Battle of Jutland, Deployment of the Grand Fleet-Admral Jellicoe's Finest Hour
"With the two fleets approaching each other, unseen in the increasingly misty and smoke-fillled atmosphere, at a combined speed of 35 knots, every second's delay in ordering the deployment increased the danger of the Grand Fleet being caught, in the act of deployment, by the German fleet already in line of battle. It could mean an unparalleled disaster.
With such overhelming responsibility on his shoulders, and the vital decision that he alone could make awaited by the whole fleet, Jellicoe, in the absence of any clear intelligence, yet held on with amazing sang-froid, while his cool, keen intellect examined the alternatives before him.
If the enemy battle fleet was, as had been expected, right ahead of the Grand Fleet on its south-easterly course, there was much to be said for deployment on the starboard column. If, as was beginning to seem probable, the enemy was more on the starboard bow, such a deployment would have the advantage of bringing him to action sooner. In this case, however, it would be the Grand Fleet's weakest squadron of comparatively old battleships that would have to bear the brunt of the fight, opposed to Germany's latest ships.
A deployment on the port column would seem to be a turn-away from the enemy and would certainly delay the moment when battle was joined, a serious matter with the evening drawing on and only a few hours of daylight left in which to deal the crushing blow for which the stage seemed set. On the other hand, such a deployment had three great advantages. Firstly, as Jellicoe had ascertained by careful trial, the visibility, by now poor in every direction, greatly favoured a ship firing towards the sunset. This might be a decisive advantage.
Secondly, with the Germans steering N.N.E, as had been reported by Goodenough, a deployment on the port column on to a south-easterly heading would achieve a crossing of the enemy's "T", the hope and ambition of every naval commander in a gun battle, bringing, as it must, a shattering concentration of all his guns on the enemy's van which, in turn, would be unable to make more than a feeble reply.
Thirdly, such a manoeuvre would take the Grand Fleet across the line of the enemy's retreat, either back to the Heligoland Bight or on, northwards, to the Skagerrak. It would thus force a decisive action.
These considerations were all in Jellicoe's mind as he waited for the one vital piece of news he needed before making a tremendous decision that could decide the issue of the battle and perhaps, of the whole war.
As a signal searchlight in HMS Lion began to wink it seemed that at last the news was coming;but, to the Commander-in-Chief's dismay, the signal simply read "Enemy's Battle-cruisers bearing south-east". Beatty, in fact, was no longer in touch with the German battle fleet and had at that moment lost sight of Hipper also. The only message which Jellicoe had yet received giving the position of the High Sea Fleet relative to Hipper's squadron was Goodenough's misleading report. It is hard to understand why Beatty did not realise that even a report of Scheer's position as last known would have been of inestimable help to his Commander-in-Chief at this crucial moment.
Again the question was flashed to HMS Lion, "Where is the enemy's battle fleet?" In this distracted repetition of the vital question, one can sense the turmoil in Jellicoe's mind, the appalling tension that must have racked his soul as the preious minutes raced by!
With inexpressible relief, he read at long last the message for which he had been waiting. "Senior Officer Battle-cruiser Fleet to Commander-in-Chief, Have sighted enemy battle fleet bearing south-west." Nor course or distance, but it was enough.
A brief, intent look at the plotting chart and , in silence, the little Admiral stepped briskly to the compass platform. A moment's glance at the magnetic compass in its binnacle in front of him and the decision was made. Deployment on the port column on a course south-east by east was ordered at 6.15.
It was the high peak of Jellicoe's life and career. Through twenty perilous months he had preserved and perfected the Grand Fleet ready for this portentous moment. As the stately battletships leading the columns swung round together followed by the ships astern of them, Jellicoe knew that, if his calculations were right, he had achieved the perfect deployment that would deliver the High Seas Fleet into his hands.
The decision had not been taken a moment too soon. As the last ships turned, bringing the great force of twenty-four battleships into single line, the van of Scheer's fleet loomed out of the murk and into view of the rear squadron.
It was a great moment for Jellicoe. For Scheer, it was appalling. Pounding northwards at full speed, his column somewhat dislocated in the chase, he suddenly found himself, to his utter amazement, confronted by a line of battleships, their number unknown, stretching out of sight into the mist, a steel trap into which his fleet was pressing forward to its doom. The situation which all his plans had aimed to avoid at all costs was now upon him. Only a miracle, aided by superb tactics and perfect fighting discipline, could now save the High Seas Fleet from utter destruction."
With such overhelming responsibility on his shoulders, and the vital decision that he alone could make awaited by the whole fleet, Jellicoe, in the absence of any clear intelligence, yet held on with amazing sang-froid, while his cool, keen intellect examined the alternatives before him.
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If the enemy battle fleet was, as had been expected, right ahead of the Grand Fleet on its south-easterly course, there was much to be said for deployment on the starboard column. If, as was beginning to seem probable, the enemy was more on the starboard bow, such a deployment would have the advantage of bringing him to action sooner. In this case, however, it would be the Grand Fleet's weakest squadron of comparatively old battleships that would have to bear the brunt of the fight, opposed to Germany's latest ships.
A deployment on the port column would seem to be a turn-away from the enemy and would certainly delay the moment when battle was joined, a serious matter with the evening drawing on and only a few hours of daylight left in which to deal the crushing blow for which the stage seemed set. On the other hand, such a deployment had three great advantages. Firstly, as Jellicoe had ascertained by careful trial, the visibility, by now poor in every direction, greatly favoured a ship firing towards the sunset. This might be a decisive advantage.
Secondly, with the Germans steering N.N.E, as had been reported by Goodenough, a deployment on the port column on to a south-easterly heading would achieve a crossing of the enemy's "T", the hope and ambition of every naval commander in a gun battle, bringing, as it must, a shattering concentration of all his guns on the enemy's van which, in turn, would be unable to make more than a feeble reply.
Thirdly, such a manoeuvre would take the Grand Fleet across the line of the enemy's retreat, either back to the Heligoland Bight or on, northwards, to the Skagerrak. It would thus force a decisive action.
These considerations were all in Jellicoe's mind as he waited for the one vital piece of news he needed before making a tremendous decision that could decide the issue of the battle and perhaps, of the whole war.
As a signal searchlight in HMS Lion began to wink it seemed that at last the news was coming;but, to the Commander-in-Chief's dismay, the signal simply read "Enemy's Battle-cruisers bearing south-east". Beatty, in fact, was no longer in touch with the German battle fleet and had at that moment lost sight of Hipper also. The only message which Jellicoe had yet received giving the position of the High Sea Fleet relative to Hipper's squadron was Goodenough's misleading report. It is hard to understand why Beatty did not realise that even a report of Scheer's position as last known would have been of inestimable help to his Commander-in-Chief at this crucial moment.
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Again the question was flashed to HMS Lion, "Where is the enemy's battle fleet?" In this distracted repetition of the vital question, one can sense the turmoil in Jellicoe's mind, the appalling tension that must have racked his soul as the preious minutes raced by!
With inexpressible relief, he read at long last the message for which he had been waiting. "Senior Officer Battle-cruiser Fleet to Commander-in-Chief, Have sighted enemy battle fleet bearing south-west." Nor course or distance, but it was enough.
A brief, intent look at the plotting chart and , in silence, the little Admiral stepped briskly to the compass platform. A moment's glance at the magnetic compass in its binnacle in front of him and the decision was made. Deployment on the port column on a course south-east by east was ordered at 6.15.
 |
It was the high peak of Jellicoe's life and career. Through twenty perilous months he had preserved and perfected the Grand Fleet ready for this portentous moment. As the stately battletships leading the columns swung round together followed by the ships astern of them, Jellicoe knew that, if his calculations were right, he had achieved the perfect deployment that would deliver the High Seas Fleet into his hands.
The decision had not been taken a moment too soon. As the last ships turned, bringing the great force of twenty-four battleships into single line, the van of Scheer's fleet loomed out of the murk and into view of the rear squadron.
It was a great moment for Jellicoe. For Scheer, it was appalling. Pounding northwards at full speed, his column somewhat dislocated in the chase, he suddenly found himself, to his utter amazement, confronted by a line of battleships, their number unknown, stretching out of sight into the mist, a steel trap into which his fleet was pressing forward to its doom. The situation which all his plans had aimed to avoid at all costs was now upon him. Only a miracle, aided by superb tactics and perfect fighting discipline, could now save the High Seas Fleet from utter destruction."
