- HMS Sappho (1891)
HMS "Sappho" was an "Apollo" class
cruiser of the BritishRoyal Navy which served from 1892 to 1918 in various colonial posts, including service during theSecond Boer War in 1901. During theFirst World War , "Sappho" and her sisters saw service off the British Isles as hastily convertedminelayer s. In May 1918, "Sappho" was ordered to be scuttled in the mouth ofOstend harbour inBelgium following the failedFirst Ostend Raid . TheSecond Ostend Raid operation (of which "Sappho" was a part) was intended to block the harbour mouth and prevent the transit of GermanU-boats and other raiding craft fromBruges to theNorth Sea . Whilst travelling fromDunkirk to Ostend on the day of the attack however, "Sappho" suffered severe engine damage in a minor boiler explosion and was forced to retire, taking no part in the partial success of the raid. She was not used again during the war, and was scrapped in 1921.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.