HMS Vindictive: From Zeebrugge Assault Ship to Ostend Blockship in 1918

MS Vindictive played a vital role during the First World War, first as the reinforced assault ship used in the Zeebrugge Raid, and shortly afterwards as a blockship scuttled at Ostend to stop German U‑boat operations. Her service in 1918 made her one of the most recognisable Royal Navy vessels of the conflict, and today a memorial stone in Ostend commemorates her sacrifice.

HMS Vindictive Before the Zeebrugge Raid

The photograph below is from December 1897, showing Vindictive early in her career. She was an imposing vessel, originally built as a second‑class protected cruiser, she would later be heavily modified for frontline assault work.

Reinforcement for the Zeebrugge Mole Attack

At the end of her career, HMS Vindictive was reinforced for the attack on the Zeebrugge Mole. In the same year, soon after, she was scuttled as a blockship inside the Ostend submarine harbour. A memorial stone to the vessel is now at Ostend. This picture was taken in December 1897.

A sentinel type class vessel: 5.750 tons in weight; 320 feet in length, the Vindictive was sunk as a blockship at Ostend on May 10 1918.

The other blockships used on the Zeebrugge Raid were HMS Thetis and Iphigenia. Both were Apollo class British light cruisers, sunk as blockships at Zeebrugge in April 1918.

HMS Vindictive a battleship involved in the Zeebrugge Raid 1918 prior to modifications
British Naval Ship HMS Vindictive Prior to the Zeebrugge Raid

Note: The inscription on the original photograph reads 'HMS Vindictive' (bottom left) as existed on the acquisition of this old photograph in a flea-market. This photograph forms part of the collection.

The list below show a selection of links that relate to this article for further reading.

Relevant Links on the Zeebrugge Raid 1918

View the photo gallery menu of the Zeebrugge Raid 1918
A historical overview of the Zeebrugge Raid in 1918

About this site and bibliography

Further Images Relating to the Zeebrugge Raid

Scuttled HMS Intrepid and Iphigenia in the Mole
Aerial view of scuttled ships Intrepid and Iphigenia
Gun barrel with firing mechanism on the Mole Coast
Views of the Mole Seaport with gun in foreground
German naval mechanics on the Mole
Bomb damaged submarine shelters on the Mole

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