For the next hour, the 5th Battle Squadron acted as Beatty's rearguard, drawing fire from all the German ships within range, while by 17:10 Beatty had deliberately eased his own squadron out of range of Hipper's now-superior battlecruiser force. Since visibility and firepower now favoured the Germans, there was no incentive for Beatty to risk further battlecruiser losses when his own gunnery could not be effective.
The 5th Battle Squadron acted as a protective barrier for Beatty, engaging German ships while he retreated from Hipper's superior forces. This strategic withdrawal was driven by the changing tide of battle and the diminishing effectiveness of Beatty's own gunnery.