Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby

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Date	December 16th, 1914
Location	Scarborough, Hartlepool, West Hartlepool, and Whitby, England.
Result	German victory

Combatants

United Kingdom

German Empire

Commanders

John Jellicoe
David Beatty

Franz von Hipper
Friedrich von Ingenohl

Strength

British Grand Fleet

High Seas Fleet

Casualties

137 fatalities
592 casualties

3 damaged cruisers

The Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, which took place on December 16, 1914, was an attack by the German Navy on the British seaport towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool, West Hartlepool, and Whitby. The attack resulted in 137 fatalities and 592 casualties, many of which were civilians. The attack resulted in public outrage towards the German Navy and the Royal Navy, due to its failure to prevent the raid. The Germans believed the attack on the towns to be valid because the ports were all heavily fortified, and therefore military targets.

Prior to the raid, the Royal Navy received intelligence reports on the planned German raid and a mixed force of battleships, battlecruisers, heavy cruiser, light cruisers and submarines were sent out to stop the German fleet. On the morning of December 16 at 8:00 am, a small raiding party led by Admiral Franz von Hipper, attacked the towns. The bombardment lasted until 9:30 am and resulted in the damaging of three German cruisers after coastal defence batteries in Hartlepool began shelling the attacking ships.

After word had spread of the attack, eight battleships from Rosyth and Sir John Jellicoe's Grand Fleet from Scapa Flow set off towards Hipper's position. The Grand Fleet was able to encircle Hipper's forces, but due to poor signalling, Hipper was able to escape Admiral David Beatty's four battlecruisers.