Battle Of Jutland

German Surprise Won The First Phase

This Naval History continues on from: "Thomas Mathews"

The battle of Jutland began with the battle-cruisers "Indefatigable" and "Queen Mary" going up in a dull cloud of fire and smoke, and disappearing from view. The Admiral's flagship "H.M.S. Lion" had only been saved from a like fate by the heroism of a dying Royal Marine officer.

The problem he had discovered was flash; when ships were first armoured the shells would follow a low trajectory, and therefore, if they scored a hit, the shell would strike the thick armour on the side of a ship aimed at. So the heaviest armour was always placed there.

But the day had now come when, with its long range, the gun now fired its shells much more vertically; so while missing the ship's side, they plunged down directly upon the un-armoured deck; thereby penetrating the ship's vitals; ammunitions and boilers etc.

This, there seems little doubt, was the calamity which befell the two unhappy battle-cruisers, but for the quickness and courage of Major Harvey R.M.L.I., would also have happened to the "Lion". He ordered all bulkhead passeges and scuttles to be closed in action; limiting the danger from flash.

Thomas Mathews

The Remedy Was Not Difficult

Harvey realised flash-proof devices in the ammunitons supply were required; and they were soon fitted throughout the navy. It had cost two fine ships, 114 officers and 2,169 good men; and possibly more, for later in the day the old but most respected battle-cruiser "Invincible" came to a similar end with possibly the cause of the problem being the same.

Another factor was illustrated in this battle. The enemy's ships seemed able to take a great deal more punishment than ours; they could remain afloat when reduced to wrecks.

The German "Lutzow" was struck by at least 40 projectiles, they could not get her home and she was sunk by a German torpedo, and not by British guns. The "Derfflinger" was hit 29 times and the "Seydlitz" 27 and also torpedoed and both just about reached home.

German Ships Were Harder To Sink

The fact was that Germans and British were building and designing their ships for very different purposes. The former made the maximum degree of unsinkability their principal aim. Because the ships were intended for shorter journeys they were unlikely to be called upon to take arduous voyages on the oceans of the world.

So the Germans didn't need to make them too habitable for their crews for lengthy periods. The German ships were split up into a large number of permanent watertight compartments; each divided by strong bulkheads which never needed to be opened; thereby allowing their ships to be partly flooded without foundering.

The British with our Empire commitments, could not possibly contemplate such a system. Our ship's crews had to live on board longer and therefore required a reasonable standard of comfort; therefore every inch of space was taken up and used.

In The Second World War

It was true that the German capital ship was harder to destroy than ours. Their boast that the "Bismark" was unsinkable, impressed many of our officers who witnessed her end as being near the truth.

By using shameless hollow lies in high places they built their ships of a much greater size than they admitted. The secret allowed them to use the extra tonnage, to add to their internal strength and protection.

Ships in 1916, relied upon the gun as the battle winner, and exerted their maximum strength only in beam-fire; ships firing across from side to side at each other; was the way to fight.

Efforts were made to increase bow-fire, so that ships were not broad-side-firers only. Unless something abnormal was produced it was impossible to direct the fire of all guns either forward or aft.

The Range Of Guns Increased Dramatically

Because the range of guns had increased by fifteen times at least; engaging the enemy on both sides were no longer practical. Nor was ship concentration like in the olden days of naval warfare. With the guns now, both could engage the enemy's ship at almost any range.

Every ship of 1916, had its "arc", an arc over which all; or nearly all; its guns could bear, and it was a wide one, though it did not extend to straight ahead or straight astern. All "arc's" were on the beam. There was no particular advantage to either opponent becuase the other Admiral could do the same.

The time had arrived, to make sure of hitting the enemy's ship, at almost any range beyond point-blank. To do this the gunner must use accuracy in two dimemsions; direction and elevation. It was no longer enough to shoot straight in a lateral sense.

The Second Phase 'Run To The North'

Admiral Beaty, scouting the High Seas with his fleet of light-cruisers saw the German Fleet ahead, he turned about and retreated northwards. Thereby drawing the German battle-cruisers, battleships and all, after him towards the British Grand Fleet.

The chase was part of Admiral Jellicoe's plan. The Fifth Battle Squadron, came into fairly heavy action with the head of the German Line of its fleet, though at long range, nothing very decisive happened.

When Beaty sighted the British cruiser screen ahead of the Grand Fleet, it was his cue to turn about once more from being pursued and changed to the pursuer, the plan was succeeding.

The German High seas Fleet had been lured too far from home to be able to return without fighting for it. But the weather conditions were deteriorating rapidly, visibility had become very patchy; and it was nearly six o'clock in the evening.

The Third Phase

Jellicoe's problem was how to deploy his Grand Fleet of twenty-four battleships, steaming in cruising formation of six columns ahead, into the enemy's single line ahead to do battle.

In this difficult manoeuvre he was brilliantly successful, just before the enemy was sighted. He set his whole array upon the shortest course to cut off the enemy from home.

It was at this moment that we suffered out third and last loss of a capital ship. The Third Battle Squadron, which had been accompanying the Grand Fleet, now turned almost due west, to take its allotted place at the head of the line.

It suddenly found itself very heavily engaged by the head of the German line, and the "Invincible", which was heavily hit blew-up and sunk.

When The Mist Began To Clear

Jellicoe could see he had done something more than head the enemy off from home. The German Admiral Von Scheer had fallen into a trap, and would have to hard work to extricate himself from it.

But the weather remained grey and misty. Twice only, and then, only for a few moments at a time, did the opposing fleets get a glimpse of each other and were able to indulge in effective fighting. On neither occasion, until he came close enough to see, did von Scheer know his danger.

The first occasion was immediately after the main battle. But the opportunity was fleeting. It was 6:17 that the first gun spoke from the British battle-fleet.

And firing ceased at 6:35; but it was only in the last five minutes of this period that there was anything like full fleet action. Yet during that short time great execution was done upon the enemy, especially on the battle-cruisers leading the line.

The Fleets Made No Contact Again

Von Scheer turned right around and as the German destroyers faded into the mist they fired a parting-shot of twenty-one torpedoes at the grand fleet. All missed.

The daylight was passing and visibility was becoming worse. Whatever he had done, it was most unlikely that Jellicoe could have brought the enemy to action again before nightfall.

Later Jellicoe stood on the south, covering the known paths through the German mine-fields which it seemed most likely von Scheer would use to make good his escape.

Von Scheer decided to strike across the British line to progress astern of the Grand Fleet; where he blundered into our light forces which brought up the rear, and in doing so won through his escape; but not without loss.

The "Lutzow" was left behind and lost; one battleship, the "Pommern" was hit and sunk by torpedoes from our destroyers, and at least one light cruiser was destroyed in a furious gun duel at point-blank range.

The luck was clearly with von Scheer, who afterwards admitted his surprise to find, at dawn, that the British were no longer between him and home.

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Who Won The Battle Of Jutland

Many foreign writers have claimed a tactical victory for the Germans. Yet examination reveals that for this indecisive encounter; victory rested with the British who lost three ships.

For if the battle were really fought by the Germans, their losses were too high to make it worth while; seven ships. And their absence of attacking action would seem to furnish proof that they thought it too.

On 19th August the same year, von Scheer ventured forth again, but not in order to take up a second encounter; when he realised that action might be forced upon him, he called off the whole operation and steamed for home. He could hardly have done this if he held the view that actions like Jutland would end in the Germans controlling the seas.

Throughout the battle the British fleet sustained 55 hits; while the German ships sustained 121 hits. Let us give the Germans their due, and allow them the first phase; but we are entitled to claim the other two. Nor is it the first time in history when Britain lost the first round but won the last!

The continuation of this Naval History will be: "Battle off Beachy Head"

Battle Of Jutland Battle off Beachy Head

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