When completed the Drake Class Armoured Cruisers were among the fastest ships in the world. They: were good steamers and very economical in service. HMS Good Hope was originally to be named HMS Africa. She became the flagship of Rear Admiral Cradock of the South American station during August: 1914. Sunk by gunfire on 1st November 1914 by the German armoured cruisers SMS Scharnhorst and SMS Gneisenau off the Chilean Coast during the battle of Coronel, the entire crew was lost.