Black Prince lost contact with First Cruiser Squadron during the afternoon and was still transmitting after 20:45. Near midnight she briefly hit the German dreadnought Rheinland, then encountered a much stronger formation in the darkness. German battleships illuminated the lone cruiser and opened fire at roughly 750 to 1,500 yards, with several dreadnoughts able to engage her. The tactical position resembles Cape Matapan: survival was implausible once a cruiser was surrounded at night by capital ships. The destruction reveals the consequences of squadron fragmentation and night identification more than an inherent inability to perform the class's intended work.
Chapter · 1:07:04-1:10:12
Black Prince surrounded in the night action
Separated from her squadron, Black Prince encountered several German dreadnoughts at point-blank range during Jutland's confused night fighting.