During July the Battle Fleet as a whole only engaged in one cruise, namely, from the 17th to the 20th. The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battle Squadrons, 2nd and 3rd Cruiser Squadrons, 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, the Campania, with sea-planes, and destroyer flotillas left Scapa between noon and 1.30 P.M. on the 17th, and proceeded to the northward and eastward of the Shetlands. The opportunity was taken of carrying out a series of battle exercises on the 18th and 19th; they were based on the experience gained of enemy tactics during the Jutland action. Some of the flotillas were re-fuelled at Lerwick during the cruise, and the Fleet returned to Scapa and Cromarty during the forenoon of the 20th. Fog was met with as the ships approached the Pentland Firth, making entry somewhat difficult.
Cruiser movements during the month comprised:—
(a) A regular patrol of the Archangel route by Grand Fleet Cruisers to protect trade against raiders.
(b) The establishment on the 7th of a regular patrol of two cruisers and two destroyers in an area well to the northward of the Shetlands, this patrol taking the place of that of a cruiser and armed boarding-steamer which had been previously placed there.
(c) Extensive dispositions were made on the 9th to intercept a German raider reported from neutral quarters, as about to leave for the Atlantic. These dispositions included a close patrol by two light cruiser squadrons and eight destroyers from Rosyth of an area 80 to 100 miles off the Norwegian coast through which it was expected the enemy would pass; a further patrol by the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron and six destroyers was established farther north to ensure a daylight intercept of hostile vessels; two cruisers were ordered to patrol north of the Shetlands, local patrol vessels being between these cruisers and the Shetlands; a half flotilla of destroyers patrolled the Fair Island Channel.[S]
(d) Two light cruisers and six destroyers left Rosyth on the 12th and swept up the Norwegian coast and back, returning on the 15th.
(e) On the 17th two more light cruisers and six destroyers repeated the sweep, returning on the 20th.
(f) On the 21st two light cruisers and four destroyers left Rosyth and swept to the southward in the direction of the Horn Reef from a position near the Naze, returning on the 23rd, not having sighted anything.
(g) Two light cruisers and four destroyers repeated the sweep of the Norwegian coast on the 24th.
(h) The 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron, with four destroyers, left Rosyth on the 26th, and proceeded to a position to the westward of the Little Fisher Bank, thence swept during daylight to the Naze on the look out for enemy raiders or Zeppelins, reports having been received of the frequent presence of Zeppelins on this line; the force turned to the northward from the Naze and swept along the 100-fathom line to Lat. 59 N., proceeding thence to Scapa. The sweep was again uneventful.