Massie's Falklands narrative begins with heavy-calibre shell splashes revealing British fire before the guns themselves can be seen. A German cruiser briefly tries to cut off HMS Kent, believing that the British ship is escaping, but the tactical picture changes when the flagship signals. Spee does not want to engage British armoured cruisers or ships carrying 12-inch guns and orders the squadron to suspend operations, concentrate, and withdraw east by south at full speed. He knows that one or more ships with 12-inch guns are present, though he believes they are old battleships his squadron can outrun. Force recognition and weapon calibre drive the immediate command decision.
Notable Point · 9:50-11:02
Spee aborts the Port Stanley attack
Heavy-calibre shell splashes and the sighting of British warships force Spee to abandon the attack, concentrate his squadron, and withdraw at full speed.