World War I: Battle of Heligoland Bight

August 28, 1914 - Fighting in the waters off Germany, the Royal Navy defeats the Germans at the Battle of Heligoland Bight. The first naval battle of World War I, the engagement squared off the light forces of the Royal Navy's Harwich Force, backed by a squadron of light cruisers and Vice Admiral David Beatty's First Battlecruiser Squadron (left), and the Imperial German Navy's light cruisers. After initially being outgunned, Harwich Force called in support from the cruisers, which ultimately sank three German light cruisers. The loss in ships deeply effected Kaiser Wilhelm and led to his confining the German fleet to port unless he gave permission for it to sortie.

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