Lützow, flooding forward and unable to communicate by radio, was now out of action and began to attempt to withdraw; therefore Hipper left his flagship and transferred to the torpedo boat SMS G39, hoping to board one of the other battlecruisers later.
O Lützow, coa proa inundada e sen poder comunicarse por radio, estaba agora fóra da acción e comezou a retirarse; polo tanto Hipper abandonou o seu buque insignia e pasou ao torpedeiro SMS G39, agardando poder embarcarse nun dos outros cruceiros de batalla posteriormente.