[KellyAdmirer]

I understand the turrets and guns were very slow to adjust, too. The Essex was pretty much out of action by the time she made harbor, though, so if she were still functional, I think she would have stood a good chance of fighting her way out.

[CompassRose]

Actually, when Exeter left, Cumberland had just about arrived, but it was academic since the British embassey was involved in a campaign of transmitting spurious messages to warships off Montevideo which were not there.
The net result was that Graf Spee's Co, Langsdorf did not have an accurate idea of what ships were operating against him.