Battle of Jutland

May 31, 1916

Battle Cruiser
Length: 700 ft.
Beam: 89 ft.
Speed: 28-32
knots.
8 Large cannons
16 small cannons
- Speed was its
greatest weapon
Capital Ships
Length: 540 ft.
Beam: 88 ft.
Speed: 20 knots.
10 Large cannons
16 small cannons
3 torpedo tubes
-The most powerful
ship in a navy.
 Background
Largest surface naval battle in WWI
Both sides claim victory
The Allies had blockaded Germany
since 1914.
British naval intelligence ,Room 40,
had broken the German code by
1915.
 Major Characters:
Allied:
Admiral JellicoeHead of the British Grand Fleet in
the North Sea
Admiral BeattyCmdr. of Battle Cruiser Fleet
Fleet size: 28 Dreadnoughts, 9 Battlecruisers, 8
armored cruisers, 26 light cruisers, 78 destroyers, a
seaplane carrier, and a minesweeper.
Germany:
Admiral ScheerHead of German High Seas Fleet
Admiral HipperEquivalent to Beatty in rank
Fleet size: 16 Dreadnoughts, 6 pre-dreadnoughts, 5
Battlecruisers, 11 light cruisers, and 61 destroyers
 Run to the South
Beattys and Hippers scouting fleets
encountered each other and opened
fire from 10+ miles out.
German ships were only damaged
Superior hull design
3 British battlecruisers were destroyed
Poor storage of ammunition
 Run to the North
With the numerical
advantage lost Beatty
attempted to return to
the Grand Fleet
Scheer, with the High
Sea Fleet, pursued
Beatty North towards
the Grand Fleet
British large caliber
guns overwhelmed the
Germans
Scheer ordered a
retreat
 Crossing the T
Scheer decided to turn
around and charge back
towards Jellicoes fleet.
Jellicoe steered his fleet
to pass the enemies
near, cutting them off
from safety.
Jellicoe was able to form
a single battle line
The overwhelming
firepower of the Grand
Fleet forced Scheer to
turn and sail to his
home port.
 Escape from Destruction
Both sides sought to inflict crippling
damage by the use of torpedo
attacks.
Scheer used torpedo ship to cover his
retreat.
Jellicoe was forced to turn back,
which allowed Germany to return to
port.
 Victory?
Germany
Returned to its home port
Lost: 1 battlecrusier, 4 light cruisers, 5
destroyers, and 2,551 sailors
Britain
Remained in control of the North Sea
Lost: 3 battlecrusiers, 4 armored cruisers, 8
destroyers, and 6,094 sailors