Savo was a "Black" Comedy of errors for the Allies.

The Soc-3 floatplanes (and their fuel) did a good enough job of subduing the Northern forces efforts of fighting back & operating unseen, or at least partially "masked". I believe one of the three Cruisers had 5 aboard? Most had at least 3.
They burned brightly with their fuel stores once hit, and could not be extinguished. Making all three perfect night targets and inhibiting their abilities to aquire targets or to effectively man secondary guns. Cutting the ships in half, so to speak.
The big turrets got in some good salvos (Chokai's chartroom/& a main turret?) before the long lances and gunfire, and searchlights, and fire, and smoke, and losses of power/headway/maneuverability, lists, made it a hopeless effort of "valiant" yet already defeated sailors.
The "mid" position for the launch/carry (for float planes was discontinued), and moved to the stern in future models. Too late for Savo.
Suprise and torpedoes go hand in hand, (especially at night), but usually only if you're the one attacking.

Didn't Graf Spee have tubes on the stern? A better idea?

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