At the outbreak of the First World War, Germany had two armoured cruisers, six light cruisers and four gunboats stationed overseas, based at ports in the German colonial empire or at neutral ports, protecting German interests. In the west was (SMS: [His Majesty's Ship]) in the Caribbean and on the east coast of Mexico. The gunboat was based in the colony of Kamerun (now Cameroon) in west Africa. The cruiser and the gunboat were based in German East Africa. The East Asia Squadron ( or Graf Maximilian von Spee was based at Tsingtau and comprised two heavy cruisers, a light cruiser and two gunboats; the cruisers and were at sea. With the commencement of hostilities these ships were ordered to attack Allied trade wherever they found it.
