Battle of Jutland – 1916



When:

May 31 – June 1, 1916

Where:

Skagerrak, North Sea

Who:

Allied Powers: British Royal Navy – Grand Fleet
Central Powers: Imperial German Navy – High Seas Fleet

Summary:

The outbreak of the Battle of Jutland was the culmination of the race for naval supremacy between the navies of Britain and Germany that had persisted since the start of the century. The Battle of Jutland was referred to by the Germans as the Battle of Skagerrak. The battle was the largest naval battle fought at the time. The two navies employed a large number of battleships in the war.

Vessel British Navy German Navy
Pre-Dreadnoughts 0 6
Dreadnoughts 28 16
Cruisers 8 0
Destroyers 77 61
Light Cruisers 26 11
Battleships 9 5
Carriers 1 0

Admiral Reinhard Scheer, having taken command of the German High Seas Fleet in 1916, decided to aggressively encounter the British Royal Navy. Admiral Franz von Hipper and a fleet of battleships were spotted on the North Sea by Admiral Sir David Beatty. Beatty decided to go after the German fleet. The battle broke out at 4 p.m. on May 31, 1916. Beatty retreated following a round of firing and subsequent loss of two battle cruisers. The German High Seas Fleet pursued Admiral Beatty’s fleet and came face-to-face with the main British Grand Fleet. Battle waged again at 6:30 p.m. The German fleet was at a disadvantage with the sun setting behind them. After an initial round of fighting, as the High Seas fleet turned homeward, it faced the other half of the Grand Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe who intended to cut the Germans off. Admiral Scheer’s use of torpedoes and battle cruisers and the cover of the darkness saved the day for the German fleet.

Outcome:

Both the navies claimed to have won the battle. The Germans were successful in causing huge damages to the Grand Fleet. Over 6,000 British sailors were killed in action. The battle however restricted the Germans from taking on the British Navy in a direct battle. The German Navy thenceforth resorted to unrestricted submarine warfare.

Major Battles of World War I

Battle of Mons – 1914 Battle of Jutland – 1916
Battle of Tannenberg – 1914 Battles of Gaza – 1917
Battle of Heligoland Bight – 1914 Second Battle of Aisne – 1917
First Battle of Marne – 1914 Second Battle of Arras – 1917
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes – 1914 Battle of Messines – 1917
First Battle of Aisne – 1914 Battle of Passchendaele – 1917
First Battle of Albert – 1914 Battle of Caporetto – 1917
First Battle of Arras – 1914 Battle of Cambrai – 1917
First Battle of Ypres – 1914 German Spring Offensive – 1918
Gallipoli Campaign – 1915 Hundred Days Offensive – 1918
Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes – 1915 Battle of Le Hamel – 1918
Battles of Isonzo – 1915 Second Battle of Somme – 1918
Loos-Artois Offensive – 1915 Second Battle of Marne – 1918
Battle of Verdun – 1916 Battle of St Mihiel – 1918
Battle of Jutland – 1916
First Battle of Somme – 1916 Battle of Vittori Veneto – 1918

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