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Home » Bible Encyclopedias » 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica » Letter C

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Coronel

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"(German, Santa Maria), the name given to the naval battle fought on Nov. 1 1914 about 40 m. to the W. of Coronel (Chile), between a British cruiser squadron under Rear-Adml. Sir Christopher Cradock and the German East Asiatic Squadron under Adml. Graf von Spee.

The British squadron consisted of the armoured cruisers " Good Hope " (flag., Capt. Philip Francklin: 1902, 14,200 tons, 2 92-in., 16 6-in., 21 knots) and " Monmouth " (Capt. Frank Brandt: 1903, 9,800 tons, 14 6-in., 22.3 knots), the light cruiser " Glasgow " (Capt. John Luce: 1910, 4,800 tons, 2 6-in., io 4-in., 25 knots), and the armed merchant cruiser " Otranto " (Capt. Herbert M. Edwards: 16 knots, 4 4.71 n.). In the case of the first three ships the full sea-going speed is given. The German squadron consisted of the armoured cruisers " Scharnhorst " (flag) and " Gneisenau " (both 1908, 11,420 tons, 8 8-in., 6 5.9-in., 202 knots) and the light cruisers " Leipzig " (1906, 3,200 tons, io 4.1-in., 20 knots), " Nurnberg " (1908, 3,39 6 tons, 10 4.1-in., 22 knots) and " Dresden " (1908, 3,544 tons, 12 4.1-in., 25 knots). The figures, even as they stand, are sufficient to establish a definite German superiority, but they were accentuated by other circumstances. In the heavy weather prevailing at the time the " Good Hope " and " Monmouth " could not fight their main-deck guns, and their broadside discharge (including " Glasgow ") was reduced to 2 9.2-in. and 12 6-in. with a weight of 1,960 lb. against the German 12 8.2-in. with a weight of 2,904 pounds. The Germans in addition had the inestimable advantage of having been in commission over two years and being in a state of prime gunnery efficiency, whereas the " Good Hope " and " Monmouth " were both 3rd Fleet ships, which had been lying idle in the dockyards, manned entirely with reserve men on the outbreak of war. The " Canopus " (Capt. Heathcoat Grant), another 3rd Fleet ship (with 4 12-in. and 12 6-in. guns), had been relegated by Rear-Adml. Cradock to purposes of convoy, as she could steam only 12 knots, and was 300 m. to the S. escorting two colliers when the action began. There can be little doubt that neither in guns nor in gunnery was the British squadron capable of meeting the enemy, and long before the fatal day it should have been reinforced by at least two cruisers of the 1st Cruiser Squadron, all of which were ships in long commission with good armament. (" Defence " carried 4 9.2-in., " Warrior," " Black Prince," " Duke of Edinburgh," 6 9.2-in.) This measure had been suggested, and even ordered in the case of the " Defence," but had never reached fulfilment. The " Black Prince " and " Duke of Edinburgh " were doing convoy work in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and the " Warrior was at Port Said, while the " Defence " was with Rear-Adml. Stoddart on the east coast of South America.

Cradock left Vallenar (Chonos, Chile) with the " Monmouth " on Oct. 30 and proceeded N., leaving the " Canopus " to remedy engine defects and bring on colliers. The " Glasgow " had been sent on to Coronel (Concepcion) to send and receive telegrams, and a rendezvous had been arranged with her 50 m.

W. of Coronel for Nov. 1. The junction took place at 1 P.M., and as the sea was too heavy for boats, the mail was floated to the " Good Hope." It had scarcely been opened, and the rearadmiral was probably just reading his telegrams, when at 1:50 P.M. German wireless sounded loud and clear.

Von Spee had come from Mas-a-Fuera, the last anchorage in his long Pacific trip. On Oct. 30 he had sighted the lofty ranges of the Andes, and the " Prinz Eitel Friedrich," an armed merchantman, had been sent into Valparaiso to coal, while the squadron cruised at slow speed out of sight of the port. At 3 A.M. on Nov. i she sent news of the " Glasgow's " visit to Coronel on Oct. 31 and the German admiral steered S. to intercept her.

Cradock, when the report of German wireless came in, had made a signal to spread 15 m. on a line of bearing N.E. by E. (in the order from westward - " Good Hope," " Monmouth," " Otranto " and " Glasgow "), course N.W. by N., io knots, to get in touch with the enemy. At 4:20 P.M. the line was not yet completely formed when the " Glasgow," to the E., sighted smoke and altered course N. 80 E. to get in touch with it. At 4: 4 o P.M. she reported the " Scharnhorst " and " Gneisenau " steering between S.E. and S. She turned at once to S. 65 W., closing at full speed on the " Good Hope," and the whole line began to close rapidly on the flagship. The " Canopus " was 300 m. to the S., toiling with her colliers in a heavy sea.

Von Spee had been steering S. at 14 knots. The " Nurnberg " and " Dresden" had been detached to examine passing ships, and the former was 25 m., the latter 12 m. in rear. About 4:15 P.M. von Spee was about 40 m. N. of Arauco Bay when the " Glasgow " was sighted to the W., and he turned and followed, working up to full speed. It had been blowing hard from the S.E. (von Spee says S.), and a heavy sea was running, hurling sheets of spray right over the conning towers; the sun was setting in the south-west. When the " Glasgow " sighted the enemy the " Good Hope " was some 26 m. to W. of her, and turned to the E. to join her squadron, as they came closing in. By 5:50 P.M. the British squadron was in line, with the " Good Hope " leading and the " Monmouth," " Glasgow " and " Otranto " behind, on an easterly course. The enemy were about 11 m. away to the E., steering south-westward (see map). Both squadrons now altered course to the S., and by 6:4 P.M. were steering approximately parallel courses at a range of about 14,765 yards. Cradock then seems to have tried to close in order to force an action while the sun was still high enough to dazzle the enemy, but von Spee turned away and Cradock resumed his southerly course. Had he not been hampered by the 0 Otranto., Var 19 E Glasgow yMONMOUTH Good Hope 5.55 Sun Set 6.45 p.m.

S72 W. Wind Coronel (not to scale) i' 5.55 German it [[Nurnberg British 1 Dresden 4, Leipzig Gneisenau Sc Harn Horst]] 04 open fire Lat.37°408 Long 73°58'W 8 p.m.)8 09 

- Coronel 30 miles 9.25

J 1 Glasgow Otranto," which could only go 16 knots, it is possible that he might have attempted to fall back on the " Canopus," for the rest of his squadron was faster than von Spee's and he could have slipped away to the S. during the night and picked up the " Canopus " next morning. But this would have meant forsaking one of his ships, and Cradock was not the man to take this course. He decided to fight, and sent the " Canopus " a message to this effect at 6:18 P.M. At 6:20 P.M. he turned towards the enemy, but von Spee turned away an equal amount. He was now about two points before Cradock's beam, biding his time and waiting for the sun to set.

The " Otranto " asked if she was to keep out of range, and not getting a clear reply drew out of line on the " Glasgow's " starboard quarter, a potent reminder that a ship that has no guns to fight and no speed to run away is a delusion and a snare. The sun was setting (sunset at 6:45 P.M.), and as soon as it dipped beneath the horizon (just before 7 P.M.) the English ships were silhouetted sharply against the red glow of the western sky, whilst the Germans were scarcely discernible against the gathering night clouds in the east. About 7:4 P.M. von Spee turned one point towards the enemy to clear the smoke, and opened fire at a gun range of 11,373 yards. The conditions were rendered difficult by spray, heavy sea and smoke driving down the line, but the shot fell only Soo yd. short. The third salvo hit the " Good Hope " forward at about 7:9 P.M. and sent up a burst of flame. The rest of the German squadron joined in, the "Scharnhorst " engaging the " Good Hope," the " Gneisenau " the " Monmouth," and the " Leipzig " the " Glasgow." The " Good Hope " had now opened fire, but in the failing light the splashes could not be seen and her firing was poor and ineffective. In the next quarter of an hour the German gunners found the target again and again, and by half-past seven the British cruisers were obviously in distress. The roof of the " Monmouth's " fore 6-in. turret had been blown off and the turret was blazing. She had sheered off to starboard about 7:15 P.M., and the " Glasgow," which continued to follow in the wake of the " Good Hope," had to ease down to avoid masking her fire. A fierce fire had broken out amidships in the " Good Hope " and was increasing in brilliance. It was almost dark. Though the moon had risen about 6:30 P.M. it was still low, but the glare of the fires kindled in the British cruisers offered a sufficient target. At 7:45 P.M. the " Good Hope " was losing speed; the range had closed to about 5,000 yards. About 7:51 P.M. two shells struck her between the mainmast and after funnel, and a vast column of smoke and fire rose into the air. When it subsided the ship was still afloat, but she was nothing but a gutted hull lighted by a dying glare, and she fired no more. Thirty-five hits had been counted on her by the " Scharnhorst's " gunners. By 8 P.M. the fire had died down, quenched by the sea. The " Monmouth " had ceased fire and turned away to the W., followed by the " Glasgow," who had been heavily engaged by the " Leipzig " and " Dresden " and had received five hits. The rising moon shone fitfully through the clouds, and the " Glasgow " continued to fire at any ship that showed up, but as this only betrayed her position she ceased fire at 8:5 P.M. The " Monmouth," badly down by the bows and listing to port, turned N. at 8:15 P.M. to get stern to sea. But von Spee had now launched his light cruisers to attack and they were hot upon the trail. The " Glasgow " could only leave the stricken field, and she lost sight of the enemy at 8:50 P.M.

It was the " Nurnberg," which had been making frantic efforts to overtake her squadron, that found the unfortunate " Monmouth." She missed her with a torpedo and opened fire at Boo yards. The " Monmouth " was listing so badly that she could not use her port guns. The " Nurnberg " ceased firing for several minutes to allow her to surrender, then gave her a final broadside, and she went down at half-past nine with flag flying. The " Otranto " had fallen out and was now working gradually round to the S. towards Magellan Straits.

The British shooting was poor. The " Scharnhorst " was hit twice with little injury; the " Gneisenau " received three hits, one of which bent the flap of the after turret, an injury of little moment. This deficiency must be attributed partly to failing light and an inferior horizon but also to the fact that the ships had had scant opportunity for training and their firecontrol equipment was poor. The squadron was weak in guns and gunnery. When the German squadron was sighted it would have been possible to fall back on the " Canopus," but this would have entailed the destruction of the " Otranto," which would have been overtaken by the enemy in two or three hours. Cradock preferred to fight and take the chance of inflicting injury on the German squadron, which was far from any base of refitment and repair. He fought a brave fight, checked von Spee in his onward career, and he and his men take their place in the great roll of naval heroes. His foe was a worthy antagonist. When the Germans at Valparaiso acclaimed him a naval hero, he shook his head. The wide spaces of the Pacific lay behind him, he had fought a famous battle, but the southern waters of the world lay before him, behind loomed the Atlantic, and he knew that Britain's arm stretched far. He found the sequel of his victory at the Falklands (see Falkland Islands Battle).

(A. C. D.)

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Bibliography Information
Chisholm, Hugh, General Editor. Entry for 'Coronel'. 1911 Encyclopedia Britanica. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​bri/​c/coronel.html. 1910.
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