Battle of Coronel
The ships served in the First World War with only two surviving it. "Good Hope" was sunk at the Battle of Coronel in 1914 and "Drake" was torpedoed in 1917. "Drake" was also used to ferry Russian bullion (gold) in October 1914 from Arkhangelsk. The gold (equivalent of $39 million) was security for western loans. The transfer took place at high seas, 30 miles off the coast in the dead of night.