David Beatty

Beatty's battlecruisers mobilise for North Sea operations as Britain enters the war against Germany.

Beatty withdraws his battlecruisers after the German light forces have suffered severe losses.

Beatty's force is used as fast heavy support for British cruiser and destroyer operations in the North Sea.

The failed December interception reinforces concern about information sharing and signalling among British naval forces.

Beatty sails from Rosyth with five battlecruisers after the Admiralty orders an interception of Hipper.

Beatty's battlecruisers intercept Hipper's squadron at Dogger Bank. SMS Blücher is sunk while the surviving German battlecruisers escape.

Beatty begins a high-speed pursuit as Hipper's force retreats from the approaching British battlecruisers.

The Admiralty forms the Battle Cruiser Fleet and retains Beatty as commander of Britain's fast capital ships.

The battlecruiser force is reorganised into squadrons following the experience of Dogger Bank.

Beatty's force develops its role as the fast scouting arm intended to locate enemy heavy ships.

Beatty's squadrons continue gunnery training while waiting for another major German sortie.

The fleet practises signalling procedures intended to improve control of fast-moving battlecruiser formations.

Beatty sails from Rosyth with six battlecruisers and the four fast battleships of the Fifth Battle Squadron.

Beatty leads the Battle Cruiser Fleet from the Forth toward its planned North Sea rendezvous.

British and German scouting forces make contact, drawing Beatty's and Hipper's battlecruisers toward battle.

Beatty turns eastward as he approaches Jellicoe, helping clear the deployment area for the battlefleet.

Beatty's surviving ships return after the largest fleet action of the war.

Beatty's command reviews the chain of collisions during the night exercise later called the Battle of May Island.