Chilean Reefer made smoke and returned Gneisenau's fire, prompting suspicion that the small vessel was a disguised cruiser or scout. Gneisenau withdrew to what her crew considered a safer distance and used 73 rounds to destroy her. Rodney's subsequent appearance seemed to confirm Lutjens's suspicion that the merchantman had been a scout, although that was his interpretation. He then identified Gneisenau as HMS Emerald in an attempt to buy time to escape. German and British accounts differ over the pursuit and how close Rodney came to engaging effectively. The argument that Rodney fired draws on her ammunition reporting, and the success of the identity ruse remains disputed.
Notable Point · 1:55:28-1:57:14
Chilean Reefer draws Gneisenau into an expensive fight
A merchantman's smoke and return fire prompted fears of a disguised warship, heavy ammunition use, and an attempted identity ruse when Rodney appeared.