“SS Cap Trafalgar was a German ocean liner launched in 1913 for the Hamburg Süd line. In 1914, she was converted for use as an auxiliary cruiser during World War I. She was the first armed merchant cruiser sunk by a ship of the same class; she was destroyed by HMS Carmania, also a converted ocean liner, in a furious action in the South Atlantic on 14 September 1914. It was the world’s first battle between former ocean liners.
On 14 September 1914 Cap Trafalgar was discovered by the Carmania which had been sent to flush out German colliers and small warships that might be using the inhospitable island as a base against British merchant shipping. Carmania spotted Cap Trafalgar’s smoke early in the morning and some hours later was able to surprise the German ship with two colliers in the island’s only harbour.
The Cap Trafalgar (disguised as the Carmania)’s only battle was against the real Carmania.Some accounts incorrectly allege that the Carmania was itself disguised as the Cap Trafalgar.”
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For context:
“SS Cap Trafalgar was a German ocean liner launched in 1913 for the Hamburg Süd line. In 1914, she was converted for use as an auxiliary cruiser during World War I. She was the first armed merchant cruiser sunk by a ship of the same class; she was destroyed by HMS Carmania, also a converted ocean liner, in a furious action in the South Atlantic on 14 September 1914. It was the world’s first battle between former ocean liners.
On 14 September 1914 Cap Trafalgar was discovered by the Carmania which had been sent to flush out German colliers and small warships that might be using the inhospitable island as a base against British merchant shipping. Carmania spotted Cap Trafalgar’s smoke early in the morning and some hours later was able to surprise the German ship with two colliers in the island’s only harbour.
The Cap Trafalgar (disguised as the Carmania)’s only battle was against the real Carmania.Some accounts incorrectly allege that the Carmania was itself disguised as the Cap Trafalgar.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Cap_Trafalgar