To prevent TBs reaching the battle line, a more powerful yet equally fast vessel was required a torpedo boat capable of ‘destroying’ other TBs. As the range and destructive potential of the weapon steadily increased, larger boats were needed in order for it to be used in the open sea. Prior to the widespread appearance of submarines in the early 1900s, the favoured delivery system for the self-propelled torpedo, which had been in development since the 1870s, was the small torpedo boat (TB). It is time to take the historical searchlight off the big ships of Jutland and shine a light on these smallest of fighting units.Īt the time of Jutland, the torpedo-boat destroyer, or simply ‘destroyer’, as it would soon be abbreviated to, was a relatively new concept. An even more surprising statistic is that more than half of German naval losses, and many of its most grievous wounds during the battle can be attributed directly or indirectly to the heroic actions of British destroyer flotillas. In fact, more than half of the British ships lost at Jutland – eight vessels – were destroyers.
The poor performance of the British battle-cruisers three being blown up in quick succession has tended to obscure the successes of the smaller Royal Navy ships. In terms of ship tonnage, the Grand Fleet lost almost twice that of their opponents, and three times as many capital ships. Although more recent analysis has emphasised Jellicoe’s strategic victory in winning command of the North Sea, the fact remains that in terms of ships and personnel lost, the battle proved significantly more costly to the Royal Navy (RN) than to the German High Sea Fleet. There has been a hundred years of discussion about the failings of the British Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.
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