THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND
May 31st - June 1st, 1916
In 1916, the German Admiral of the entire German High Seas Fleet sought to strike a decisive blow against the British Fleet and win control of the North Sea and apply pressure on the British Navy. This was because the German Army at Verdun was making huge sacrifices in men and arms to try to win the war and the German Navy was just sitting idly, to great frustration of the German Army Generals.
The German scouts found out that the main British Fleet was located on Scapa Flow, far too north to support Beatty's smaller fleet of battle cruisers if they were attacked. Thus, the Germans decided to seize this opportunity to destroy a sizable portion of the British Fleet by using a fleet of similar size to lure Beatty's fleet out into sea into the main German Fleet.
However, unbeknownst to the Germans, their military codes had been cracked and Admiral Jellicoe knew what was going on and he was determined to thwart the German's plans and lay a trap himself aimed at destroying the entire German Fleet...
May 31st - June 1st, 1916
In 1916, the German Admiral of the entire German High Seas Fleet sought to strike a decisive blow against the British Fleet and win control of the North Sea and apply pressure on the British Navy. This was because the German Army at Verdun was making huge sacrifices in men and arms to try to win the war and the German Navy was just sitting idly, to great frustration of the German Army Generals.
The German scouts found out that the main British Fleet was located on Scapa Flow, far too north to support Beatty's smaller fleet of battle cruisers if they were attacked. Thus, the Germans decided to seize this opportunity to destroy a sizable portion of the British Fleet by using a fleet of similar size to lure Beatty's fleet out into sea into the main German Fleet.
However, unbeknownst to the Germans, their military codes had been cracked and Admiral Jellicoe knew what was going on and he was determined to thwart the German's plans and lay a trap himself aimed at destroying the entire German Fleet...
Allied Powers:
British High Seas Fleet: Sir John Jellicoe British Battle Cruiser Squadron: Vice Adminral David Beatty |
Central Powers:
German High Seas Fleet: Reinhard Scheer German Battle Cruiser Squadron: Adminral Hipper |
http://www.battle-of-jutland.com/jutland-battle.htm
Notable Features
One of the largest naval battles in all of history: 7th largest with 100,000 total combatants and around 250 ships.
The battle remained indecisive/draw due to blunders by both sides.
One of the largest naval battles in all of history: 7th largest with 100,000 total combatants and around 250 ships.
The battle remained indecisive/draw due to blunders by both sides.
Implications
Eleven German ships were sunk, of which 1 was a battle ship, 1 was a battle cruiser, 4 were light cruisers, and 5 were destroyers.
In addition, the German navy lost 3,058 sailors.
The British lost 15 ships including 3 battle cruisers, 4 armored cruisers, and eight destroyers.
In addition, the British Royal Navy lost 6,784 men.
So who won?
The Germans sunk more ships: 15 to 11, and killed more men: 6,784 to 3,058.
However, if one looks at what really happened, here is the real breakdown:
Eleven German ships were sunk, of which 1 was a battle ship, 1 was a battle cruiser, 4 were light cruisers, and 5 were destroyers.
In addition, the German navy lost 3,058 sailors.
The British lost 15 ships including 3 battle cruisers, 4 armored cruisers, and eight destroyers.
In addition, the British Royal Navy lost 6,784 men.
So who won?
The Germans sunk more ships: 15 to 11, and killed more men: 6,784 to 3,058.
However, if one looks at what really happened, here is the real breakdown:
Category of Ship | British Fleet | British Loss | British % Loss | German Fleet | German Loss | German % Loss | Description |
Battleship/ Pre-dreadnought | 28 | 0 | 0% | 22 | 1 | 4.55% | Largest, Most Powerful, and Most Important Ship |
Battle Cruiser | 9 | 3 | 33% | 5 | 1 | 20% | Large and Important Ship |
Armored Cruiser | 8 | 4 | 50% | N/A | N/A | N/A | Large and Important Ship with Heavy Defenses |
Light Cruiser | 26 | 0 | 0% | 11 | 4 | 36.4% | Moderately Armed Ship, Moderate Importance |
Destroyer/ Torpedo Boats/ Other | 80 | 8 | 10% | 61 | 5 | 8.20% | Fast and Lightly Armed Ships Usually for Harassment, Low importance Unless in High Numbers |
Total | 151 | 15 | 9.93% | 98 | 11 | 11.22% | N/A |
As one can see, the Royal Navy had more large and important ships than the German Navy.
What really happened was that the British Fleet was in an even better position now.
The German Navy, already less in heavy ships compared to the British Navy, fell even further behind.
This could also be seen in the next few days:
Admiral Jellicoe had 23 of his ships ready for action while Scheer only had 10 undamaged ships.
Admiral Scheer told the Kaiser that the German surface fleet was unable to do further combat against its English counterparts and that the best solution to this problem was with unrestricted submarine warfare.
The German surface fleet would no longer harass Allied shipping.
What really happened was that the British Fleet was in an even better position now.
The German Navy, already less in heavy ships compared to the British Navy, fell even further behind.
This could also be seen in the next few days:
Admiral Jellicoe had 23 of his ships ready for action while Scheer only had 10 undamaged ships.
Admiral Scheer told the Kaiser that the German surface fleet was unable to do further combat against its English counterparts and that the best solution to this problem was with unrestricted submarine warfare.
The German surface fleet would no longer harass Allied shipping.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/jutland.htm
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-jutland
http://www.battle-of-jutland.com/jutland-battle.htm
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-jutland
http://www.battle-of-jutland.com/jutland-battle.htm