For the alternate ending, the British Admiralty sees considerable improvement in their COMINT analysis and dissemination. In particular, when Captain Jackson asks where callsign DK is located, the COMINT team asks if he really means Admiral Scheer.
After Jackson learns that Scheer has been steaming north for ten hours, he immediately radios Jellicoe with the news. Jellicoe begins to plan his ambush, which starts by sending Beatty south on a reconnaissance patrol. One of Beatty’s destroyers sights the German destroyer harassing the Danish freighter N.J. Fjord and reports it to Beatty. Beatty gives chase with his fleet, but this time the 5th Battle Squadron is close at hand.
Upon sighting Hipper’s Scouting Force, the British take advantage of…show more content… He heads south after getting clear, and makes best speed to take a blocking position near where he thinks the German minefields are. When Scheer radios his fleet instructions and his request for airship support, the Admiralty correlate and confirm the two pieces of information. They then radio Jellicoe with the now-confirmed information, allowing him to position his fleet with confidence.
As Scheer races for home, the 5th Battle Squadron is nipping at his heels, picking off the slowest of Scheer’s mauled ships. Evan-Thomas sends regular updates on his position and speed, allowing Jellicoe to prepare for the final desperate night action. When Jellicoe’s destroyers spot the oncoming Germans, they fire a volley of torpedoes, then dash west to get out of the firing line. Evan-Thomas breaks off his chase and moves east to avoid the same fratricide danger.
Jellicoe’s heavy units know now that any ship to their north is definitely German, and the melee begins. Jellicoe’s line holds position, firing at point-blank range at half-glimpsed shadows in the darkness. Ships collide, and some tragically mistake friends for enemies. The Germans recognize the trap, and take their only remaining course of action. They steer for their minefield entrances, prepared to ram any vessel which gets in their way. The nightmare action sees terrible losses on both
