Thirteen battlecruisers could cover home waters and imperial stations

How might the Royal Navy deploy thirteen battlecruisers before the First World War?

Most would remain in home waters, with smaller groups in the Mediterranean and imperial stations; a South Atlantic battlecruiser could overturn the balance at Coronel.

Five or six of the thirteen battlecruisers would remain in home waters to preserve superiority over the German force. Three or four could cover both ends of the Mediterranean, while Australia would retain its own ship and other units could serve in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic. That distribution makes the Coronel campaign the most striking consequence. A battlecruiser serving as Cradock's flagship would radically improve his chances against von Spee, while even a functioning Canopus would make the long-range engagement more dangerous for the Germans.