If Goeben is destroyed, there is little reason to retain four British battlecruisers in the Mediterranean. Lion and probably Indomitable could return to the Grand Fleet, while Indefatigable or Inflexible could reinforce Cradock in the South Atlantic or serve in the Indian Ocean. At Coronel, a battlecruiser's speed and heavy guns would reverse the asymmetry that Goeben held over Troubridge's armoured cruisers. It could keep out of the German guns' effective range while applying its own heavier fire. The victory would also give Battenberg, Milne, and Troubridge political credit while Beatty returned home with an accelerated promotion.
Chapter · 1:28:57-1:32:48
A Mediterranean victory could reshape Coronel
Removing Goeben could release a British battlecruiser for the South Atlantic early enough to reverse the firepower and speed imbalance at Coronel.