Jutland, Battle of

World War I naval battle between British and German forces on 31 May 1916, off the west coast of Jutland. Its outcome was indecisive, but the German fleet remained in port for the rest of the war.

Early on 31 May the German fleet under Admiral Scheer entered the North Sea from the Baltic, intending to entice British battle cruisers in the area to the Norwegian coast and there destroy them. The two sides' scouts saw each other in the afternoon of 31 May and the German force promptly turned away to entice the British onto waiting the German fleet. The British took the bait and a long range gunnery duel then took place in which the British lost battle cruisers and sustained damage to their flagship. The British then themselves turned away to draw the Germans north and bring them against Admiral Jellicoe's larger force. The fleets met, and a general melee ensued during which another British battle-cruiser was sunk. However, the Germans realised they were outgunned and fled. Jellicoe, fearful of torpedos in the failing light of evening, decided not to follow and the battle thus came to a somewhat inconclusive end.