What force could Cradock have used if Canopus were serviceable and all expected reinforcements arrived?
Short answerHe could have left slow Canopus and Otranto to defend the Falklands and hunted with four armored cruisers and four Town-class cruisers at roughly 23 knots.
NotesWith all the expected reinforcements, Cradock could have left Canopus and Otranto at the Falklands and taken the faster cruisers forward. The proposed force had four armoured cruisers and four Town-class cruisers, with a speed of roughly 23 knots. Its heavier battery could contest a long-range engagement, while the speed advantage would also let Cradock close if he chose. In this counterfactual, concentrating the available ships removes the German advantage in choosing the terms of battle.