SMS Blucher
capsizing at Dogger Bank,
24 January 1915
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January 1915
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First clash between British and German capital ships during the First World War. The German battlecruisers manage to escape from a British attack although the older cruiser SMS 'Blucher' is sunk.
The British fleet includes the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron (with HMS Southampton (flagship), HMS Birmingham, HMS Lowestoft, HMS Nottingham, ), the Battlecruiser Fleet (including HMS New Zealand)
The cruiser HMS Arethusa plays a part in the battle, firing two torpedoes into the Blucher.
The cruiser HMS Aurora makes the first sighting of German ships in the first phase of the battle.
On the German side the battlecruiser SMS Derfflinger inflicts heavy damage on HMS Lion, but is then hit by a 13.4in shell