The Inflexible opened fire at 12.55 P.M. from her fore turret at the right-hand ship of the enemy, a light cruiser; a few minutes later the Invincible opened fire at the same ship.
The deliberate fire from a range of 16,500 to 15,000 yards at the right-hand light cruiser, who was dropping astern, became too threatening, and when a shell fell close alongside her at 1.20 P.M. she (the Leipzig) turned away, with the Nürnberg and Dresden to the south-west. These light cruisers were at once followed by the Kent, Glasgow, and Cornwall, in accordance with my instructions.
The action finally developed into three separate encounters, besides the subsidiary one dealing with the threatened landing.
(B)—ACTION WITH THE ARMOURED CRUISERS
The fire of the battle-cruisers was directed on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. The effect of this was quickly seen, when at 1.25 P.M., with the Scharnhorst leading, they turned about 7 points to port in succession into line-ahead and opened fire at 1.30 P.M. Shortly afterwards speed was eased to 24 knots, and the battle-cruisers were ordered to turn together, bringing them into line-ahead, with the Invincible leading.
The range was about 13,500 yards at the final turn, and increased until, at 2 P.M., it had reached 16,450 yards.
The enemy then (2.10 P.M.) turned away about 10 points to starboard and a second chase ensued, until, at 2.45 P.M., the battle-cruisers again opened fire; this caused the enemy, at 2.53 P.M., to turn into line-ahead to port and open fire at 2.55 P.M.
The Scharnhorst caught fire forward, but not seriously, and her fire slackened perceptibly; the Gneisenau was badly hit by the Inflexible.
At 3.30 P.M. the Scharnhorst led round about 10 points to starboard; just previously her fire had slackened perceptibly, and one shell had shot away her third funnel; some guns were not firing, and it would appear that the turn was dictated by a desire to bring her starboard guns into action. The effect of the fire on the Scharnhorst became more and more apparent in consequence of smoke from fires, and also escaping steam; at times a shell would cause a large hole to appear in her side, through which could be seen a dull red glow of flame. At 4.4 P.M. the Scharnhorst, whose flag remained flying to the last, suddenly listed heavily to port, and within a minute it became clear that she was a doomed ship; for the list increased very rapidly until she lay on her beam ends, and at 4.17 P.M. she disappeared.