[5] The battle resulted in the loss of the German torpedo boat squadron and prevented the mining of busy shipping lanes, such as the mouth of the River Thames.

The battle influenced the tactics and deployments of the remaining German torpedo boat flotillas in the North Sea area, as the loss shook the faith of their commanders in the effectiveness of the force.

[7] On 16 October 1914, information about the activities of German light forces in the Heligoland Bight became more definite and the 1st Division of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Harwich Force), consisting of the new light cruiser HMS Undaunted (Captain Cecil Fox) and four Laforey-class destroyers, HMS Lennox, Lance, Loyal and Legion was sent to investigate.

At 13:50 on 17 October, while steaming northwards, about 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) to the south-west of the island of Texel, the 1st Division encountered a squadron of German torpedo boats, comprising the remaining vessels of the 7th Half Flotilla (Korvettenkapitän Georg Thiele in S119) SMS S115, S117, S118 about 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) ahead.

[b] The German ships were sailing abreast, about 0.5 nmi (0.93 km; 0.58 mi) apart, on a bearing slightly to the east of the 1st Division.

The German flotilla was part of the Emden Patrol and had been sent out of the Ems River, to mine the southern coast of Britain including the mouth of the Thames but had been intercepted before reaching its objective.

Undaunted was experimentally armed with a pair of 2-pounder anti-aircraft guns, something most of her class lacked and at best speed could make 28.5 kn (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph).

[10] They were inferior to the British in other areas: the 7th Half Flotilla was composed of ageing Großes Torpedoboot 1898 class boats and had been completed in 1904.

This German vessel managed to dodge the fire from Undaunted but lost speed and the British force caught up.

[14] The loss of a squadron of German torpedo boats led to a drastic change in tactics in the English Channel and along the coast of Flanders.

The four ships of the German Seventh Half Flotilla were sunk by Harwich Force and over two hundred sailors were killed, including the commanding officer.