A while back a responsible person (who really ought to know better) implied that the Germans did not use visual signalling at the Battle of Jutland, because they had ‘perfected’ wireless telegraphy. This was contrasted with the use of flag signalling by the British. Of course, this last part is immediately incorrect because the British also used wireless telegraphy, as well as signalling lanterns and projectors, and mechanical semaphores, in addition to flags.
So, did the Germans rely solely on wireless telegraphy at Jutland? Let us look at the Royal Navy’s 1926 translation of the German official history of the battle adapted from Der Krieg zur See, 1914-1918, North Sea, Volume V (copy at The National Archives, ADM 186/626). It thoughtfully includes, as an appendix, a ‘Summary of the More Important German Wireless Messages and Signals Relating to the Battle of Jutland’ (pp. 279-305). ‘All messages not sent by wireless are indicated by the word “visual.”’ This, of course, might not be an exhaustive list, either on the Admiralty’s part or the German historian’s. Then let us look at the signals sent by Vice-Admiral Franz Hipper in the Lützow to the ships of his command, the 1st Scouting Group (not including signals addressed to specific ships). Between 15:27 and 19:20 (C.E.T.) he sent 64 signals, all specifically listed as ‘visual’. This works out at one signal every 3 minutes 38 seconds. The 19:20 signal was the last Hipper made from Lützow to the ships of 1st Scouting Group, before being compelled to transfer his flag later in the evening.
So, the Germans evidently did not rely on wireless telegraphy at Jutland, and Hipper was clearly making a lot of signals without recourse to it.
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