Restored Royal Navy warship to open as tourist attraction

A restored royal navy warship dating from the first world war is to open as a tourist attraction later this week. HMS M.33 is the only remaining British vessel involved in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign off Turkey. It will be berthed near Nelson's flagship HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard. Hampshire County Council and the National Museum of the Royal Navy have returned the vessel to her former glory with the help of £1.79 million pound heritage lottery grant.

Hampshire County Council Leader, Councillor Roy Perry said: "This is an important and fascinating piece of Hampshire's heritage - the only remaining British veteran of the Gallipoli campaign. I am very pleased that the County Council was able to save it for preservation as a fine example of marine heritage for which Hampshire, and in particular the Solent area, is famous. With tourism playing such a vital role in Hampshire's economy, our vision for the ship has always been to welcome the public aboard to see it, as a valuable education resource and tourist attraction. It is very fitting that we are able to do this, in time for it to be a part of the centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli Campaign."

HMS M.33 was acquired by Hampshire County Council's Museums Service in 1990 in order to preserve her heritage for future generations across the county, and the nation. In 2013, the County Council joined forces with the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) to bid for Heritage Lottery Fund support towards the extensive work required to preserve her.