Strategies!

This is coolbert:

Thanks again to the wiki we have extracts and comments regarding the British and German naval strategies of the Great War [WW1]! Those capital ships of the English Grand Fleet [RN] being somewhat numerically superior and also larger in size and having greater organic firepower. The German warships of the High Seas Fleet being somewhat qualitatively superior, better compartmented [harder to sink] with crews also having better gunnery [able to shoot faster and hit the target at longer range with greater accuracy]!

[at Jutland too the German using appropriate armor piercing ammo in contrast to the British using inappropriate high-explosive ammo!]

Merely with regard to numbers, each side at Jutland consisted of:

"Admiral Scheer's fleet [High Sea Fleet], composed of 16 dreadnoughts, six pre-dreadnoughts, six light cruisers, and 31 torpedo boats . . . The fleet sailed in concert with Hipper's five battlecruisers and supporting cruisers and torpedo boats . . . the Grand Fleet [Royal Navy], totaling some 28 dreadnoughts and 9 battlecruisers"

"The German fleet's intention was to lure out, trap, and destroy a portion of the Grand Fleet, as they believed that their smaller number of ships would be insufficient to engage the entire British fleet. This formed part of a larger strategy to break the British blockade of Germany and to allow German mercantile shipping to operate. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy was attempting to engage and destroy the High Seas Fleet, or keep the German force contained and away from Britain's own shipping lanes"

"The German fleet avoided any open engagement with the British fleet because it was smaller, but the difference between the two was less at this period [1914] in the war than at any other . . . The British fleet had the disadvantage of maintaining continuous patrols, whereas the German one remained mainly in home port. This meant the German navy could choose a time to attack [time and place] when all its ships were ready for sea, whereas some parts of the British fleet would always be in port receiving repairs or supplies, or in detached duty elsewhere."

Comments:

* That British naval blockade of Germany WAS successful. German merchant shipping unable to operate openly and without interference on the high seas - - malnutrition on the German home front being a severe problem by wars end. [the German in keeping with the dicta of Mahan, possessed that proper combination of naval and merchant marine shipping as appropriate for a world power!]

* Generally speaking, the British Grand Fleet was relegated to the defensive role, English warships accordingly dispersed, High Seas Fleet vessels in contrast by command capable of being massed with cohesion for an offensive action to the advantage of the German at the time and place of their own choosing!

Both English and German prior to 1914 having made extensive preparations and "make ready" for naval warfare, found the results of naval combat during the Great War to be less than desirable and inconclusive? Such was the rule rather than exception both on land and sea during WW1? Undeniably!

coolbert.