A naval battle between Britain and Germany, fought in the North Sea off the coast of Jutland. The only major battle fought at sea in World War I, it began between two forces of battle cruisers, the British under Admiral David Beatty (1871–1936) and the Germans under von Hipper. Suffering heavy losses, Beatty sailed to join the main British North Sea Fleet under Admiral John Jellicoe (1859–1935), which then engaged the German High Seas Fleet under Scheer. Battle began at 6 p.m. at long range (approximately 14 km or 9 miles), but as the Germans headed for home in the night, they collided with the British fleet, several ships sinking in the ensuing chaos. Both sides claimed victory. The British lost 14 ships, including three battle cruisers; the Germans lost 11 ships, including one battleship and one battle cruiser; but the British retained control of the North Sea, the German fleet staying in port for the rest of the war.