The Battle of Jutland

A major new account of the Battle of Jutland based on contemporary sources, examining the influence of technology, tactics and leadership.

John Brooks (Author)

9781107150140, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 May 2016

584 pages, 8 b/w illus. 1 map 143 tables
23.4 x 16 x 3 cm, 1.08 kg

'To sum up, John Brooks's book is one of the best written on this battle. Of course, we do not learn anything about the situation on board during the battle, the horror of fighting and dying as well as the myth of Jutland both in Britain and in Germany. However, the author should not be blamed for this, for his topic was different - he wanted to give a true account of a great battle - no more, but also no less. He has achieved this aim marvelously.' Michael Epkenhans, The International Journal of Maritime History

This is a major new account of the Battle of Jutland, the key naval battle of the First World War in which the British Grand Fleet engaged the German High Seas Fleet off the coast of Denmark in 1916. Beginning with the building of the two fleets, John Brooks reveals the key technologies employed, from ammunition, gunnery and fire control, to signalling and torpedoes, as well as the opposing commanders' tactical expectations and battle orders. In describing Jutland's five major phases, he offers important new interpretations of the battle itself and how the outcome was influenced by technology, as well as the tactics and leadership of the principal commanders, with the reliability of their own accounts of the fighting reassessed. The book draws on contemporary sources which have rarely been cited in previous accounts, including the despatches of both the British and German formations, along with official records, letters and memoirs.

1. Building the battlefleets
2. Technologies
3. Orders for battle
4. Preliminaries
5. The run to the south
6. The run to the north
7. Around windy corner
8. The remains of the day
9. Night and morning
10. Technology and tactics
11. An unpalatable result
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], British & Irish history [HBJD1]