Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was the biggest naval battle of World War I. On the 31st of May 1916, the German High Seas Fleet sortied in force to challenge the Royal Navy, which sent a superior force out to meet them. In the ensuing battle, the British force lost 14 ships, including three battlecruisers, and over 6000 men. German losses were 11 ships, including a battlecruiser and an old battleship, and 3000 men. Although the German navy won a tactical victory, the commanders realized that their surface units could not achieve strategic success against the Royal Navy, and the High Seas Fleet did not enter the North Sea in force for the remainder of the war.
The Battle of Jutland was the first naval battle in which aerial reconnaissance played a part. The seaplane carrier Engradine was with the British scouting group, and after the advance cruisers had made contact, she launched an aircraft to get a clearer look at the enemy fleet.[1]
Background
Germany and the United Kingdom had been involved in a naval arms race for a decade before the outbreak of war. This had two consequences. In 1914, Germany had the second largest navy in the world, although the Royal Navy still had a significant numerical advantage in all ship classes. And the arms race contributed to tensions between Germany and the British Empire.
When the war began, the Royal Navy moved quickly to blockade German ports, cutting her off from overseas trade. German strategy was to lure elements of the Royal Navy into combat under conditions favorable to them. British strategy was to use their superior numbers to destroy as many German units as possible. Both sides were cautious to avoid undue losses, being fearful of “losing the war in a day”. There had already been a few minor engagements in 1914 and 1915, when the German admiralty decided on a more aggressive naval strategy.[2]