How badly would Coronel go for von Spee if Cradock's armored cruisers were replaced by Hawkins-class cruisers?
Short answerThe battle likely reverses: the faster Hawkins-class ships could control the range and use longer-ranged, faster-firing 7.5-inch guns to defeat the German squadron before it could bring most of its armament to bear.
NotesGun range, broadside weight, shell performance, and speed matter more here than the class labels alone. Hawkins-class cruisers could dictate the engagement and damage von Spee's ships beyond the effective reach of most German guns. Closing the range would still make the action dangerous.