It was 0527hrs on June 6th. HMS Belfast laid broadside to the beaches of Gold and Juno and stood fast with all her might, ready to soften Nazi targets ashore in preparation for the landings of 47 Commando Royal Marines at Gold Beach and 48 Commando at Juno Beach.
Her guns gave her a full broadside, and the invasion was underway.
HMS Belfast has supported Royal Marines, and Royal Marines have supported her during her 25-year tenure as a Royal Navy Town Class Light Cruiser.
Brought into service in 1938 and berthed near Tower Bridge in London on October 21, 1978, as a museum under the Imperial War Museum initiative, for all to witness her marvel, she, like so many others, gave her all.
It was on May 25th that HMS Belfast proudly served the Royal Marines once again.
In preparation for next week’s D-Day paddle to commemorate 80 years since the start of D-Day, the RMA Paddle Sports Group took to the Thames to reenact Operation Frankton, the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’. The team was made up of 8 paddlers including RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s Vice-Patron, Keith Breslauer. The group commanded 4 Klepper folding kayaks as part of the Paddle Group Royal Marines, attended HMS Belfast to pre-launch their latest extraordinary event, the D-Day 80 English channel crossing.
Setting up at HMS President, they navigated the whipping tide and made their way towards the aft of the ship. Before conducting their planned reenactment of Operation Frankton, they met up with Helen Fospero and her media team to conduct a Klepper introduction and carry out some interviews with members of the Paddle Group.
Once all had been conducted, the Paddle Group team shook out, readied their kit, kayaks, and limpet mines (replica magnetic bombs), and set off to conduct a mimic sabotage operation on the hull of HMS Belfast.
At first, there was a potential for the operation to be postponed due to the speed and strength of the incoming spring tide; however, the skill and experience of the paddlers ensured that the operation was underway safely, overwatched by hundreds of spectators, and flying His Majesty’s Royal Marines Corps colours proudly from the rear Klepper.
The limpet mines were placed tactfully, undetected by the vessel crew, and recovered by the follow-up Kleppers prior to the group departing back to HMS President for an after-action review and deservice.
An amazing event was had by all, and the paddlers, kayaks, and equipment displayed the readiness and robustness required for next week’s 90-nautical-mile cross-channel effort.
The team is raising much-needed funds for the Royal Marines Charity. If you would like to support the team, please use the link here.
Per Mare Per Terram.