Royal Navy tradition supplied a strong expectation that officers would find and fight the enemy. Admiral Christopher Cradock acted under that expectation before the Battle of Coronel. Intelligence suggested that he would meet one element of von Spee's force, so taking his full squadron to destroy it appeared capable of buying time. He instead encountered the whole German formation, and the outcome cautions against judging his choice solely with information learned after the battle.
Notable Point · 48:23-50:06
Coronel illustrates how Royal Navy tradition shaped command
Cradock's decision to engage is reconsidered through the intelligence available to him and the Royal Navy expectation that an officer should seek the enemy.