On May 31, 1916 the British Grand Fleet, steaming in six columns, stretching as far as the eye could see, collided with the German High Seas Fleet off the coast of Denmark. It was the only great sea battle of the First World War and one that had been brewing in the pre war years, as both Britain and Germany scrambled in an arms race to build the super sized dreadnought class battleships. It was a clash which perceived wisdom said would be a clear victory for the powerful Royal Navy, in the event things were not quite that clear cut.
