Battle of Coronel

Battle of Coronel
Part of the First World War

Die Seeschlacht bei Coronel, Hans Bohrdt
Date1 November 1914
Location36°59′1″S 73°48′49″W / 36.98361°S 73.81361°W / -36.98361; -73.81361
Result German victory
Belligerents
 Germany  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Maximilian von Spee Christopher Cradock 
John Luce
Strength
2 armoured cruisers
3 light cruisers
2 armoured cruisers
1 light cruiser
1 auxiliary cruiser
Casualties and losses
3 wounded 1,660 killed[1]
2 armoured cruisers sunk
1 light cruiser damaged

The Battle of Coronel was a First World War naval battle that led to an Imperial German Navy victory over the Royal Navy on 1 November 1914, off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. The East Asia Squadron (Ostasiengeschwader or Kreuzergeschwader) of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) led by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee met and overpowered a British squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock.

The engagement probably took place as a result of misunderstandings. Neither admiral expected to meet the other in full force. Once the two met, Cradock understood his orders were to fight to the end, despite the odds being heavily against him. Although Spee had an easy victory, destroying two enemy armoured cruisers for just three men injured, the engagement also cost him almost half his supply of ammunition, which was irreplaceable.

Shock at the British losses led the Admiralty to send more ships, including two modern battlecruisers, which in turn destroyed Spee and the majority of his squadron on 8 December at the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

  1. ^ "Battle of Coronel". World War 1 at Sea - Naval Battles in outline with Casualties etc. naval-history.net. 30 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2018.