This book reviews the entire course of the war in the North Sea, right up until the scuttling in Scapa Flow. For years before the outbreak of the First World War, it was the expectation of most officers of the Royal Navy and the Imperial German Navy that very shortly thereafter; a decisive fleet action would be fought. This had a major impact on the strategic thinking on both sides of the North Sea. In fact, the unalterable geographic situation meant that for the Grand Fleet in its Scottish bases, the correct course to follow was not to seek a major fleet encounter. Essentially, it was by staying where it was that it could neutralise the High Seas Fleet and enforce an economic blockade of Germany. AUTHOR: Quintin Barry is a solicitor and a retired Employment Judge. He has also held a variety of offices in both the public and private sector, including the NHS and local radio. He is presently Secretary General of an international group of law firms. Following a lifelong interest in history and naval history, he is the author of a number of books on military history. These include an acclaimed two-volume history of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 1871, a history of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the first modern history of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 1878. He has made a particular study of the life and career of Helmuth von Moltke. He has also written a biography of the 17th Earl of Derby, which was published in 2012. 100 b/w illustrations, 15 maps and charts