Welcome to our deep dive into the dramatic and tragic end of HMS Invincible, the world’s first battlecruiser. Late on May 30th, 1916, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander in Chief of the Grand Fleet, set sail after receiving intelligence that the German High Seas Fleet would be at sea the next morning. Concurrently, Admiral Sir David Beatty, commanding the British battlecruiser forces, also put to sea. Notably absent from Beatty’s command was the Third Battlecruiser Squadron under Rear Admiral Horace Hood, which was in Scapa Flow for gunnery practice. This strategic decision aimed to improve the battlecruisers' accuracy, a recurring issue highlighted by Admiral Beatty himself.

By May 31st, Hood and his squadron, including Invincible, left Scapa Flow to eventually join Beatty. Their mission was to provide additional firepower against the approaching German fleet. Hood’s squadron was tasked with a scouting role, operating ahead of the main British battle line. Around 2:30 PM, Hood’s ships were steaming towards Beatty, who was already engaged with the German First Scouting Group.

As Hood’s squadron approached the battle, they encountered the German Second Scouting Group, led by Vice Admiral Bödicker. HMS Chester, a light cruiser escorting Hood, mistakenly identified the German ships as British and closed the distance, suffering severe damage. Hood promptly ordered his battlecruisers to engage, and their accurate fire quickly inflicted heavy damage on the German ships Wiesbaden and Pillau.

By early evening, the Grand Fleet, led by Jellicoe, was deploying for battle. Hood, aiming to join Beatty’s forces, maneuvered his ships into position. At 6:21 PM, the Third Battlecruiser Squadron turned to take station ahead of Beatty’s fleet, now on a parallel course with the German battlecruisers. The British battlecruisers opened fire with devastating accuracy, targeting Hipper’s flagship Lützow and her sister ship Derfflinger.

Tragically, at 6:33 PM, Invincible was hit near her Q turret by combined fire from Lützow and Derfflinger. The hit ignited the magazine, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that ripped the ship in half. The forward and aft sections of Invincible stood upright in the shallow North Sea, a haunting sight of destruction. Out of her crew of 1,031, only six survived, with over 1,000 men, including Admiral Hood, losing their lives.

0:00 Intro
1:52 Focus on the loss
2:11 Where is the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron?
4:55 Leadup to the battle
7:30 Bodicker's light cruisers
11:56 Looking for Beatty and the battle
12:54 The battle begins
15:54 The Loss
21:06 Conclusion

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