Korean War and HMS Belfast: The hottest point of the Cold War?

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2 жыл бұрын

The Korean War broke out on the 25th June 1950 when communist North Korea invaded South Korea. It went on to be one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century, with over 3 million dead. HMS Belfast was stationed in the Far East at that time, and was soon in action. In her two years of service in Korea, she saw more action than at any point during the Second World War, firing more than 8,000 rounds from her 6-inch guns. The Korean War was primarily fought on land, so why did HMS Belfast see such intense action during this period? Why was the Navy so important during the war? And what made the so-called Forgotten War so brutal?
Explore the nine decks of HMS Belfast. Plan your visit: bit.ly/visit-hmsbelfast
Read on about the Korean War: www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-shor...
Explore the film footage used in this video, and licence it for use: film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/...
Watch more about HMS Belfast and the part she played in the Battle of North Cape: • Battle of North Cape: ...
Music credits:
Scott Holmes Music - Escape
Tagirijus - Hidden Castle

Пікірлер: 95

@ImperialWarMuseums 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! The tension between North and South Korea continues to this day - why do you think there were no winners in 1953? As always, let us know any other topics you'd like us to explore 👇

@duanepigden1337 2 жыл бұрын

MacArthur turned a victory into a tie.

@duanepigden1337 2 жыл бұрын

@Sean M -- I still say it’s the incompetence of McAurther.

@robertortiz-wilson1588 2 жыл бұрын

@@duanepigden1337 ludicrous statement from someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

@duanepigden1337 2 жыл бұрын

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 -- so the UN had basically won the war and McAurther was told to stay away from the Chinese. He ignored the order and the Chinese attacked. They were afraid of American troops being to close. These are facts.

@danyelnicholas Жыл бұрын

The US occupation forces in 1945 provoked the eternal hatred of the Koreans by collaborating with the Japanese colonial government and brutally suppressing 夢陽 Lyuh Woon-hyung’s already established government. Hence they could not count on the support of the actual people in the country (as opposed to the cynical puppet regime they had installed). The Koreans experienced the US and British forces as merely a new horde of murderers ravaging their country.

@sbam4881 2 жыл бұрын

While she conducted a lot of operations during the Korean war, Belfast's instrumental role in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst during WWII was still her "finest hour" imo.

@paulmcgee1867 2 жыл бұрын

And d-day

@johnmunro4952 2 жыл бұрын

@@paulmcgee1867 yup, 1st ship to open fire.

@ojoojo1132 2 жыл бұрын

@@paulmcgee1867 L

@maryholder3795 9 күн бұрын

@@johnmunro4952 it was actually a Battleship called HMS Warspite who opened fire first.

@stukafaust 2 жыл бұрын

My grandfather served on the Belfast during the Korean War and Malayan 'Emergency' as a Royal Marine. He passed away recently and this summer we are scattering his ashes from the deck. You can imagine my family is very proud that this ship on which he fought two wars, is now available for future generations to visit.

@caymancostas4045 7 ай бұрын

I'm proud to say my grandfather served on the Belfast at the same time! I lost my grandfather back in 2018 but his memory and soul lives on. My mum sent me pictures of his wedding day in his uniform 🙂 real me back then, not like today. Rest in peace to your grandfather, they may have been friends for all we know! My family went on a tour and I was the only one standing there who had a family member who had served. Very proud moment I must say. God bless your family and may the soldiers never be forgotten 🙏

@Niinsa62 2 жыл бұрын

I visited HMS Belfast in the early 1990's. Amazing experience. One thing that struck me was that she was a combat vehicle. Not much in the way of comfortable crew quarters, just steel plates everywhere. And two hooks to hang your hammock from.

@twotone3070 2 жыл бұрын

I was completely ignorant of the Korean War and didn't realise how close to total failure and total victory each side got. Thank you for showing this.

@timw5108 2 жыл бұрын

I believe this ship, HMS Belfast, was one of the RN ships that sent Scharnhorst to the bottom in late 1943.

@booybje 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for everyone who served for a country which was totally unfamiliar with at the time. Thanks to their sacrifice and service, Republic of Korea, where I was born, has become beautiful and stunning sovereign nation today. With full of air and naval superiority given by the US and UN forces, we managed to beat the enemies and saved my country. There's no doubt we couldn't make it without your help

@gerhardris 2 жыл бұрын

Great video thanks. Also great that the IWM keeps the memory of the cost of war alive in such a prominant place in the world. I visited HMS Belfast in the 70's as a back pack kid on a Britrail card from the Netherlands. In the eighties or early 1990's again and in 2010 or so with my youngest son. A great ship to visit for several reasons.

@battlejitney2197 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. I visited HMS Belfast in 2019 and it was like stepping back in time. An exhibit not yo be missed. It’s a physical link to history.

@robertmarsh3588 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent summary. I have visited HMS Belfast many times and will continue to do so. Absolutely fascinating.

@dwaynehicks6838 2 жыл бұрын

This channel doesn't get enough love .

@agnesclarenbaut5607 2 жыл бұрын

Belfast is such a cool ship, I love its design too

@christopping5876 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video channel. Thank you.

@katguy922 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for helping South Korea. Freedom and democracy is protected thanks to the people and nations that protected them.

@simongreasley8643 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic, thank you.

@ronti2492 2 жыл бұрын

A very lucky ship indeed- from North Cape to Korea.... to London. She avoided the fate of virtually all of her contemporaries!

@avv397 Жыл бұрын

Not many people know this . . . . . I was reliably told by one of the guides on the Belfast that those forward 6-inch guns are trained on the London Gateway Service Station on the M1 motorway north of the city.

@WhatHoSnorkers 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video.

@fordpopular8792 2 жыл бұрын

As a Royal Marine I know that 41 (Independent) Commando Royal Marines were part of the U.N. Army. Our RSM in 42 Commando was awarded the DCM, MM, earlier in Korea and later in peacetime, the BEM.

@roybennett6330 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for his services, seems like his generation are needed today.

@1201alarm 7 ай бұрын

I was under the impression that Belfast's action began on 6th July 1950, not 6th August?

@AdventureswithTrains 2 жыл бұрын

the hottest point of the cold war was during the cuban missile crisis, while british people slept soundly in their beds, raf v force bomber crews were on two minutes readiness to launch an attack on the USSR.

@glenmurschel5939 Жыл бұрын

Great documentary. My Dad was in Korea US Army 52 and 53. Hope to visit the Belfast one day

@michaelcampin1464 2 жыл бұрын

....WWII but was repaired and she served gallantly.

@jonathanohagan1349 2 жыл бұрын

Not sure if this is true or not, but wasnt HMS Belfast the first RN ship to fire on D-Day?

@MarkAShaw64 2 жыл бұрын

True

@ronnieince4568 2 жыл бұрын

@@MarkAShaw64 actually not true .She was supposed to be the first ship to open fire and she had a newspaper journalist embedded to report the opening fire at 5.27 am but the cruiser HMS Orion jumped the official time by firing at 5 23 a m before Belfast opened fir .The journalist reported she was the first to open fire so Belfast made the press headline .The full story is given in "HMS Belfast at D-Day " by Nick Hewitt an official Imperial War Museum publication on page 71.

@rogerthomson9461 2 жыл бұрын

triple turret or 3 gun? I was told in a triple the guns all elevate the same, in a 3 gun they can be independently targeted

@grahamthebaronhesketh. 2 жыл бұрын

Cool ship HMS Bismark I have always wanted to go on her.

@markharlock6474 Жыл бұрын

Yes, very drole I'm sure...

@grahamthebaronhesketh. Жыл бұрын

@@markharlock6474 congratulations you are the only one in 5 months to take the bait.

@Charlesputnam-bn9zy 2 жыл бұрын

Don't forget Royal Navy cruiser HMS Jamaica who was the first outside of the US Navy to fire in support of ROK forces on June 27th 1950.

@MarkAShaw64 2 жыл бұрын

Also supported HMS Belfast during the sinking of the Scharnhorst in the Battle of the North Cape

@johnmunro4952 2 жыл бұрын

Scandalous that we didn't preserve More of our naval history.

@thomashutton1963 2 жыл бұрын

interesting video. But heavy guns were 6" not 12" [9:02]

@hoof2001 2 жыл бұрын

Just wondering why she was moored facing upstream in the Thames rather than downstream as is RN standard? Was there a reason for this?

@robertewing3114 2 жыл бұрын

Catch my next book John, Facing In

@dafyddthomas7299 Жыл бұрын

Superb documentary - didn't know the ship had such a service in Korean War and RIP to the fallen - Yes 3 Million plus on both sides that died in this Proxy WW3 exchange - UN, China, USA, Russia and Korean (N & S) should cease all hostilities and sue for peace - PUt 7in look there's no winners in a nuclear exchange just suffering and no hope.

@bigal3055 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine having a career in Korea as a parcel carrier for courier company.

@christopherkelly577 Ай бұрын

You referred to the Korean People's Army/KPA as the People's Korean Army any reason?

@StormyWormy-ny9ny 2 жыл бұрын

Great grandpa was in the Marines in the Korean War, that’s all I know

@michaelcampin1464 2 жыл бұрын

HMS Belfast had her back broken early.in

@dufus7396 2 жыл бұрын

What a huge death toll for a "forgotton " war

@bb54321abc 2 жыл бұрын

This should be about a ship not mostly about a war. Learn from your mistakes - look at the presentations of the Battleship New Jersey.

@kbjames100 2 жыл бұрын

My father was a Stoker on HMS Ocean during the Korean war, but I know very little of the roll of HMS Ocean. Is there any film footage of the Ocean in Korea?

@stephen8433 2 жыл бұрын

My neighbor was wounded by shrapnel in the back in the Korean War. He was confined to a wheelchair.

@Russia-bullies 2 жыл бұрын

Its nice to know that the UN did fight in a war for once.

@t5ruxlee210 Жыл бұрын

lol. The "UN got to fight" because the USSR was boycotting the Security Council at the time for some reason or other, therefore no veto was cast by Stalin. The NK army was stocked with many Korean WW2 USSR Red Army vets who had fled the Japanese run colonial regime early on pre WW2. The NK Army was the real deal. The SK Army, courtesy of the the US State Dept, was meant to be a typical toothless "Banana Republic Independence Day" parade army/ National police backup.

@justinkase5260 2 жыл бұрын

It began and ended at the same place. With the cost of 3million lives.

@johnconlon9652 2 жыл бұрын

After the "surrender" of Japan, some eejit(s) handed over Korea north of the 38th parallel to.......Stalin. I'm only an amateur historian and the only reference I know of to this was in the ITV series "The World at War" (late 70s); I seem to remember the names 'Dulles' and 'McNamara'. By crossing that line, MacArthur was responsible for most of the carnage and wanted to use nuclear weapons. Homo sapiens sapiens my favourite joke in science.

@renatodemavibas3367 2 жыл бұрын

The commies 'crossing of the line' didn't matter?

@johnconlon9652 2 жыл бұрын

@@renatodemavibas3367 The United Nations sanctioned military force to recover the lost territory of South Korea, not the invasion of the North. MacArthur was sacked.

@maddyg3208 2 жыл бұрын

The USSR was coming south, the USA was going north. The "Bonesteel" line at the 38th parallel was agreed upon simply to make it clear how much territory each should occupy. They were allies at time and had similar demarkation lines in Europe, which would have saved lives that would otherwise have been lost to friendly fire.

@johnconlon9652 2 жыл бұрын

@@maddyg3208 Not an answer to my question. Demarcation? Look at Northern Ireland (and Churchill) and India/Pakistan, South Africa and other examples of "decolonisation. What does "Bonesteel" mean?

@ThePorridgeGobbler 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting, I never realised Belfast's role in the Korean War, N Korea is the aggressor under communist rule and will never change hence the West's support for S Korea.

@michaelmichael2203 2 жыл бұрын

Gen McArthur should have wiped out the Communist with nuclear weapons which was stopped by Truman during the Korean war. Truman had an axed to grind with McArthur. Should have listen to the advice of those on the ground (especially Gen McArthur) to prevend future havoc.

@bobfisher1916 2 жыл бұрын

There are some amongst us who disagree with you.

@ryckarduhryckarduh180 2 жыл бұрын

They would prevent some wars but they'd create others instead

@histyhist7701 Жыл бұрын

@@bobfisher1916 yeh me

@thebeautifulones5436 2 жыл бұрын

Th. Not ff.

@twotone3070 2 жыл бұрын

My thoughts as well. Also, I couldn't help but see that he was so nervous, he did it though, as many wouldn't.

@hckyplyr9285 2 жыл бұрын

Chinese "entirely volunteer army".....so the IWM now reiterates discredited propaganda verbatim? Thanks for revealing your worthiness as a source duly noted.

@brianfleury1084 2 жыл бұрын

What a waste!

@duanepigden1337 2 жыл бұрын

Britain was near bankrupt and USA became rich.

@bingbong8775 2 жыл бұрын

i had no idea briton even participated in the korean war. i guess that’s why they’re considered a “support army”

@downtownmafia6637 Жыл бұрын

salute to the 700filipino soliders who killed 10,000 chinese armies

@hildemoe9355 2 жыл бұрын

You forgot to mention that MacArthur planned to invade China ! This reduces the museum to a pathetic echo of cold war propaganda, Try to do better !! Regards from Jens

@bobfisher1916 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure if he planned on invading China, but did want to use nuclear weapons, especially on the border between China and Korea. I guess this was the US starting their military actions against any country that was thought to be Communist. That plan is not working too well now with the PRC about to take over the number one spot on the world stage! Something else the US doesn't like to hear is that without Russia and China tying up millions of troops in invading armies the war would have lasted longer.