It was only a special manoeuvre that saved the German fleet. They had practised a 'battle turn away' where every ship turned simultaneously. It required great seamanship.
The German fleet had practised a manoeuvre for just such a predicament: the ‘Battle Turn Away’ (Gefechtskehrtwendung). This manoeuvre required each ship to turn away simultaneously, covered by a smoke screen generated by the destroyers and light cruisers. In the confusion of battle a high degree of seamanship was required of the battleship’s captains.