An alternative Battle of Coronel

Closer supervision could challenge the War Staff's tendency to scatter cruisers in penny packets and concentrate the force that meets von Spee. The altered squadron would probably include HMS Defence and another modern armoured cruiser alongside Cradock's historical ships. Australia and Japanese deployments remain unchanged, so the East Asia Squadron still follows its familiar route into the encounter. Four British armoured cruisers would shift the weight of fire, while HMS Monmouth's heavy battery of 6-inch guns becomes dangerous if the range closes. Von Spee's well-trained crews might still sink a ship, but they would no longer enjoy the mismatch that produced the historical victory. An early British success would also strengthen Battenberg politically just as the campaign to remove him historically reached its climax.