Matches in DBpedia 2014 for { ?s ?p The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to block the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. The British intended to sink older British ships in the canal entrance, to prevent German vessels from leaving port. The port was used by the Imperial German Navy as a base for U-boats and light shipping, which were a threat to Allied shipping, especially in the English Channel. Several attempts to close the Flanders ports by bombardment failed and Operation Hush a plan to advance up the coast in 1917 proved abortive. As shipping losses by U-boats increased, finding a way to close the ports became urgent and a raid was considered. The first attempt to raid Zeebrugge was made on 2 April 1918 but cancelled at the last moment, after the wind direction changed and made it impossible to lay a smoke-screen. Another attempt was made on 23 April with a concurrent attack on Ostend. Two of the three block ships were scuttled in the narrowest part of the Bruges Canal and one of the two submarines rammed the viaduct, which linked the shore and the mole to isolate the German garrison. The block ships were sunk in the wrong place and the canal was opened after a few days to submarines at high tide. British casualties were 583 men and German losses were 24 men; the raid was publicised as a great British victory and many medals were awarded.. }
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- Zeebrugge_Raid abstract "The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to block the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. The British intended to sink older British ships in the canal entrance, to prevent German vessels from leaving port. The port was used by the Imperial German Navy as a base for U-boats and light shipping, which were a threat to Allied shipping, especially in the English Channel. Several attempts to close the Flanders ports by bombardment failed and Operation Hush a plan to advance up the coast in 1917 proved abortive. As shipping losses by U-boats increased, finding a way to close the ports became urgent and a raid was considered. The first attempt to raid Zeebrugge was made on 2 April 1918 but cancelled at the last moment, after the wind direction changed and made it impossible to lay a smoke-screen. Another attempt was made on 23 April with a concurrent attack on Ostend. Two of the three block ships were scuttled in the narrowest part of the Bruges Canal and one of the two submarines rammed the viaduct, which linked the shore and the mole to isolate the German garrison. The block ships were sunk in the wrong place and the canal was opened after a few days to submarines at high tide. British casualties were 583 men and German losses were 24 men; the raid was publicised as a great British victory and many medals were awarded.".