Battle of Heligoland (1914)

The first battle of Heligoland is a naval engagement delivered the August 28th 1914, at the time of the First World War.

The Force Harwich, made up of two Cruiser S light, HMS Arethusa and HMS Fearless and of 31 Destroyer S, under the orders of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt, attacked the German maritime patrols in the West of the base of Heligoland, of coordination with a Escadre of Sous-marin S directed by Commodore Roger Keyes. As a cover for Harwich force was held the " Cruiser Forces C" , which included/understood 5 old armoured cruisers and the " Cruiser Forces K" , of the Rear-admiral Moore, with the cruisers of Invincible battle HMS and HMS New Zealand .

The Amirauté considered these sufficient forces of support but the Admiral Jellicoe, commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet, considered it necessary to associate with the mission, in cover and support the " First Battlecruiser Squadron" Vice-admiral Beatty and the " First Light Cruiser Squadron" of Commodore William Goodenough. However, nor Tyrwhitt nor Keyes were not prevented of these additions of manpower, which did not fail to involve a dangerous and useless confusion on the battle field.

Unfolding

At the first hours of August 28th, the Harwich force met the German first Torpilleur S in the west of Helgoland. Not so surprised that by the attack, the Germans aligned in haste the light cruisers Frauenlob and Stettin , that 4 others joined a little later of which the Cöln , flagship of the rear-admiral Leberecht Maass.

Outclassed, subjected to a fire of intense artillery, the Arethusa seriously damaged by the Frauenlob , the Harwich force was helped by the six modern light cruisers of the Southampton class of Commodore Goodenough: HMS Southampton , HMS Birmingham , HMS Falmouth , Liverpool , HMS Lowestoft and HMS Nottingham . Damaged, the Frauenlob regained Helgoland, while the German ship Mainz , arrived on the spot, was sandwiched between the squadrons of Tyrwhitt and Goodenough and run after a valiant defense.

New German cruisers emerging, Tyrwhitt required the assistance of the cruisers of battle of Beatty: HMS Lion , HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal who entered in action with the force K and ran the Cöln and the Ariadne . The battle ceased, the British breaking the combat before the Germans, hitherto prevented from doing it by the low tide, do not utilize their own cruisers of battle.

The British gained an undeniable victory, running 3 light cruisers and a destroyer unfavourable without losing a ship.

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