Cap Trafalgar entered service on the run from Hamburg to South America in 1914 as modelled here. When the Great War broke out, she was quickly altered to an armed merchant cruiser by adding a couple of 4.1" guns, removing one of her characteristic three funnels and re-painting the upper-works grey and the two remaining funnels black. While re-fuelling at an isolated spot in the Atlantic, she was surprised by the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Carmania armed with old 6" guns and battle was joined at short range. Carmania was hit many times on the upper deck and caught fire being seriously damaged but Cap Trafalgar suffered hits on the waterline and capsized and sank.