Jutland
Subtitle: the naval staff appreciation
By: edited, annotated and introduced by William Schleihauf ; additional text by Stephen McLaughlin ; diagrams redrawn by John Jordan
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 316
ISBN-13: 9781848323179
Subjects: Jutland, Battle of, 1916
Other titles: Naval staff appreciation of Jutland
Description: "Jutland, the largest naval battle of the First World War, was the most controversial engagement in the Royal Navys' history. Falling well short of the total victory expected by the public, it rapidly sparked argument and ill-feeling within the Navy and disagreements among those in its most senior echelons, many of whom had been directly involved in the battle. The first attempt to produce even an objective record was delayed and heavily censored, but this was followed by a more ambitious scheme to write a no-holds-barred critique of the fleets performance for use in training future officers at the Naval Staff College. This became the now infamous Naval Staff Appreciation, which was eventually deemed too damaging, its publication cancelled and all proof copies ordered destroyed. Mentioned in virtually every book on Jutland since, but unavailable to their authors, it has developed the almost legendary status of a book too explosive to publish. However, despite the orders, a few copies survived, and transcribed from one of them this long-hidden work is here revealed for the first time. Now everyone interested in Jutland can read it and judge for themselves, with an expert modern commentary and explanatory notes to put it in proper context."--Publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 298-306) and index.
Table of contents: title: The situation in 1916; title: The grand fleet battle orders of May, 1916; title: Preliminary movements, May 28-30; title: The battle cruiser action from 3.40 pm to 4.40 pm; title: German battle fleet in sight, the action from 4.40 pm to 5.40 pm; title: Commander-in-chief's view of the situation, 2 pm to 5 pm; title: Commander-in-chief in touch with battle cruiser force, 5.35 pm to 6.15 pm; title: Remarks on the deployment at 6.15 pm; title: The first half hour, 6.15 pm to 6.40 pm; title: The second engagement and scheer's turn away, the turn to south-east and south; title: proceedings during the night; title: destroyer actions during the night