The 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron was created in 1915, with the return to home waters of two of the three Invincible-class battlecruisers—Invincible and Inflexible—following the Battle of the Falkland Islands and the Dardanelles operation.

They were joined by their sister Indomitable, and, under the command of Rear Admiral Sir Horace Hood, the squadron was based at Rosyth, Scotland.

On 31 May 1916, the squadron—attached to the Grand Fleet rather than David Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet—participated in the Battle of Jutland.

During the battle, Invincible was hit in her "Q" turret by a salvo from the German battlecruiser SMS Lützow, causing a massive explosion.

[1] With the loss of Invincible and several other battlecruisers at Jutland, the squadron was no longer required.