USN @ Jutland ?

This derives from the thread concerning the US entry into the Great War in 1915.

Under what circumstances would a major fleet battle have occurred with a USN battle squadron present? How would the Brits have used them, what would their performance be?
 
How would the Brits have used them, what would their performance be?
Well a few more slow dreadnoughts that don't actually do anything, like the rest of the RN Dreadnoughts? Since USN did not have any fast ships and the HSF will run from the main RN/USN force as its to large just from the RN numbers they don't change anything?
 
If the USN has just arrived, the gunnery is poor; if they've had time to get their gunnery up to speed--well, as far as I know, American shells detonate.
All of the ships sent in OTL were earlier ships, pre-Nevada's, so lacked the later design features.
 

SsgtC

Banned
If the USN has just arrived, the gunnery is poor; if they've had time to get their gunnery up to speed--well, as far as I know, American shells detonate.
All of the ships sent in OTL were earlier ships, pre-Nevada's, so lacked the later design features.
The British asked the USN not to send the Nevadas or newer because they were oil burning and oil was in tight supply then. The two most modern ships the USN sent were the New Yorks, with their 10x14" guns. Everything else sent had between 10 and 12x12" guns.
 
Well a few more slow dreadnoughts that don't actually do anything, like the rest of the RN Dreadnoughts? Since USN did not have any fast ships and the HSF will run from the main RN/USN force as its to large just from the RN numbers they don't change anything?

This really depends on how any battle plays out. OTL the German fleets withdrawal from the Jutland battle turned back into the enemy fleet after dark and resulted in a confused skirmish with Brit. destroyers. Had things fallen out a bit different there could have been a very wild night battle between battleships headed in various directions. Or, nothing at all.
 
How much more likely is the threat of the US squadron appearing in the UK, then causing the Germans to move earlier to force battle with the Brits alone? Is this something they'd actually try?
 
I'd agree with @jsb that the most likely result is that the grand fleets battleline is longer and that not much happens.

As to whether Germany would attempt to force a battle prior to American arrival I can't see it. I can see several sorties hoping to catch out portions of the grand fleet and face them separate to the remainder but not an actual willingness to give battle.
 
Bait. They use the USN squadron as bait. Use them to draw the HSF out, then use them as the anvil to the RN hammer. If the plan is explained to the USN Admiral, (which it would be), and the Americans are "careless" in their W/T tranmissions so the HSF can detect them regularly, and they possibly are sent out with smaller supporting RN units a couple times earlier, the Germans might go for it. Risky, but it the USN ships have used their time to train up to standards then its doable.
 
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