'I've never seen a sight like it in all my life'

HMS Belfast played an important role on D-Day.

Watch IWM curator John Delaney explore the significance of what the ship and her crew did that day - and hear the voices of the men who were on board and witnessed the events first hand.

Colour footage shot on board HMS Belfast by George Stevens Credit: War footage from the George Stevens Collection at the Library of Congress

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© IWM (A 25665) HMS Belfast leaving Scapa Flow for the Normandy beaches in June 1944. The cruiser is reported to have fired some of the first shots on D-Day.
© IWM (A 25665)
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Juno was heavily defended and casualties were high, especially among the first wave of landing infantry
© IWM A 23938
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HMS Belfast's primary armament throughout her life was her 6-inch guns. In this video, our experts take us from the Gun Direction Platform to the Fire Control Table, then into A-Turret and A-Turret's shell room to see how exactly they worked.