The Royal Navy and the British public expected a great sea battle. The cautious tactical position that both sides had adopted meant that there was only one major naval engagement. The Battle of Jutland was not the decisive victory that the British had expected and the Germans had tried to avoid. Both sides claimed to have won.

'...it must be regarded as a British success, seeing that it is admitted on Germany’s part that the German ships had to abandon an enterprise undertaken in a northerly direction and to return to German harbours.'

'Several of our fine ships, indeed, have been lost and many of our brave soldiers have perished, but the enemy losses are several times greater. Above all, proof has been given that our fleet is able to face a superior British naval force and gain a victory for which we salute and thank our navy.'

Thinking Point: How could two opposing sides both claim the Battle of Jutland as their victory?

Admiral Von Scheer’s initial plan was to threaten British patrols and merchant ships in the area by sending battlecruisers, under Admiral Hipper, to trap a small number of the British Grand Fleet. Scheer was not expecting a full-scale battle. When Hipper made for the Sea on 31st May 1916 he met the scouting force of Admiral Beatty, who had been sent in advance of the British main fleet. They fired on each other and Beatty lost two ships. Hipper turned to join Von Scheer, and Beatty pursued him until he caught sight of the main German fleet.

At this point he withdrew to join the main British fleet under Admiral Jellicoe. Scheer followed and found himself involved in a full scale offensive. After two and a half hours the German main fleet escaped to their home base under the cover of darkness, but not before they had sunk fourteen British ships. Although the Royal Navy suffered more losses, the battle ended any future threat from the High Seas Fleet. Britain had won strategically, but lost tactically. It was for this reason that both sides claimed victory.