HMS Iphigenia (1891)

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Protected cruiser HMS Iphigenia - IWM Q 75434.jpg
Iphigenia
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Iphigenia
Builder London and Glasgow Shipbuilding Company
Laid down17 March 1890
Launched19 November 1891
CommissionedMay 1893
FateExpended as a block ship, 1918
Badge
Ship's badge of HMS Iphigenia (IWM Q20184) Collections of the Imperial War Museum Q20184.jpg
Ship's badge of HMS Iphigenia (IWM Q20184)
General characteristics
Class and type Apollo-class cruiser
Displacement3,600 tons
Length314 ft (95.7 m)
Beam43.5 ft (13.3 m)
Draught17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Propulsion
Speed19.75 knots (36.58 km/h)
Complement273 to 300 (Officers and Men)
Armament

HMS Iphigenia was an Apollo-class protected cruiser of the Royal Navy built on the River Clyde and launched in 1891. She was subsequently converted as a minelayer in the latter half of her career and ultimately sunk as a blockship during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918.

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History

The Chinese Question, HMS Centurion and Iphigenia joining the British Squadron off Port Hamilton, Christmas Day, 1897 The Chinese Question, HMS 'Centurion' and HMS 'Iphigenia' joining the British Squadron off Port Hamilton, Christmas Day, 1897 - ILN 1898.jpg
The Chinese Question, HMS Centurion and Iphigenia joining the British Squadron off Port Hamilton, Christmas Day, 1897

Ordered under the Naval Defence Act 1889, Iphigenia was laid down in 1891 at the yard of the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding Company. 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. [1]

Aerial photograph showing the blockships sunk after the Zeebrugge Raid. HMS Iphigenia is second from left Aerial photograph after Zeebrugge Raid IWM Q 20648B.jpg
Aerial photograph showing the blockships sunk after the Zeebrugge Raid. HMS Iphigenia is second from left

Along with HMS Intrepid and HMS Thetis she was selected to be used as a blockship during the Zeebrugge Raid. She was sunk at the entrance to the Bruges Canal to try to prevent its use by German U-boats. [2] She was subsequently broken up when the canal was cleared.

Wrecks of Iphigenia and HMS Intrepid blocking the mouth of the Bruges Ship Canal at Zeebrugge, 24 October 1918. The Capture of Zeebrugge, October 1918 Q7148.jpg
Wrecks of Iphigenia and HMS Intrepid blocking the mouth of the Bruges Ship Canal at Zeebrugge, 24 October 1918.

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References

  1. Ship's Log, The National Archives (TNA), 7 August 1916, ADM 53/44936
  2. Monograph No. 18: The Dover Command: Vol I (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. VI. The Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1922.

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