27th November 1914. Near the harbour of Rio Gallegos. Southern Argentina
At
7am, Von Spee reaches the Argentinian harbour and begins coaling. The operation is conducted at a frantic pace as the German Vice-Admiral intends to leave at dawn. From there, the squadron will follow a north-northeast course before turning west towards the Brazilian coast. Ultimately, the German warships will cross the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the Azores before heading northwest, bypassing the British Islands and eventually arriving at Bremerhaven.
But at
2pm the SMS Nurnberg, patrolling 10 miles east of the harbour spots the smoke of six large vessels coming from the East before recognizing the silhouette of British warships. Informed within minutes, and while his ships at anchored at the entrance of the bay, Von Spee realizes that the German East Asia Squadron has no choice but to fight its way out. However, several problems have appeared, the SMS Nurnberg is currently isolated and with the British ships now approaching at full speed, it’s likely that the light cruiser will be neutralized before being joined by the rest of the squadron.
Consequently, the remaining German ships would fight against a numerically superior enemy with a predictable outcome. Ultimately, Von Spee was resolute to save as many of his men as possible. Nurnberg was ordered to leave the area at full speed, the last message of the SMS Scharnhorst being a laconic “Good luck”. As for Dresden, her ability to steam at 27 knots gave her a solid chance to escape and so the light cruiser was ordered to flee as well after having taken 90 men from the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau on board (including Von Spee’s two sons, who only accepted to leave after a direct order from their father). As for the German collier, it will remain in the harbour since it’s a civilian ship, waiting for the British departure before leaving.
At
3pm, the two armoured cruisers sailed towards Craddock’s force. The British Rear-Admiral spots the SMS Dresden trying to run away, dispatched the HMS Bristol to hunt the German light cruiser down. In fact, Craddock would have preferred to wait for the warships coming from the Brazilian coastline. However, the risk to see Von Spee escaping if he avoids the fight convinces him to battle. But while the two squadrons are about to clash, the Bristol, only able to sail at 25 knots, progressively loses contact with the Dresden in spite of some minor artillery exchange.
Thirty minutes later, the SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau slowed down and aimed at the HMS Cornwall. At
3:37, Von Spee gave the order to fire at a distance of 16000 metres. The extremely well-trained German gunners prove their worth after three salvos aimed at adjusting their fire: within 3 minutes, the Cornwall is hit five times while the HMS Defence and Good Hope score only one hit in this initial exchange, resulting in minor damage on the Gneisenau’s funnels.
However, Craddock’s four armoured and one light cruisers soon come under 13000 metres, sending a slew of 233, 190 and 152mm shells at an impressive rate, albeit still partially inaccurate due to the consequent distance: the Gneisenau is once again hit but damage remain light.
Calmly, Von Spee orders to maintain the fire against the already battered Cornwall, inflicting serious to critical damage salvo after salvo while the distance is progressively decreasing. At 5000 metres, the two German cruisers launch a salvo of four torpedoes against the Cornwall: three miss but one hits the vessel at the stern. His main batteries disabled and his bridge devastated, the Cornwall tries to leave the battle at a speed of 4 knots.
Only the foolhardy manoeuvre of
Captain Frank Brandt, commander of the HMS Monmouth and known for his bravery among his peers, temporarily saves the Cornwall from a brutal destruction. Placing himself between the German cruisers and the wounded Cornwall, Brandt offers an opportunity to his homologue
Captain Walter Ellerton to escape, albeit at a high cost.
Indeed, the Monmouth, being Von Spee’s new main target, suffers very heavy damage but is able to retaliate, its 152mm guns beginning to take their toll at barely 4000 metres.
Furthermore, this manoeuvre manages to briefly distract the German cruisers, allowing the HMS Defence and Good Hope, seconded by the HMS Glasgow. Shell after shell, the artillery duel turns to the British’s advantage and ultimately, a torpedo from the Glasgow incapacitates the Gneisenau even if its captain manages to leave this fish trap at slow speed, sailing towards the coast while pursued by the Good Hope. As for the Scharnhorst, another torpedo and several salvos sign the end of the battle. With seven of his eight main guns disabled, three fires and more than half of his men being dead or wounded, Von Spee decides that pursuing the fight would be useless. Consequently, the ship is scuttled and any paper of importance burned while the HMS Glasgow and Defence approach to rescue the survivors of the now slowly sinking ship: 348 officers and sailors are captured, including a slightly wounded Von Spee. As for the Gneisenau, it manages to run aground only 200 metres away from the Argentinian coast, around 15 kilometres south of Rio Gallegos. Its captain,
Gustav-Julius Maerker, and 420 survivors (including 100 or so injured), abandon the ship and reach the beach while the Good Hope is closing. The British armoured cruiser then fires a hundred 233mm shells and even a torpedo which definitively destroy the Gneisenau under the eyes of its crew before sailing away. The German sailors then walk towards Rio Gallegos were they join the crew of the remaining collier four hours later: several weeks later, a Swedish freighter will accept to take them on board in exchange for a promise of reward.
For Craddock, this is a consequent success: the German East Asia Squadron has been dismantled and even the two light cruisers seem to have escaped, they’re now only able to conduct raiding actions and aren’t a threat to British warships anymore. The battle of Rio Gallegos, which has lasted for only 50 minutes, has resulted in
the death of 832 Germans and the capture of 348. However this victory hasn’t come without a cost: the Monmouth is burning and only an obstinate effort from its crew prevents her from sinking: months of repairs will be needed at the very least. The Cornwall is less fortunate: too much damage and a severe list convince his captain to abandon ship. However, as the sinking of the ship proves to be a lengthy process, the majority of its crew is saved by the Glasgow. Overall
the British Navy has lost 476 men, including 252 killed.
Nevertheless, the news of Craddock’s victory is welcomed with a certain relief at the Admiralty which had seriously begun to consider the possibility to send a couple of battlecruisers to deal with the German warships. For his cautious strategy and efficient use of limited resources, Rear-Admiral Craddock receives a telegram of congratulations from the First Lord of the Admiralty.
Captain Frank Brandt, whose action has likely saved many lives on the Cornwall.
Author's notes: I wish to thank you for this udpate. Your posts and remarks led me to partially rewrite this one since I realized I wasn't entirely satisfied. So thanks, particularly to
Steamboy whose precious posts fuelled some of the sentences.
