HMS Iphigenia (1891)

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 and sunk as a blockship during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Iphigenia.
Iphigenia
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Iphigenia
Builder: London and Glasgow Shipbuilding Company
Laid down: 17 March 1890
Launched: 19 November 1891
Commissioned: May 1893
Fate: Expended as a block ship, 1918
Badge:
Ship's badge of HMS Iphigenia (IWM Q20184)
General characteristics
Class and type: Apollo-class cruiser
Displacement: 3,600 tons
Length: 314 ft (95.7 m)
Beam: 43.5 ft (13.3 m)
Draught: 17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 19.75 knots (36.58 km/h)
Complement: 273 to 300 (Officers and Men)
Armament:
  • As built:
  • 2 × QF 6-inch (152.4 mm) guns
  • 6 × QF 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns
  • 8 × 6-pounders
  • 2 to 4 × 14 inch torpedo tubes
  • Converted pre-1914 to a lightly armed minelayer.

History

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.

Aerial photograph showing the blockships sunk after the Zeebrugge Raid. HMS Iphigenia is second from left

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] 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 and prevent it being used 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.
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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). VI. The Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1922.

Publications



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