Coquimbo was designed to catch the Argentinian cruisers in the act of interfering with Chilean shipping going through the Straits of Magellan. The area of Tierra del Fuego had long been disputed with the boundaries being changed regularly and both sides wanting the other out entirely. The Straits of Magellan by world charter are a 'free' passage owned by none and available to all, unless Chile or Argentina do not like you at which stage there are problems.
.PNG)
The Coquimbo was built in Britain but the Chileans supplied three quarters of the armament from the rebuilding of the Valparaiso class battleships. An odd turret from a British ship made up the fourth turret. The design followed current British practice and the Coquimbo ended up being ship two of a pair of battlecruisers built with spare 13.5" turrets. The other being HMSAS Sud Afrika.
(Wait till the Coquimbo helps to spark off WW2 by sinking the Argentinian cruiser Belgrano, see Opening Salvoes )
