Galatea entered service as a destroyer-flotilla leader before becoming flagship of the First Light Cruiser Squadron. She guarded the approaches to the English Channel and helped shoot down Zeppelin L17 in May 1916. At Jutland she was the first British ship to report the German presence that triggered the fleet engagement. Her squadron fired the opening British shot, and SMS Elbing then scored the first German hit on her without causing an explosion. The episode shows the class fulfilling its reconnaissance purpose at the decisive moment of the Royal Navy's largest battle.
Notable Point · 32:14-33:17
Galatea reports Jutland's first contact
Galatea detected and reported the German ships that brought the fleets into contact at Jutland, then fired the first British shot and received the first German hit.