Rather than timing a simultaneous reversal from the flagship, the signal passed through the formation and the last ship began the turn first. Each ship followed the movement of the vessel behind it, rapidly reversing the line's direction. The Gefechtskehrtwendung offered a fast way to reverse a line of battle without every ship waiting on the flagship's clock. It was powerful when drilled and signaled correctly, but difficult execution made peacetime maneuver training essential before it became central to Scheer's escape at Jutland.
Notable Point · 34:23-35:25
How the German battle turn worked
The German battle turn reversed a line through a carefully signaled ripple from the rear, offering speed at the cost of demanding execution.