by Steve R. Dunn.
Hardback (6.5×9.5 inches). 320 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: The Battles of Coronel & the Falklands 1914
The German East Asiatic Squadron gave the British the slip in China thanks to a British error in judgment that sent the Royal Navy to Hong Kong instead of blockading Tsingtao. After crossing the Pacific, it ran into a British force of antiquated warships at the Battle of Coronel and sent two to the bottom and leaving the others damaged.
The Germans swung around into the Atlantic and intended to raid the Falkland Islands. Faulty intelligence failed to disclose British battlecruisers in port. Here a lapse in German judgment sent the Squadron fleeing instead of bombarding the British ships in port. Only one German ship escaped.
It’s all well explained, including the reason why Adm. Craddock decided to engage a superior German force at Coronel and the though processes behind Adm. Speer’s decision to flee at the Falklands. Better yet, the action and reaction of crews during the battles receive admirable detail.
Besides the tabletop scenarios of the two battles, a scenario pitting Armed Merchant Ships — the German Cap Trafalgar and the British Carmania (p70) — offer something new in a one ship on one ship battle. A what-if scenario would pit the British blockading force at Tsingtao against a German effort to run the blockade.
The third section offers a look at the various memorials regarding the two main battles, including monuments, plaques, statues, bas reliefs, and ship names.
The book contains 123 black and white photos, 16 black and white illustrations, and three black and white maps.
Compared to Jutland, the two battles are small, but no less important at the outbreak of the war and control of the sea.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
