Cradock received cruisers unsuited to von Spee

The cruisers released for the hunt after Coronel raise a question about the force originally sent with Christopher Cradock. HMS Black Prince's 9.2-inch and 6-inch guns illustrate the heavier batteries available in other British armoured cruisers. In this assessment, Cradock was a capable commander assigned underarmed ships against a known and capable opponent. The Admiralty's choice of ships is the central failure identified here. Comparing the original squadron with the later reinforcements shifts attention to decisions made before the battle.