Zeebrugge Raid 1918

Add your posts and photographs about battles and other actions in this section
Brian James
Posts: 8764
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:58 am

Zeebrugge Raid 1918

Unread post by Brian James »

Apollo Class Protected Cruiser HMS Iphigenia pictured c1893.
Ordered under the Naval Defence Act 1889, Iphigenia was laid down in 1891 at the yard of London & Glasgow Shipbuilding Company at Govan. She returned from duty on the China Station in 1906.Along with a number of other ships of her Class, as she became obsolete as a Cruiser she was converted at Chatham Dockyard into a Minelayer. This work was completed by August 1907. She was then based at Dover and Sheerness. In 1917 she was in use as a Depot Ship in the White Sea as part of the British North Russia Squadron.Along with HMS Intrepid and HMS Thetis she was selected to be used as a Blockship during the Zeebrugge Raid on April 23rd 1918. She was sunk at the entrance to the Bruges Canal to try and prevent it being used by German U-Boats.She was subsequently broken up when the canal was cleared. Aerial photograph showing aftermath of the Zeebrugge Raid. British Blockships are, left - right : HMS Intrepid, HMS Iphigenia, HMS Thetis...Date April 1918.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Pelican
Posts: 9743
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:10 pm

Re: Zeebrugge Raid 1918

Unread post by Pelican »

Royal Navy

St George for England!
Happy St George's Day to our English followers. More importantly, a reminder to all that on this day in 1918, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines staged what was arguably the first modern commando raid at Zeebrugge.
A task group of ships and submarines attempted to bottle up U-boats in their base in occupied Flanders by sealing their exit to the North Sea. As the attack began, the flagship HMS Warwick raised the signal: St George for England!
Through the night, the ship leading the raid, HMS Vindictive, flashed back: May we give the dragon’s tail a damned good twist.
Old ships were scuttled in harbour, raiding teams of sailors and Royal Marines stormed the breakwater to pin down defenders, submarine HMS C3 was blown up against the mole.
The raid cost more than 500 casualties. Eight VCs were awarded, including Capt Alfred Carpenter of Vindictive.
Though it failed to block Zeebrugge, "no incident in the war, on sea or land, had more deeply touched the popular imagination in Britain" – said RN ww1 historian Arthur Marder, while Churchill called it “the finest feat of arms” in the entire war.

More photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/royalnavy/phot ... 113598205/
Also see:
https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/200804/53
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Battles, other Actions and Naval History”