lead ship class armoured cruisers built royal_navy decade 20th century assigned 1st cruiser squadron channel_fleet completion transferred remained returned home assigned reserve fleet world war began august ship recommissioned assigned 5th cruiser squadron search german commerce raiders protect allied shipping detached arrival patrol brazilian coast german ships later ordered join rear admiral squadron search found german squadron november coast chile german squadron outnumbered force individually powerful sank armoured cruisers lost hands design description designed displace long tons ship overall length feet inches beam feet deep draught feet powered cylinder triple expansion steam engines driving shaft produced total indicated horsepower designed maximum speed knots mph failed meet designed speed engines powered belleville boilers carried maximum long tons coal complement consisted officers enlisted men main armament consisted fourteen breech loading inch vii guns guns mounted twin gun turrets fore aft superstructure positioned casemates amidships mounted main deck usable calm weather maximum range approximately yards pound shells quick firing pounder cwt guns fitted defence torpedo boats carried pounder hotchkiss guns submerged inch torpedo tubes ship waterline armour belt maximum thickness inches closed inch transverse bulkheads armour gun turrets barbettes inches thick armour inches thick protective deck armour ranged thickness inches conning tower protected inches armour construction service named welsh county laid london glasgow shipyard august launched november completion delayed collision liner glasgow harbour late march finally completed december initially assigned 1st cruiser squadron channel_fleet briefly placed reserve devonport end january recommissioned april service remained returned home assigned reserve fleet august crew consisted sent 5th cruiser squadron cape_verde station arrival august detached brazilian coast search german light cruisers known area came command mid september end september fruitless search del area later detached ships search chilean coast reaching october flagship good hope returned communications admiralty received word october german vice admiral ships definitely bound region waited elderly battleship reinforce squadron poor mechanical condition arrived port stanley required time repairs good hope sailed october going departed following day taking shorter route good hope rest squadron remote archipelago chile october departed days later arrived ordering battleship follow soon possible sent light cruiser glasgow scout ahead enter chile pick messages admiralty acquire intelligence german activities cruiser began pick german radio signals light cruiser afternoon october delayed entering days permission avoid trapped fast german ships german supply ship glasgow entered harbour twilight cruiser departed morning november plans catch informed presence previous evening glasgow departed having picked squadron mail rest squadron hours later ordered ships form line abreast distance nautical miles ships visibility steered north speed knots mph leipzig spotted glasgow easternmost british ship west spotted leipzig funnel smoke minutes later ordered ships head closest ship germans gathered formed line astern good hope lead steering southeasterly knots mph sixteen guns aboard armoured cruisers matched inch guns flagship needed close range bring numerous inch guns bear force winds high seas prevented use half guns close water wanted use setting sun advantage light blind german gunner aware british advantages refused allow close range ships faster british slowed knot maximum speed armed merchant cruiser opened range yards conditions changed suit sun set british ships light sky german ships indistinguishable shoreline immediately turned close signalled ships open fire range closed yards flagship engaged good hope fired german shooting accurate armoured cruisers quickly scoring hits british counterparts outside inch gun range starting fires ships knowing chance close range continued despite ships inflicted range half battle began british ships bore onwards shell blew roof forward turret started fire causing ammunition explosion completely blew turret ship tried open range fearing torpedo attack british yards away severely damaged began slow line glasgow fought entirely separate battle german armoured cruisers ignored completely light cruisers leipzig dresden glasgow broke contact german squadron discovered listing bow having extinguished fires minutes later trying turn north stern heavy northerly swell taking water bow little glasgow assist larger ship illuminated ships germans searching light cruiser trailing german squadron spotted smoke glasgow saw degree list port shortly closed range list increased guns port german cruiser closed yards illuminated flag spotlight hopes strike colours surrender response british ship opened fire aiming high response german ship fired torpedo missed turned increased speed turned caused open fire capsized taking entire crew men seas rough attempt rescue effort
HMS Monmouth (1901)