The First Battlecruiser Squadron at the outbreak of war was composed of the four newest battlecruisers in the Royal Navy. On 3 October, it was joined by the recently completed . The squadron took part in the successful Battle of Heligoland Bight against the Imperial German Navy on 28 August 1914 and participated in the abortive attempt to engage the Germans during their bombardment of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool on 16 December. On 15 January 1915, "New Zealand" left to become flagship of the Second Battlecruiser Squadron and was joined by "Indomitable", which had served with the First Battlecruiser Squadron over the New Year.