HMS Caroline may yet be saved

When it was announced in the March issue of Military Times that the decommissioned light-cruiser HMS Caroline was going to be scrapped and turned into razorblades, there was an understandable call to arms. Read Dominic Tweedle’s original article here

But now, thanks to the hard work of, among others, Dr Dominic Tweddle, Director-General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the museum’s Board of Trustees has resolved to accept the day-to-day responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the otherwise doomed vessel.

The ship was decommissioned on the 31st March but remains an MOD asset until Parliament formally approves the gift. The National Museum have taken on the gift of HMS Caroline on the basis that a long term suitable and sustainable solution for her can be found. They will be developing a submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and will continue to work with Northern Ireland to consider and examine any solution for her staying in Belfast. However, the emphasis is being placed on saving the ship rather than her location, so other options are being considered.

Dr Dominic Tweddle commented: ‘We are at the beginning of a long and hard road. Saving historic ships is never easy, and raising money in the current economic conditions is doubly difficult. But to fail in this endeavour cannot be contemplated. HMS Caroline is the equal of one of our great cathedrals; if any one of them were threatened with destruction we would not hesitate.’...