Restored HMS Cavalier gun fired at Chatham dockyard

HMS Cavalier was the last operational World War II destroyer

A gun on a restored World War II destroyer on display in dry dock in Chatham has been fired for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Heritage Naval Gun Crew fired a blank round from one of two 4.5in guns on the HMS Cavalier at Chatham's Historic Dockyard on Saturday.

Volunteers, including Rolls Royce and Royal Naval engineers, had worked with the dockyard to restore the mountings.

HMS Cavalier was the Royal Navy's last operational WWII destroyer.

It was rotting in a dry dock on Tyneside until 1999 when it was bought by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust transported to Chatham.

The vessel is the focus of several learning projects at the Kent dockyard.

Children can stay on board overnight to experience something of life on board a World War II destroyer.