Abstract

HMS Caroline is a light cruiser of the 'Caroline Class' built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead and launched in September 1914. She is one of three World War 1 Royal Navy warships remaining and the only survivor of the Battle of Jutland. After the First World War, following a brief period in the East Indies, HMS Caroline was transferred to Belfast and converted for use as the local HQ for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. The ship was decommissioned in 2011 and two years later the Heritage Lottery Fund announced its support to restore the ship as a visitor attraction in Belfast, in time for an official opening to coincide with the centenary of the Battle of Jutland in 2017. This report outlines the methodology used to determine the precise Battleship Grey used on the external superstructure and the appearance of the internal spaces, helping to create a unique insight into life on board a rare surviving warship of the period.