Was Tsingtao too close for Birmingham's torpedoes?

Was Birmingham far enough from the Japanese cruisers for her torpedoes to arm?

Possibly not. The crew would probably still have tried to make the torpedoes work if firing began.

The distance may have been too short for normal torpedo operation. No definite minimum arming range is claimed for Birmingham's weapons in this configuration. Even so, the torpedo crew would probably have prepared every available option as the guns trained. Weapon readiness and weapon effectiveness remain separate: the tubes could be manned and swung out even if a reliable detonation remained uncertain.