Jutland, Battle of, was the only major fight between the fleets of Germany and Britain in World War I. On May 31, 1916, the British fleet, under Admiral John Jellicoe, and the German fleet, under Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer, met off the coast of Denmark in a two-day battle. Although the Germans destroyed more British ships, they lost a greater percentage of their smaller navy. Both sides claimed victory, but the battle left Britain in control of the seas. See also Jellicoe, John Rushworth ; World War I (The war at sea) .
