On 15–16 December, "Stuttgart" participated in the bombardment of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. She was assigned to the cruiser screen of the High Seas Fleet, which was providing distant cover to Rear Admiral Franz von Hipper's battlecruisers while they were conducting the bombardment. Following reports of British destroyers from the German screen, Admiral von Ingenohl ordered the High Seas Fleet to turn to port and head for Germany. At 06:59, "Stuttgart", the armored cruiser , and the light cruiser encountered Commander Jones' destroyers. Jones shadowed the Germans until 07:40, at which point "Stuttgart" and "Hamburg" were detached to sink their pursuers. At 08:02, however, "Roon" signaled the two light cruisers and ordered them to abandon the pursuit and retreat along with the rest of the High Seas Fleet.