Again lack of strategic reconnaissance hinders both sides but Sturdee's new command comfortably outruns, outranges and overpowers von Spee's.

Von Spee, eager for coal and perhaps increasingly doubtful of chartered colliers, acts on outdated intelligence suggesting Port Stanley is unoccupied and her coal stores unprotected. He shows up just as Sturdee's fleet is coaling. Realising the situation von Spee flees, Sturdee's battlecruisers slowly get up steam for pursuit. After a long stern chase von Spee is overtaken and turns to accept battle; both his armoured cruisers are pounded into flaming wrecks and sunk with great loss. British armoured cruiser HMS Kent corners and sinks SMS Nürnberg; HMS Cornwall and Glasgow halt and sink the fleeing SMS Leipzig. The light cruiser SMS Dresden alone escapes.