"This naval battle may witness our defeat, but the British Empire must not lose this war!" Upon realizing this truth, Rear Admiral David Beatty promptly issued the order to retreat.
Although they had already suffered significant losses in this battle, salvaging a few ships was preferable to losing them all. At the very least, if their remaining battlecruisers were determined to retreat, it would not be easy for the German Navy to capture them. However, the three 'Iron Duke-class' battleships in another theater would likely find escape impossible. Thus, Beatty reluctantly adopted a stance of utilizing what resources remained, instructing them to delay the Germans and create an opportunity for the evacuation of the other vessels.
Once the order was given, the five remaining British battlecruisers swiftly turned about, accelerating southward with urgency.
The unexpected maneuver left the German Navy bewildered. Why were the British retreating in the midst of battle?
"What is happening? What are they trying to do?" Vice Admiral Hipper stared in confusion.
"Damn it! Surely they are not attempting to flee," lamented Vice Admiral Scheer.
"Flee? After losing so many capital ships, what significance does a retreat hold now?" Hipper furrowed his brow.
Indeed, the British Navy had suffered substantial losses: four 'King George V-class' battleships, with three sunk and one heavily damaged; nine battlecruisers, three sunk and one severely damaged; and one sunk 'Iron Duke-class' battleship, leaving only three that seemed unlikely to escape. Given such catastrophic losses, why would they contemplate a withdrawal?
"Could this be a ruse, or perhaps they are awaiting reinforcements? Are they trying to lure us south into a trap?" Hipper pondered.
"That is a possibility, but I believe it to be unlikely. The British have already deployed nine battlecruisers and eight battleships; this represents the entirety of their available naval forces. If they were to deploy additional ships, it would require abandoning their blockade of the North Sea. Likely, the sheer magnitude of their losses has terrified them into inaction," replied Scheer.
Hipper nodded in agreement, acknowledging Scheer's reasoning.
"Should we pursue them?" Hipper expressed his reluctance to let the British battlecruisers slip away.
"Let it go. The British are intent on escaping, and it would be nearly impossible to catch them," Scheer shook his head. While both sides possessed similar speeds, intercepting a retreating enemy was virtually unfeasible.
"Let us assist Admiral Scheer and eliminate the remaining three 'Iron Duke-class' battleships swiftly," Scheer suggested.
The German Navy's battle fleet quickly made their way to join Admiral Reinhard Scheer, preparing to eradicate the last three British 'Iron Duke-class' battleships. This would result in the sinking of seven British battleships and three battlecruisers during this naval confrontation—a remarkably fruitful outcome.
Onboard the 'Iron Duke,' Rear Admiral Robertson cursed vehemently.
"Damn it! That coward Beatty abandoned us and fled alone! Such behavior warrants a court-martial!" Robertson was vehemently opposed to Beatty's order for him to delay the Germans, viewing it as a reckless abandonment of his post and a death sentence for himself.
Yet, what choice did he have other than to follow orders? Even if he wished to flee, escape was impossible! With a maximum speed of only 21.25 knots and a battered battleship, there was no way to outrun the German battlecruisers. Thus, despite his reluctance to remain, he had no viable options left beyond venting his frustrations at Beatty.
Of course, he could consider surrendering to the Germans. However, such an act would utterly tarnish the Royal Navy's honor built over centuries. Should he dare to do so, his family would be ostracized in Britain. Thus, Robertson was left with no choice but to fight to the last, with the only alternative being capture by the Germans after the sinking of his ship.
Almost simultaneously, Admiral Reinhard Scheer received reports from Vice Admirals Hipper and Scheer, informing him of the British battlecruisers' escape.
"What a pity! If only the British had fought to the bitter end! In that case, we could have eliminated their remaining battlecruisers as well," Scheer sighed.
As the commander of the German High Seas Fleet, he naturally desired to sink as many British warships as possible in this engagement. Such victories would grant the German Navy a substantial advantage in future naval confrontations.
"All ships, continue firing! Let us eliminate the remaining three British battleships!" Scheer commanded.
With the British battlecruisers having fled, the three remaining 'Iron Duke-class' battleships could not be allowed to escape. Their destruction would deliver a significant blow to the British Navy.
Facing certain doom, the remaining British 'Iron Duke-class' battleships exhibited remarkable courage, firing relentlessly at their formidable adversaries. The reason the Royal Navy had dominated the world's oceans for centuries was not solely due to their powerful warships but also the tenacity of these naval officers.
Yet, the valiant efforts of the Royal Navy personnel were ultimately in vain. The disparity in strength was simply too great.
This reality became even more apparent as the five German battlecruisers arrived, joining in the assault against them.
The 'Benbow' battleship was the first to be sunk, followed by the 'Marlborough' just minutes later. The 'Iron Duke' was the last to be struck down.
Rear Admiral Robertson and the other British commanders opted not to go down with their ship. Instead, they boarded lifeboats before being captured by the Germans.
This naval battle concluded with a resounding victory for the German Navy. They had achieved the remarkable feat of sinking seven British battleships and three battlecruisers, at the cost of only one heavily damaged battlecruiser.