Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Sole major naval engagement between the British and German fleets during world war i , fought in the North Sea on May 31 and June 1, 1916. In the initial stages, Hipper's force of five battle-cruisers, showing superior gunnery, blew up two of Admiral Beatty's six ships, but Beatty successfully lured the main German fleet under Admiral Scheer towards the stronger British force commanded by Admiral Jellicoe. However, Scheer escaped the trap under cover of a smoke screen and headed back to port. Fearing mines and torpedoes, the new weapons of naval warfare, Jellicoe broke off the engagement. While his fleet suffered disproportionately heavy losses and expectations of another trafalgar were disappointed, the British still held the strategic initiative at sea. Beyond the European theater, German naval bases and shipping had been put out of action at the start of the conflict, and the German High Seas Fleet would remain bottled up until the end of the war. Britain now tightened its blockade by limiting the freedom of neutrals to trade with the central powers . ... log in or subscribe to read full text