Scuttled Naval Ship HMS Intrepid in the Mole after the Zeebrugge Raid 1918

MS Intrepid was one of three blockships that was used during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918 to hamper enemy movement. The Royal Navy used her to block German U‑boats from leaving the Bruges Canal. As will be explained in this article, the Intrepid played a vital role in one of the most daring naval operations of the First World War.

HMS Intrepid: The Apollo‑Class Blockship of the Zeebrugge Raid

The photograph below shows the battleship, HMS Intrepid which took a vital role in the blocking of German U-boats at Zeebrugge on St George's Day, 1918. My father acquired this photograph from a flea-market, which has since been researched for this article.

This ship was a cruiser of the Apollo class that was used to scuttle the narrowest point of the Bruges Canal under the commander of Stuart Bonham-Carter. This meant the German submarines couldn't leaving the Bruges. They were trapped at the entryway until high tide to negotiate a way through the channel.

How the Scuttling of the Intrepid Took Place

The Intrepid was filled to the brim with cement, concrete and rocks and sunk at the harbour under enemy attack. This is a classic example of 'scuttling'. This means a ship is sunk at a vital location to hamper the movement of enemy ships. The Intrepid was scuttled at the entry point of the canal, together with her sister ship, HMS Iphigenia.

Once both ships were in place, motor launches fetched the crew and left both ships derelict.

HMS Intrepid and the Bruges Canal Blockage

The raid was viewed as morale boost, even though the canal was not fully blocked and is remembered for the extraordinary bravery of the participants.

The photograph conveys the drama of a doomed ship at the end of her commission, scuttled and left derelict at the canal after the Zeebrugge offensive. The Ship, having served its purpose, begins to rust without a soul in sight within the Mole entryway.

Laden with cement, the ship formed an effective (if temporary) barrier against German passage.

British Naval Vessel HMS Intrepid Scuttled on the Mole Coast
British Naval Vessel HMS Intrepid Scuttled on the Mole Coast

The articles below provide a route for further reading relating to a collection of old photos on the Zeebrugge Raid acquired from dealers and markets.
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

Aerial view of scuttled ships Intrepid and Iphigenia
HMS Vindictive prior to scuttling
Scuttled HMS Intrepid and Iphigenia in the Mole
Gun emplacement on the Mole coastline
German naval mechanics on the Mole

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