Harwich Force The Harwich Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy , formed during the First World War and based in Harwich . It played a significant role in the war . History . After the outbreak of the First World War , a priority for the Royal Navy was to secure the approaches to the English Channel , to prevent elements of the German High Seas Fleet from breaking out into the Atlantic , or from interfering with British maritime trade and convoys to the continent . Most of the major fleet units of the Grand Fleet had dispersed to the navy ' s anchorage at Scapa Flow or to other North Eastern ports to monitor the northern route from the North Sea into the Atlantic . Consequently , a number of patrol flotillas were organised along the south and east coasts of England , with commands established at several of the major ports in the region . The Dover Patrol was based at Dover , consisting mostly of destroyer s , while a number of pre - dreadnought s and cruiser s were based at Portland Harbour . A large number of destroyers , flotilla leader s and light cruiser s were centred at Harwich , under the command of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt . Composition . The Harwich Force consisted of between four and eight light cruisers , several flotilla leaders and usually between 30 and 40 destroyers , with numbers fluctuating throughout the war , and organised into flotilla s . Also stationed at Harwich was a submarine force under Commodore Roger Keyes . In early 1917 , the Harwich Force consisted of eight light cruisers , two flotilla leaders and 45 destroyers . By the end of the year , there were nine light cruisers , four flotilla leaders and 24 destroyers . The combination of light , fast ships was intended to provide effective scouting and reconnaissance , whilst still being able to engage German light forces , and to frustrate attempts at minelaying in the Channel . Service . It was intended that the Harwich Force would operate when possible in conjunction with the Dover Patrol , and the Admiralty intended that the Harwich force would also be able to support the Grand Fleet if it moved into the area . Tyrwhitt was also expected to carry out reconnaissance of German naval activities in the southern parts of the North Sea , and to escort ships sailing between the Thames and the Netherlands . Tyrwhitt ' s objectives were often complicated by the need to provide reinforcements for the Dover Patrol . The force fired the first shots of the war when a flotilla led by sank the minelayer on 5 August 1914 . During the war , the Force captured or sank 24 enemy merchants , and it escorted 520 eastbound and 511 westbound ships between Dutch and British ports . Their ships also took part in the Cuxhaven Raid on Christmas Day , 1914 . The force was also active in a number of clashes with the " Kaiserliche Marine " ( German Navy ) . Their ships were present at the Battles of Heligoland Bight , Texel , and Dogger Bank , and were mobilised after the German raids on Scarborough , Hartlepool and Whitby in 1914 , and on Yarmouth and Lowestoft in 1916 . They were called out during the lead up to the Battle of Jutland , but did not take part in the battle . After the end of the war , Harwich was designated the port at which the remaining German U - boat s would be surrendered , and Tyrwhitt ' s Harwich Force oversaw the operation . Battle of Jutland . At the end of May 1916 , at the time of the Battle of Jutland , the Harwich force consisted of : During the battle , the Harwich Force sortied to join the Grand Fleet on the initiative of Commodore Trywhitt early on 1 June 1916 ( although the force was recalled by the Admiralty a few hours later ) . The following ships were involved :