Action of 29 February 1916

Action of 29 February 1916
Part of the First World War
RMS Alcantara (left) and SMS Greif (right) duelling at close range
Date 29 February 1916 Location North Sea, Atlantic Ocean 56°N 03°E / 56°N 3°E / 56; 3 (North Sea) Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Wardle	Rudolf Tietze
Strength
1 light cruiser 2 armed merchant cruisers 1 destroyer	1 auxiliary cruiser
Casualties and losses
72 killed 1 armed merchant cruiser sunk	187 killed 125 captured 1 auxiliary cruiser sunk

The action of 29 February 1916 was a naval engagement fought during the First World War between the United Kingdom and the German Empire. SMS Greif, a German commerce raider, broke out into the North Sea and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe dispatched Royal Navy warships to intercept the raider. Four British vessels intercepted the commerce raider Greif. The armed merchant cruiser RMS Alcantara and Greif fought a brief engagement before British reinforcements arrived when both were severely damaged, both being sunk.