Night action at the Battle of Jutland Hipper succeed in sinking two British battlecruisers during the chase. Once the German fleet came in sight, the British ships reversed course, now intending to lead the German fleet in pursuit of them back towards the main British fleet. Despite minimal information, Admiral John Jellicoe managed to deploy his ships to good advantage across the path of the approaching German fleet, so that some success was gained in the short battle before the Germans in turn reversed course and withdrew. Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer was now in a difficult position, because his smaller force was cut off from Germany by the
Admiral of the fleet air force which in many countries has a similar rank insignia to admiral of the fleet. The title admiral of the fleet can trace its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title was typically granted to a nobleman who was appointed by a monarch to raise and command a navy for a specific campaign. The following articles contain specific information on the rank as it pertains to individual countries: Ambiguity exists when translating the French "amiral" into English (into admiral of the fleet or admiral). A French title of "amiral de la flotte", outranking a full admiral was invented