Four British warships had encountered Greif , Alcantara and Greif had been sunk .
Wardle was later criticised for manoeuvring too close to the raider , before properly identifying the ship , which out - gunned the Alcantara .
Four British warships had encountered Greif , Alcantara and Greif had been sunk and Wardle was later criticised for manoeuvring too close to the raider , before properly identifying the ship , which out - gunned the Alcantara .