Battle of Jutland

HMS Invincible on fire after being struck by shells from SMS Lützow and SMS Derfflinger

Historical Context

Battle of Jutland was the last major naval battle fought mainly by battleships and it was the most important naval battle during World War I. The British navy was blockading the German fleet and the trigger for the battle was a German attempted to break out of the embargo.

Over the course of the battle, the British lost 151 ships and over 6,000 men, while the Germans lost 99 ships and over 2,500 sailors, although the balance of power was not greatly shifted. Though the actions of both commanders - John Rushworth Jellicoe for the British and Reinhard Scheer for the Germans - are debated to this day, the Germans realized that their fleet had been contained.

Instead Germany turned to submarine warfare, which became one of the primary reasons the United States entered the war in April 1917.

Photo Info

Location taken: North Sea, Denmark
Source: Fighting at Jutland:The personal experiences of forty five officers and men of the British Fleet

Related Events

1916-05-31 Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet which killed 8,645 in an inconclusive battle but strategic British victory. German fleet never puts to sea again in WWI.
1916-05-31 HMS Invincible explodes after taking fire during the Battle of Jutland, killing 1026 officers including Rear-Admiral Hood - only 6 crew members survive