On 31 May 1916, the Battle of Jutland began in the North Sea. The Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet met Germany’s High Seas Fleet in the largest naval battle of the First World War.

Britain depended on sea power. The Royal Navy kept Germany contained and maintained the blockade meant to weaken the German war effort. Germany could not easily challenge the whole British fleet, so it tried to draw out and damage part of it.

The battle was fought from 31 May to 1 June. It was large, confused and difficult to control. Visibility was poor, signals were missed or misunderstood, and decisions had to be made without a full view of what was happening. Ships could be hit and destroyed very quickly.

The British losses were severe. HMS Indefatigable, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Invincible were destroyed, with heavy loss of life. In total, the Royal Navy lost more ships and more men than the German fleet. More than 6,000 British sailors were killed.

In Britain, those losses made any claim of victory difficult. The Royal Navy had gone into the battle with the larger fleet, and many expected British sea power to assert itself clearly. Instead, the battle resulted in heavy losses and no decisive outcome.

Germany could claim that it had inflicted greater damage. But the wider naval position did not move in Germany’s favour. The High Seas Fleet had not broken British control of the North Sea, and the blockade continued.

Jutland left two facts in place. Britain suffered heavier losses in the battle. Germany failed to change its strategic position. The Royal Navy maintained the sea control it needed, but at a high cost.

The battle did not settle the naval war as either side had wanted. Britain kept control of the North Sea. Germany had tactical success to claim. Thousands of families were left with dead sailors.