Chapter Summaries

Rear Admiral Lübeck’s three German Blücher-class battlecruisers exchanged fire with six American-built battleships flying British flags, and he suspected the British and Americans had conspired against Germany. As the British fleet began to outnumber and encircle his ships, Lübeck requested reinforcements and prepared to withdraw if needed, while Vice Admiral Martin expected the encirclement to secure victory.

• Rear Admiral Lübeck ordered his ships to return fire after learning that the attacking warships had raised British flags.
• The German Blücher-class battlecruisers fought the six-ship British fleet, whose Nevada-class battleships concentrated their fire on the Blücher.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck recognized the ships as American-built battleships and suspected American collusion with Britain.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck requested reinforcements and ordered his battlecruisers to increase speed so they could withdraw if the battle turned against them.
• Vice Admiral Martin aboard the Nevada anticipated victory as six more battleships moved to complete the encirclement.

After American warships disguised as British ships attacked Rear Admiral Lübeck’s force, Germany’s leaders treated the clash as a covert American intervention and rushed naval reinforcements toward the battle. The High Seas Fleet raced to join the fight, while Oscar and his ministers resolved to avoid declaring war on the United States and focus on winning the naval battle.

• Admiral Reinhard Scheer received General Lübeck’s urgent telegram about American warships flying British flags and ordered Admiral Spee to rescue Lübeck’s force.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer accelerated the main fleet toward the battle zone and instructed Vice Admiral Hipper to report the clash to the German government.
• Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz and von Falkenhayn told Oscar that American ships had fought under British flags, and Oscar concluded that the United States was secretly supporting Britain.
• Oscar and his ministers decided to protest to the United States but avoid declaring war, and they made victory in the naval battle their priority.
• Admiral Spee received Admiral Reinhard Scheer’s order and sent the other nine battlecruisers racing toward Rear Admiral Lübeck’s force.

The British and German fleets fought an intense Atlantic battle, with American battleships serving in the British line. A hit destroyed Blücher’s aft main turret, leaving Rear Admiral Lübeck’s already outnumbered force at an even greater disadvantage.

• Blücher’s 305mm shell struck Nevada’s forward turret but failed to penetrate its thick armor, though the impact killed the gunners inside.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck acknowledged Nevada’s formidable protection and noted that other parts of the American battleships were less heavily armored.
• Von der Tann hit New York’s starboard side, destroying a secondary gun and igniting ammunition.
• Vice Admiral Martin ordered the British ships to aim more carefully and conserve their shells for the battles ahead.
• A shell struck Blücher’s aft No. 3 main turret and destroyed it, costing the battlecruiser one-third of its firepower.

The German fleet shifted its fire toward the less-armored American battleships after Lothringen damaged Wyoming, while Vice Admiral Martin ordered four battleships to concentrate on Blücher. The fleets continued exchanging fire as Rear Admiral Lübeck gambled on damaging the enemy ships before Blücher was hit.

• Vice Admiral Martin praised the British fleet after Oklahoma severely damaged Blücher.
• Lothringen hit Wyoming with two shells, starting fires and killing the officers in its conning tower, including its captain.
• A staff officer advised Rear Admiral Lübeck to target the weaker-armored American battleships, and Lübeck reassigned Lothringen to Arkansas, Von der Tann to Wyoming, and Blücher to Texas.
• Vice Admiral Martin ordered Oklahoma and New York to join Texas and the other British battleships in concentrating fire on Blücher.
• British shells landed around Blücher as Rear Admiral Lübeck hoped his fleet could damage the enemy's rear battleships before his own ships were struck.

The British-led Combined Fleet fought three German Battlecruisers while Admiral John Jellicoe expected Admiral Martin to gain an advantage. After the Lothringen crippled the Arkansas and the British failed to sink the Blücher, Rear Admiral Lübeck ordered the German ships to retreat north and rendezvous with Admiral Spee’s main force.

• Admiral John Jellicoe and the Combined Fleet commanders discussed their plan to defeat the German ships and hoped Admiral Martin would outflank them.
• The Lothringen struck the Arkansas, destroying its No. 2 turret and disabling No. 1 turret as well.
• Vice Admiral Martin grew frustrated by the British fleet’s failure to hit the Blücher and ordered the approaching 2nd Battleship Squadron to seize Crossing the T and attack.
• An officer reported that Admiral Spee was bringing the main force south and had ordered the three German Battlecruisers to head north.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck ordered the German fleet to withdraw at full speed and rendezvous with Admiral Spee.

Rear Admiral Lübeck’s three Blücher-class battlecruisers tried to escape the British fleet but were caught between twelve battleships. As Blücher suffered crippling damage, Lübeck ordered the other ships to break out while his crew fought on, and Blücher sank with everyone aboard.

• Vice Admiral Martin ordered the 2nd Battleship Squadron to pursue the retreating German battlecruisers.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck discovered six more British battleships ahead, bringing the encircling force to twelve.
• The British fleet crossed the Germans’ T and opened fire with fifty-six 305mm guns.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck ordered the German ships to break formation and turn south, but Blücher was hit repeatedly and lost her steering gear.
• Rear Admiral Lübeck ordered Von der Tann and Lothringen to escape while Blücher remained to fight.
• Blücher sank, taking Rear Admiral Lübeck and more than a thousand officers and sailors with her.

Vice Admiral Martin’s British fleet sank Blücher but failed to catch Von der Tann and Lothringen, while the Combined Fleet and German commanders prepared for a final confrontation. The chapter ended with Reinhard Scheer ordering Spee’s Commerce Raiding Fleet to stop advancing south and wait for the German main fleet.

• Von der Tann and Lothringen escaped at high speed, and Vice Admiral Martin ordered his fleet to continue north under the original plan.
• Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty decided to proceed with the plan despite the risks of facing the German main fleet.
• Reinhard Scheer and Hipper learned that the British fleet had twelve American battleships and that Blücher had been sunk.
• Reinhard Scheer ordered Vice Admiral Spee to stop heading south and wait for the main fleet before the final battle.

Oscar ordered the German Navy to destroy the British fleet after learning that the United States had transferred twelve Battleships to Britain. The German fleets rendezvoused northwest of Ireland, where their commanders prepared to search for and attack the British the next morning.

• Oscar and Bülow discussed why the United States was supporting Britain and the risks of Germany declaring war on America.
• Tirpitz reported that the High Seas Fleet was joining the Commerce Raiding Fleet, and Oscar ordered the fleet to defeat Britain decisively.
• At four in the morning on May 17, the German fleets rendezvoused northwest of Ireland with twenty-three Battleships and eleven Battlecruisers.
• Scheer, Hipper, and Spee discussed the British fleet and planned to send cruisers, destroyers, and seaplanes to find the enemy the next morning.

The German High Seas Fleet searched for the British fleet while the British commanders regrouped for an open battle. A German seaplane discovered that the Combined Fleet included thirty-six capital ships and reported the surprising force to the German flagship.

• Admiral Reinhard Scheer and Vice Admiral Hipper watched German seaplanes launch and discussed trapping the British fleet in the Irish Sea.
• Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty abandoned their failed ambush plan and prepared to reunite their forces for a decisive battle.
• A German seaplane spotted thirty-six capital ships beneath the clouds, far more than the Germans had expected.
• The German pilot identified French and Italian flags as British seaplanes pursued his aircraft.
• The German flagship received the report and Admiral Reinhard Scheer and the others were stunned by the British fleet's strength.

Admiral Reinhard Scheer and his officers learned that Britain’s fleet included thirty-six Capital Ships, with French and Italian forces contributing sixteen. They decided to use the aircraft carriers to strike before the German Capital Ships engaged, and the fleet continued south toward battle.

• Admiral Reinhard Scheer questioned a report that the British had gathered thirty-six Capital Ships, more than the German fleet could match.
• A staff officer reported that close reconnaissance had identified ten French and six Italian Capital Ships among the British fleet.
• Vice Admiral Hipper proposed that the aircraft carriers Vanguard and Glorious attack first with their improved Carrier-based aircraft.
• Vice Admiral Spee noted that 450-millimeter medium Torpedoes could threaten enemy Capital Ships, and Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered an air attack once the fleets came within fifty kilometers.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered the German fleet to continue south, with the Aircraft Carrier Formation following one hundred kilometers behind.

The German aircraft carriers Vanguard and Victory prepared to attack an Allied fleet of thirty-six Capital Ships with improved carrier-based aircraft. The High Seas Fleet planned to launch two waves before its main fleet engaged, with a possible third wave if the pilots could manage it.

• The Aircraft Carrier Formation cruised north of the High Seas Fleet, carrying fighters, Bombers, and Torpedo Bombers ready for battle.
• Heinrich Marshal Prince learned that the Allied fleet lay about 150 kilometers south and included British, French, and Italian Capital Ships.
• Vice Admiral Hipper and Vice Admiral Spee advised Admiral Reinhard Scheer to launch two attack waves before the decisive battle and allow a third if the pilots could continue.
• Heinrich Marshal Prince received the flagship's orders and prepared the aircraft for repeated sorties.
• At eight in the morning, Heinrich Marshal Prince ordered the carrier-based aircraft from Vanguard and Victory to take off.

The German carrier aircraft launched an attack on the Allied Powers Combined Fleet as the British and their allies prepared for a decisive naval battle. Admiral Jellicoe ordered the fleet to prepare its air defenses after spotting the German planes.

• Heinrich Marshal Prince prayed for the German carrier pilots to sink British ships and return safely.
• Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty learned that the German fleet was approaching and prepared for a battle they considered vital to Britain’s survival.
• Admiral Jellicoe sent word to Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul that the battle would begin within two hours and demanded that the fleet fight for victory.
• The Allied Powers Combined Fleet organized its capital ships into five squadrons under commanders from the United States, Britain, France, and Italy.
• German carrier aircraft appeared over the Allied fleet, shocking Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty.
• Admiral Jellicoe ordered the Allied fleet to prepare for an air attack.

German carrier aircraft destroyed the British seaplanes and attacked the Battleship Vengeance, damaging it with a bomb while its torpedoes failed to cause serious harm. Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty realized the British fleet was outmatched by German aviation as the attack continued.

• British seaplanes charged the German formation, but German fighters shot them all down in less than ten minutes.
• German fighters strafed the Battleship Vengeance and its anti-aircraft positions as bombers and torpedo bombers began their attacks.
• One of four bombs struck the Battleship Vengeance and started a fire, but it did not hit a vital area.
• The Battleship Vengeance evaded or survived all four torpedoes, as two missed, one passed beneath it, and one failed to explode.
• Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty discussed their relief at surviving the attack, while Jellicoe worried that aircraft carriers would shape future naval warfare.

German carrier-based aircraft attacked the French and Italian fleets after finding their ships lacked anti-aircraft defenses. Jean Bart suffered severe bomb and torpedo damage, and its crew struggled to contain the flooding.

• Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul protested that the British had not warned them to equip anti-aircraft weapons as German aircraft turned toward the French and Italian ships.
• Vice Admiral Beatty and Admiral Jellicoe watched the Germans shift their attacks and hoped the French and Italians could withstand them.
• German fighters strafed Jean Bart, killing and injuring sailors on deck.
• Four German bombers struck Jean Bart with two bombs, destroying a secondary gun and starting fires aboard the battleship.
• German torpedo bombers launched four torpedoes at Jean Bart, and three hit, tearing open its hull beneath the waterline.
• Jean Bart's damage-control crews tried to seal the breaches, but seawater flooded into the ship.

German carrier-based aircraft devastated the French and Italian fleets, sinking the French battleship Jean Bart and the Italian battleship Dante before the surface battle began. Admiral John Jellicoe feared that the Allies would be outmatched as the attacks continued.

• The captain of the Jean Bart ordered compartments flooded to keep the damaged ship balanced, but the flooding overwhelmed it and the crew abandoned ship.
• The Jean Bart sank, becoming the Combined Fleet's first battleship lost in the battle, and Admiral Lame learned of its destruction.
• German carrier-based aircraft attacked the Italian battleship Dante with bombs and torpedoes, crippling it and then sinking it.
• Admiral Paul regretted Italy's decision to join the war but resolved to lead his fleet in a desperate fight.
• Admiral John Jellicoe worried that the Germans had already sunk two battleships and that the Allies faced a worsening disadvantage.

German carrier-based aircraft sank five Allied battleships, leaving the Combined Fleet outnumbered by the German Navy and its commanders doubtful about the coming battle. The German commanders celebrated the carriers’ power and anticipated another attack wave.

• Admiral Jellicoe sent British small and medium-sized warships to support French and Italian air defenses, but they could not stop German carrier-based aircraft from exploiting gaps.
• German aircraft sank the French battleships Paris and Provence and the Italian battleship Giulio Cesare, bringing Allied battleship losses in the attack to five.
• Vice Admiral Beatty warned Admiral Jellicoe that the Combined Fleet had lost its numerical advantage, but Jellicoe insisted they had to continue fighting.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer, Vice Admiral Hipper, and Vice Admiral Spee welcomed the attack’s results and expected the carriers to launch another wave.
• Vice Admiral Hipper and Vice Admiral Spee concluded that aircraft carriers would become the leading force in naval warfare, while Admiral Reinhard Scheer noted that more German carriers would soon enter service.

The German Navy’s second wave of carrier-based aircraft sank five more Allied battleships, bringing the total lost in two waves to ten. With French and Italian forces badly depleted and fearing another attack, Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul called for a retreat.

• At 10:30, the German Navy launched its second wave of carrier-based aircraft, despite losing three aircraft in the first wave.
• German aircraft sank the Italian battleship Caio Duilio and the French battleship Lorraine, whose magazine explosion tore apart its bow.
• German aircraft sank the French battleship France and the Italian battleship Da Vinci.
• German torpedo bombers sank the damaged British battleship Arkansas after striking it with five torpedoes.
• After sinking five battleships in the second wave, the German aircraft returned, leaving the Allied Powers Combined Fleet with twenty-six Capital Ships against Germany’s thirty-four.
• Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul urged the Allied fleet to retreat as French and Italian sailors feared further air attacks.

Admiral John Jellicoe persuaded Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul to continue fighting as the German High Seas Fleet closed in for a decisive battle. Admiral Reinhard Scheer sent his Battlecruisers to outflank the Allied Powers Combined Fleet, while Jellicoe resolved to defeat the German main force before the encirclement closed.

• Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul considered retreating, but Vice Admiral David Beatty and Admiral John Jellicoe convinced them to keep fighting for their countries.
• An alarm announced the German main fleet's arrival, and Admiral Lame and Admiral Paul returned to their flagships to prepare for battle.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer advanced with thirty-eight Capital Ships against the Allied fleet's remaining twenty-six and ordered Vice Admiral Spee to lead eleven Battlecruisers around the enemy's flank and rear.
• Vice Admiral Hipper told Admiral Reinhard Scheer that the Carrier-based Aircraft Unit would need about two hours before launching another attack.
• Admiral John Jellicoe recognized the German plan to encircle the Allied fleet and ordered his ships to attack the German main force before the Battlecruisers could close in.

Admiral Reinhard Scheer and Admiral John Jellicoe divided their fleets into battle lines and prepared to destroy each other before the German battlecruisers arrived. The Allied fleet opened fire first, focusing on the German line’s rear battleships, while the German fleet returned fire from a range favoring its heavier guns.

• Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered the High Seas Fleet’s battleships into two battle lines, and Admiral John Jellicoe assigned fifteen Allied capital ships to attack the German line of twelve battleships.
• Admiral John Jellicoe’s fleet followed the German ships, and the two sides split across separate battlefields as the Allies hurried to fight before the German battlecruisers arrived.
• Half an hour later, the British, French, and Italian ships opened fire on the German 1st Battle Line, with Admiral Lame’s French battleships targeting King Albert and Regent Leopold.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered every German ship to fire and relied on the German guns’ strength at fifteen kilometers to overcome the Allies’ numerical advantage.

The German and Combined Fleets began a fierce naval battle, with German warships holding advantages in performance and numbers. Vice Admiral Spee’s Battlecruiser Squadron continued its detour toward the British 2nd Battle Line, while King Albert and Regent Leopold faced French Battleships.

• The German Navy’s Bavaria opened fire on the Combined Fleet flagship Vengeance, and warships on both sides began exchanging heavy fire.
• The German and British 2nd Battle Lines engaged at thirteen thousand meters, with eleven Battleships on each side.
• Vice Admiral Spee learned that the main fleet had begun fighting and planned to reach the British 2nd Battle Line in about an hour, coordinate with Admiral Hipper, and destroy the enemy ships.
• French Normandy-class Battleships concentrated their fire on King Albert, while Bretagne and Courbet put Regent Leopold under less pressure.
• King Albert and Regent Leopold remained in danger from the French encirclement but could also inflict fatal damage on their opponents.