Von Spee's diplomacy and squadron training

Von Spee had served with the High Seas Fleet's reconnaissance forces and appears to have planned for the dangers his isolated squadron might face. He used visits to Japan, Siam, China, and other ports to turn a small force into a visible diplomatic instrument, meeting figures such as Japan's Taisho emperor and Yuan Shikai. His ships could disperse for presence duties, but he repeatedly brought them back together to inspect readiness and practice as a formation. That routine created shared procedures and trust among crews that had operated together for years. At Coronel, this preparation gave the German squadron an important advantage over a British force assembled from ships with different speeds, roles, and recent experience.