The Plan of Attack
The Royal Navy realised that a seabourne assault to capture Zeebrugge harbour was too ambitious. Instead they decided to scuttle three old cruisers - HMS Intrepid HMS Thetis and HMS Iphigenia across the canal entrance
HMS Thetis
HMS Iphegenia
HMS Intrepid
To prevent the Germans from reinforcing their troops on the Mole during the attack, the viaduct which connected the Mole to the mainland was to be destroyed. The submarine C3 filled with explosives was to sail under the viaduct and be blown up
the crews from the blockships were to be rescued by fast motor boats and ferried back to destroyers waiting outside the harbour
these wooden hull motor boats were used to lay a smoke screen in front of the attacking fleet
a raiding party of Naval ratings and Royal Marines was to land on the Mole from HMS Vindictive and neutralise the heavy guns guarding the harbour
boarding ramps fitted to Vindictive top be lowered onto the top of the Mole
Royal Navy officers Dickenson, Walker, Adams, Osbourne, Harrison and Hawkins at a briefing aboard HMS Vindictive before the Raid. When the German guns opened fire, Adams was the only officer left to lead the assault onto the Mole