Jutland, Battle of

The largest battleship action of the First World War, fought 31 May to 1 June 1916 in the North Sea off Jutland (the Skagerrak to the Germans). Admiral Jellicoe’s Grand Fleet of about 151 ships met Admiral Scheer’s High Seas Fleet of about 99 in the only full clash of dreadnought fleets. The Royal Navy lost 14 ships and over 6,000 men against Germany’s 11 ships and over 2,500; Britain claimed strategic victory because the High Seas Fleet retreated to port and never again seriously challenged the blockade.