Jutland, Battle of

Jutland, Battle of the largest naval battle in history, a confrontation between Germany's High Seas Fleet and Great Britain's Grand Fleet in the summer of 1916. German Admiral Reinhard Scheer had planned an open sea encounter between his fleet and a squadron of British battle cruisers at Rosyth, in order to take advantage of their numerical advantage. The Germans laid their trap, but the signal for it to begin was intercepted and partially decoded by the British. The British Grand Fleet was on its way to the southwest Norwegian coast that same evening (May 30). On May 31, battle broke out between the British cruisers and the German fleet, with the British suffering greater initial losses. Once the British fleet arrived, though, British forces were able to perform a tactical maneuver (crossing the T) to gain the advantage in firepower. Scheer was able to guide his fleet out, but in the process ended with the British fleet between his fleet and the German ports. Without further options, Scheer ordered his cruisers and destroyers to charge the British ships while the remaining battleships retreated. The British lost fourteen ships and 6,274 officers and men, while the Germans lost eleven ships and 2,545 officers and men. The battle was claimed by both sides as a victory.