The class saw much service in the First World War and many of the ships left their mark on history. Ships of the class saw action at the Battles of Coronel, the Battle of the Falkland Islands and the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914. That same year, "Sydney" attacked in an action that lasted over an hour and resulted in the German warship being beached by her captain to avoid his ship sinking. Also that year, "Birmingham" became the first ship to sink a submarine when she rammed the German submarine on 9 August.