Second Battle of Heligoland Bight The Second Battle of Heligoland Bight , also called the Action in the Helgoland Bight was an inconclusive naval engagement fought between British and German squadrons on 17 November 1917 during the First World War . Background . Following the German Navy ' s successful raid on the Scandinavian convoy on 17 October 1917 , Admiral Sir David Beatty , Commander - in - Chief of the British Grand Fleet , determined to retaliate . On 17 November 1917 a strong force of cruisers under Vice Admiral Trevylyan Napier was sent to attack German minesweepers , which were clearing a channel through British minefields in the Heligoland Bight . The intentions of the German force had been revealed by British Naval Intelligence , allowing the British to mount an ambush . The German sweepers were escorted by a group of cruisers and torpedo - boats under Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter . The Battle . The action began at 7 . 30 a . m . , roughly 65 nautical miles west of Sylt , when HMS " Courageous " sighted the enemy . She opened fire at 7 : 37 a . m . Admiral Reuter , the German commander , with four light cruisers and eight destroyers , courageously advanced to engage his more powerful enemy in order to cover the withdrawal of his minesweepers , all of which escaped except for the trawler " Kehdingen " , which was sunk . The battle thereafter developed into a stern chase as the German forces , skilfully using smoke - screens , withdrew south - east at their best speed , under fire from the pursuing British ships of the 1st Cruiser Squadron , the 1st and 6th Light Cruiser Squadrons , and , later , HMS " Repulse " ( which had been detached from the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and came up at high speed to join the battle ) . Both sides were hampered in their maneuvers by the presence of naval minefields . The British ships gave up the chase some two hours later , as they reached the edge of known minefields . At about the same time , the light cruisers came under fire of two German battleships , SMS " Kaiser " and SMS " Kaiserin " which had come up in support of von Reuter ' s ships ; HMS " Caledon " was struck by one 12 - in shell which did minimal damage ; shortly thereafter , the British forces withdrew . All personnel on the bridge of the light cruiser HMS " Calypso " , including her captain , Herbert Edwards , were killed by a 6 - in shell . The battle cruiser HMS " Repulse " , briefly engaged the German ships at about 10 : 00 , scoring a single hit on the light cruiser SMS " Königsberg " that ignited a major fire on board . It was during this battle that Able Seaman John Henry Carless of HMS " Caledon " won a posthumous Victoria Cross for his bravery in manning a gun despite mortal wounds . Appendix : Order of Battle . British forces . The following British vessels were engaged 1st Cruiser Squadron : Vice Admiral Trevylyan D . W . Napier CB , MVO attached destroyers ( 13th Destroyer Flotilla ) 6th Light Cruiser Squadron : Rear Admiral Edwyn S . Alexander - Sinclair CB MVO attached destroyers ( 13th Destroyer Flotilla ) 1st Light Cruiser Squadron : Commodore Walter H . Cowan CB , MVO , DSO attached destroyers ( 13th Destroyer Flotilla ) 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron ( detachment ) : Rear Admiral Richard F . Phillimore CB , MVO German forces . The following German vessels were engaged 2nd Scouting Group ( Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ) light cruisers 7th Torpedo - Boat Flotilla ( KKpt Cordes ) 14th half - flotilla ( KptLt Richard Beitzen ) 12th half - flotilla ( KKpt Lahs ) Minesweepers 4th Battle Squadron ( Vice Admiral Wilhelm Souchon ) detachment ( KptzS Kurt Graßhoff ) < br > attached torpedo - boats ( anti - submarine escort )