 The British attack was interrupted due to reports of U @-@ boats ahead of the British ships . Beatty quickly ordered evasive maneuvers , which allowed the German ships to increase the distance from their pursuers . At this time , Lion 's last operational dynamo failed , which reduced her speed to 15 kn ( 28 km / h ; 17 mph ) . Beatty , in the stricken Lion , ordered the remaining battlecruisers to " Engage the enemy 's rear " , but signal confusion caused the ships to target Blücher alone . She continued to resist stubbornly ; Blücher repulsed attacks by the four cruisers of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron and four destroyers . However , the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron flagship , Aurora , hit Blücher twice with torpedoes . By this time , every main battery gun turret except the rear mount had been silenced . A volley of seven more torpedoes was launched at point @-@ blank range ; these hits caused the ship to capsize at 13 : 13 . In the course of the engagement , Blücher had been hit by 70 – 100 large @-@ caliber shells and several torpedoes . 
