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The Grand Fleet was the main battle fleet of the Royal Navy during World War I. Its primary mission was to maintain control of the seas, particularly the North Sea, to protect Britain's trade routes and prevent the German High Seas Fleet from breaking out and disrupting Allied shipping. The Grand Fleet's existence deterred the German fleet from engaging in major fleet actions, though they did clash in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Despite suffering greater losses in ships and men at Jutland, the Grand Fleet maintained its strategic advantage, and the German fleet largely remained in port for the remainder of the war. The Royal Navy's main mission during WWI was the protection of shipping from submarine attack.1234

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