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HMS Caroline is one of the most historically significant warships in the world - she is the only floating survivor of World War One.

Rusting quietly in Belfast, Caroline's seafaring days are over, and it's hard to believe that she was once technologically ground-breaking. Her maximum speed of almost 30 knots enabled the British Navy to respond to the increasing threat of long range torpedo attack. Her job was to locate the enemy fleet, and then swiftly carry news back to British battleships.

Caroline saw action in the Battle of Jutland - the only time that the full German and British navies engaged directly during WW1. Waged just off the coast of Denmark, this confused and bloody encounter lasted for about 16 hours from 31 May to 1 June 1916.

Both sides suffered heavy casualties - and both claimed victory. But the Germans never again seriously contested control of the seas with their battleships. They turned instead to submarine warfare.

As befitting her important status, Caroline is to be turned into a museum. John Toal visited the ship with Captain John Reece of the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

Archive clips are from the captain of HMS Ardent, recorded in 1956. Unlike Caroline, Ardent did not survive the Battle of Jutland.

Location: Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd, BT3 9DU
Image of HMS Caroline

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