Naval battle near the Skagerrak

On 31 May 1916 near the North Sea Skagerrak, the 112 ship strong German high seas fleet under Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer’s command encounters England’s „Grand Fleet,“ commanded by Admiral John R. Jellicoe, which comprises a total of 150 ships.

Source: Scheer German broadside

A two-day naval battle ensues. Its outcome is a succès d’estime for the Germans: With 115,000 tons they are able to sink almost twice as much enemy tonnage as their opponents: three battleships, three armoured cruisers, and eight torpedo boats, but they suffer their own high losses. The German fleet loses the battleship „Lützow“, the liner „Pommern“, four cruisers, and five torpedo boats. The British mourn 6,094 dead, the Germans 2,551. However, the battle had no effect on the superiority of the „Home Fleet“ and its blockade of the German coast.