HMS Iphigenia (1891)

HMS Iphigenia was an Apollo-class cruiser protected cruiser of the Royal Navy built on the River Clyde and launched in 1891, spending her early years on the China Station. When she became obsolete as a cruiser, she was converted as a minelayer in 1907. Her service ended when she was sunk as a blockship during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918.

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.

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 (1891) and HMS Thetis (1890) 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. She was subsequently broken up when the canal was cleared.