Rough seas had already complicated British communication, and the squadrons made contact while searching in widely spaced formations. Cradock initially reversed away, but Otranto was managing only about 16 knots while his three warships could make roughly 20, preventing the group from escaping together. Von Spee slowed to organize his ships and waited for the British hulls to become silhouettes against the western sky. Cradock twice tried to close while the sun was still high enough for his shorter-ranged guns to answer; Von Spee simply turned away and preserved control of the range. At sunset the Germans closed to about 12,000 yards and opened fire under lighting conditions the British could not match.
Chapter · 1:00:32-1:09:15
How speed and the setting sun controlled the battle
Otranto's low speed let Von Spee choose the range and wait until the British ships were silhouetted against the sunset.