Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Jutland Campaign: Night Moves

In the battle in the Skagerrak both sides drew off at nightfall & reorganised their fleets into night formations while they formulated their night manoeuvre plans.   At nightfall the High Seas Fleet was inside the Skagerrak inlet off the north sea with the van of the Grand fleet between them & home.

Both sides sent their night manoeuvre plans to the umpire who determined whether there would be any night action.  Wary of the Germans advantage in night fighting the British chose to move south to be between the High Seas Fleet & base at dawn hoping for renewal of the battle in daylight.

The British succeeded in avoiding a night action, but the Germans had plotted a course that not only avoided the British during the night, but avoided being spotted the next day.  Both sides got home without further action. 

While only the old dreadnought Temeraire was sunk in the battle, both sides have many ships with significant damage.  The dockyards on both sides of the North Sea will be busy for some time.

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