and shows a bronze being cast.

HMS Belfast Morgan’s Lane Tooley Street London SE1 2JH Tel: 020 7940 6300 www.iwn.org.uk/belfast

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS HMS BELFAST IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DUXFORD IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM NORTH

www.iwm.org.uk