When Britain declined the expected close fleet battle, Germany turned to submarines and battlecruiser raids. Submarine warfare was new and immediately raised the legal and diplomatic question of whether U-boats should follow cruiser-style prize rules, including warning and civilian evacuation before sinking a ship. The First Scouting Group could strike targets inside its operating radius and withdraw before the full Royal Navy arrived. The strategic aim was not destruction for its own sake: a raid should draw out a smaller British force, lead it toward the High Seas Fleet, and permit Germany to defeat the Royal Navy in detail. Even a limited success could provide a morale and propaganda victory.
Chapter · 34:28-37:16
German raids sought an isolated British force
Coastal raids were designed to lure a manageable British formation into an ambush and chip away at the Royal Navy's numerical advantage.