The first two volumes of this work, 'The Protagonists' and 'The Antagonists' described the situation that led to Great Britain and Germany being on opposing sides at the commencement of the Great War, and of the naval side to the first year of combat. This final volume covers the Battle of Jutland; its prelude and its aftermath; and the subsequent introduction of the German submarine campaign against trade that would ultimately prove decisive, one way or another, to the outcome of the war. It ends with the greatest mass suicide of naval power that will ever be witnessed.