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The battle of Jutland was the main naval battle of the First World War. The British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas fleet clashed for the only time in the war. The British suffered heavier losses (three battlecruisers, four armoured cruisers and eight destroyers compared to one battlecruiser, one pre-Dreadnought, four light cruisers and five destroyers for the Germans), but the Germans retreated to port and were probably lucky to avoid heavier losses. After Jutland the Germans avoided risking their fleet, so the battle was a clear British victory, confirming their control of the North Sea.
Individual Ships
Cruiser HMS Galatea is flagship of 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, and is port wing ship on Beatty's advanced screen. At 3.50am an unseen U-boat fires a torpedo at her, but misses. At 2.20pm she becomes the first British ship to raise the 'enemy in sight' signal, after spotting German cruisers.
Cruiser HMS Phaeton takes part in the first action of the battle, a clash with the German cruiser Elbing.
Cruiser HMS Royalist takes part in the destroyer fighter at 7.15pm.
Cruiser HMS Chester is attached the Rear-Admiral Hood's battlecruiser squadron of the Grand Fleet iand is the first ship in that squadron to enter battle, clashing with the German 2nd Scouting Group. In a short fighter she was badly damaged, with 35 dead and 42 wounded. Amongst the dead was Jack Cornwell, one of the ships’ boys. Aged only 16 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle. He was stationed at one of the ship's guns, a vulnerable spot because of the limited protection offered by the gun shields for the 5.5in guns.
Cruiser HMS Birmingham takes part in the night battle, clashing with the German 4th Scouting Group, then helps escort the damaged cruiser Southampton back to Rosyth.
Cruiser HMS Nottingham is part of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron and takes part in the night clash with the German 4th Scouting Group, suffering no casualties.
Cruiser HMS Southampton is the first of Beatty's ships to spot the German battleships, triggering the dash to the north. She is then involved in a night battle with the German 4th Scouting Group, suffering heavy losses but sinking the German cruiser Frauenlob.
Cruiser HMS Dublin is hit by eighteen smaller shells suffering three dead and twenty-four wounded.
Battlecruiser HMS New Zealand serves as flagship of Rear-Admiral Pakenham, 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron, firing 420 12in shells at the Moltke.
Battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable is destroyed by 11in shells from the Von der Tann. Two hit her upper deck at 4pm, triggering an explosion in X magazine. Another salvo hits at 4.05 and she explodes.
Battleship HMS Barham is flagship of 5th Battle Squadron, serving with Beatty's battlecruiser squadron. The fast battleships are still slower than the battlecruisers. They arrive too late to save two of Beatty's battlecruisers from destruction, but probably save the rest of the squadron. They are then left behind during the retreat north as Beatty attempts to pull the German onto the Grand Fleet, and come under heavy fire. Barham is hit by six large shells, suffering 26 dead and 37 wounded.
Battleship HMS Malaya was also with the 5th Battle Squadron . She falls behind the battlecruisers during the dash south, and two battlecruisers are lost in the early clashes. The battleships arrives in time to help prevent the destruction of the rest of the battlecruisers. She is then at the rear of the line as Beatty pulled the Germans onto the Grand Fleet, and suffered 63 dead and 33 wounded - most of any British battleship.
Battleship HMS Warspite is also with the 5th Battle Squadron. Her helm jams just as the squadron rejoined the main battlefleet and she came under heavy fire, suffering 15 hits from 11in and 12in shells. She was saved when Scheer was forced to turn and escape from the guns of the Grand Fleet.