The battle of Heligoland Bight was the first major action between the                  British and German fleets during World War I. The British orchestrated the battle as                  a warning to the German high command that any attempt to operate their naval forces                  in the North Sea would be met by strong British resistance. Heligoland Island                  guarded the entrance to the main German naval anchorage at Kiel. Fought on August                  28, 1914, the engagement was complicated by dense fog, the piecemeal engagement of                  German forces, and the unexpected appearance in the area of additional British                  ships, which were hard to distinguish from foe. Initial British damage was                  significant; however, fearing that the protracted battle would allow the bulk of the                  German fleet to join the battle, the British brought in their battle cruiser                  reinforcements and won the day, inflicting heavy losses on the                  Germans.The battle was significant for its political and                  strategic ramifications for the two sides. The Germans became reluctant to engage                  large forces in an attempt to gain a decisive maritime victory. After this defeat,                  any plans for large-scale fleet operations had to be approved by the Kaiser, which                  hampered the German fleet's effectiveness. This left the North Sea to Great Britain                  for much of the war.

The Battle of Heligoland Bight (Twentieth-Century Battles) PDF

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