Grand Fleet

The principal battle fleet of the British Royal Navy in the First World War, formed in August 1914 from the Home Fleets and based mainly at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. It was commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe until November 1916, then by Admiral Sir David Beatty. The Grand Fleet fought the High Seas Fleet at Jutland, 31 May to 1 June 1916, and held a distant blockade that confined the German fleet to port for most of the war. In April 1919 it was reorganized into the Atlantic Fleet.