It was the height of the First World War. Despite Germany’s formidable gains in Continental Europe, its High Seas Fleet continued to be constrained to port by the much more powerful Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy.

After taking command of the fleet, Vizeadmiral Reinhard Scheer was determined to break free of the brutal blockade once and for all. Thus, he devised a plan to split the British Grand Fleet into a smaller group, lure them into a trap, and destroy them before the larger group could intercede.

Scheer ordered his first Scouting Group under Franz Hipper to venture north with the intention to lure Sir David Beatty’s battlecruiser fleet out to sea while keeping Sir John Jellicoe’s Grand Fleet unconcerned with the minor conflict.

Once engaged, Hipper would dash south with Beatty’s fleet in hot pursuit and lead the British right into the muzzles of Scheer’s fleet, delivering an unprecedented blow to the British Royal Navy.

On May 31, 1916, Scheer successfully lured Beatty’s fleet into the Northern Sea; however, he was unaware that the British had intercepted and decoded his communications and would now have to face the full might of the Royal Navy.

The ensuing battle would become the last major confrontation fought primarily between battleships in world history...