Historical damage to German ships suggests that fully functioning British shells might leave a ship crippled rather than merely scarred. The High Seas Fleet would then face a harsh choice: scuttle it, detach a strong escort, or accept the speed of the damaged vessel while British forces close in. A ten- or eleven-knot survivor would give Jellicoe a predictable target and let the British attack an isolated escort in detail. That dilemma supports the interpretation that Scheer would break off rather than continue into a broader fleet action.
Notable Point · 1:11:18-1:15:05
A crippled capital ship is harder to save than to lose
A heavily damaged German capital ship would slow the retreat, require escorts, and offer the Grand Fleet a target, turning partial damage into an operational crisis.