INDEX

Diagram I.

PLAN OF
JUTLAND BATTLE
BEFORE AND AFTER DEPLOYMENT

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The position of our Battle Cruisers at 6.0. P.M. is fixed by a report from the Marlborough and confirmed at 6.4. P.M. by a report from the Rear-Admiral 1st Battle Squadron in the Colossus.

The position of the 5th Battle Squadron is fixed by a report from the Marlborough at 6.5. P.M. taken in conjunction with the reports of the Rear-Admiral 5th Battle Squadron.

The courses of our Battle Cruisers are taken from the report of the Vice-Admiral Battle Cruiser Fleet and from the Lion and Indomitable.

The position of the Enemy Battle Cruisers at 6.7. P.M. is fixed by a report from the Lion received at 6.6. P.M.; this gave the bearing; the distance is obtained by a consideration of the ranges at which the Lion was firing.

The position of the Enemy Battle Fleet is fixed at 6.14. P.M. from the Lion and at 6.15. P.M. from the Barham; the latter being signalled by wireless, an interval of four minutes being allowed between transmission and receipt.

Subsequent movements of the Enemy Battle Cruisers are fixed by the bearings on which our Battle Cruisers were firing and the ranges given, and by a consideration of the German reports which show a 32 point turn between 6.6. and 6.15. P.M.

Subsequent movements of the Enemy Battle Fleet are fixed by bearings and ranges given by the Marlborough at 6.17. P.M., Iron Duke at 6.31. P.M. and Monarch at 6.33. P.M.

The movements of the Defence, Warrior and Warspite are fixed by reports and diagrams from the Warrior, Duke of Edinburgh and the Rear-Admiral 5th Battle Squadron.

Note.—In studying this diagram it should be borne in mind that only a few of the German ships were visible at a time due to the smoke and mist.

Diagram II.

DIAGRAM TO ILLUSTRATE THE SITUATION THAT MIGHT
HAVE ARISEN HAD THE BATTLE FLEET DEPLOYED ON
THE STARBOARD WING COLUMN.

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It should be borne in mind that no information as to the position of the Enemy Battle Fleet was received until 6.14. P.M., and that the only reports received had been one at 6.6. P.M., giving a bearing of the Enemy Battle Cruisers from the “Lion”, and a report at 5.50. P.M. from the “Southampton” to the effect that the Enemy Battle Fleet bore north-east from his Battle Cruisers (and were therefore presumably ahead of them and right ahead of our Battle Fleet.)

There had therefore been no sufficient information on which to re-dispose the guides of columns; deployment on the starboard wing column to meet an enemy before the starboard beam would necessarily be an awkward manoeuvre as it would involve a considerable alteration of the starboard wing column to port and a very large alteration of course of the remaining columns when coming into line astern of it.

A torpedo attack during deployment would under these conditions throw the British Battle Fleet into great confusion and a concentration of gunfire on the turning point would be very effective; our own gunfire, owing to the large alterations of course and the consequent difficulty of obtaining correct fire control data would be correspondingly ineffective: our own destroyers had been spread ahead of the Battle Fleet as a submarine screen until 6.8 P.M. and were moving across the front in an unformed condition to the two flanks.

The movements that would probably have resulted and the number of ships on each side in action are shown in the diagram for each 3-minute interval from 6.16 to 6.28 P.M.

The three ships of the 5th. Battle Squadron would eventually have come into line ahead of the 6th. division, but would possibly have masked the fire of that division during the movement.

Diagram III.

DIAGRAM SHOWING
ORDER OF THE BATTLEFLEET
BATTLE OF JUTLAND
31st. MAY 1916

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“Minotaur’s” track chart records that at 8 p.m. “King George V” bore N 10 E (true) from her, distant about 5 miles.

It also records that “Lion” bore W by S (true) from her, distant about 5 miles.

If these records are reliable “Lion’s” 8 p.m. position would be at X, and her track between 7.20 and 8 p.m., presumably as shewn thus:——

“Minotaur’s” records however, do not profess to give exact distances.

Diagram IV.

TRACK OF SQUADRONS
DURING NIGHT OF
May 31st. to June 1st. and
Forenoon of June 1st. 1916.

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BATTLE FLEET.

During night, Battle Fleet in 3 columns, 1 mile apart, disposed abeam.

From 2.45 A. M. to 3.30 A. M., in single line.

From 3.30 A. M. onward, in 6 columns, 1 mile apart, disposed abeam.

POSITIONS OF CRUISERS ETC.

Dublin at 4.30 A. M. in Lat. 55° 30′ N., Long. 6° 36′ E. Commodore of Flotillas at 5.0 A. M. in Lat. 55° 48′ N., Long. 6° 22′ E.

Vice Admiral 1st Battle Squadron with 6th Division at 6.40 A. M. in Lat. 55° 55′ N., Long. 5° 15′ E. steering S. SE. 19 knots.

3 Submarines off Vyl Light Ship on bearing 270°, 4 miles, 12 miles and 20 miles respectively from Lightship.