How ready could cold-fired German ships be to move under steam?
Short answerThey would maintain only minimal steam and light crews, and even a fully manned ship would need hours to raise enough steam to move.
NotesShips maintaining only minimal steam could not leave as soon as aircraft appeared. Christmas leave also puts officers and ratings ashore with nearby families, reducing the people available to respond. Even with crews already aboard, the later estimate allows two to three hours to raise steam. Scapa Flow provides the contrasting example: its distance from sailors' homes keeps more of the Grand Fleet's personnel near their ships. The raid's damage estimate depends partly on this combination of mechanical delay and reduced holiday manning.