Q&A · 2:05:06-2:06:08

Von Spee's squadron and radio direction finding

A cautious technical answer separates wireless reception from true direction finding and preserves uncertainty over individual ships' equipment.

Question

Did Admiral von Spee's East Asia Squadron possess radio direction-finding equipment?

Short answer

Probably not, though the answer is tentative and distinguishes receiving broad transmissions from determining their bearing.

Notes

Scharnhorst and Gneisenau probably lacked direction-finding capability, though another squadron ship may have carried it. The ships may have intercepted wide broadcasts without being able to derive a bearing, an important distinction when reconstructing wireless intelligence at sea.