The River Plate December 13-17, 1939

Strategic ContextThe Graf Spee cruises the South Atlantic Ocean for two months, raiding British merchant shipping. Hans Langsdorff leads his pocket battleship as far as the Indian Ocean, capturing or sinking 11 British ships. The Royal Navy scours the seas specifically for the Graf Spee so Henry Harwood can hardly turn down a chance to neutralize her with his cruisers.

Stakes+ A German victory would allow the Graf Spee to continue raiding British shipping and draw more warships to destroy her.

+ A British victory would end the Graf Spee’s threat to its shipping and free up warships to hunting other German surface raiders.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

The River Plate, 1939Strength

Kriegsmarine

12,100 tonnes

Well

Royal Navy

22,400 tonnes

Well

Hans Langsdorff

1 heavy cruiser1 pocket battleship

Henry Harwood

2 light cruisers

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

Langsdorff and his pocket battleship are hunting merchant shipping when he spots his own hunters, Harwood’s cruisers, steaming towards him. Langsdorff’s Graf Spee boasts thicker armour and heavier guns with more range but is significantly slower. Harwood on the other hand questions whether any of his cruisers’ guns can sink Graf Spee and therefore must rely on their maneuverability.Kriegsmarine

(Langsdorff)

Royal Navy

(Harwood)

Exeter heads straight for Graf Spee while Ajax and Achilles steam ahead to cross her bow. This maneuver proves nearly fatal for Exeter as Graf Spee fires salvoes before Exeter can even fire her own and even when she does, the exchange is still lop-sided: Exeter is pummeled by the Graf Spee while landing few hits of her own. Meanwhile Ajax and Achilles have yet to engage in combat.

Graf Spree

Ajax ExeterAchilles

Graf Spee continues to smash Exeter until Ajax and Achilles charge Graf Spee to divide her guns. Exeter lands a glancing but direct hit on Graf Spee’s bridge before listing away at low speed with few functional weapons. Graf Spee begins to focus her guns towards Ajax and Achilles which are already firing intently with all guns.

Harwood and Langsdorff exchange vicious salvoes, each landing respectable hits. Harwood realizes his position cannot last; Ajax has lost a turret, his ships seem to be firing “marshmallows” at the heavily armoured pocket battleship and ammunition is running low. Before his ships can make smoke and escape, Graf Spee also turns to retreat. Langsdorff is apparently disoriented after being knocked unconscious momentarily from a blast. Harwood orders his cruisers to cautiously shadow Graf Spee outside her mighty guns’ range. The pursuit ends at the port of Montevideo.

Under international law, the Graf Spee is only permitted to stay in a neutral port for three days which the Uruguayan authorities resolve to enforce. Harwood prefers Graf Spee stay in port until reinforcements can arrive to handle the powerful ship and so British diplomats protest; this way it appears they are anxious for Graf Spee to set sail as if there is an armada waiting for her. British diplomats reinforce this myth by spreading rumours that this armada is already stationed outside the harbour. In reality, only the cruiser Cumberland arrives within the three days.

Cumberland

Langsdorff radios Berlin but only receives the typical order that he not allow his ship to be captured. Langsdorff decides to scuttle Graf Spee which he orders to take place after burying the dead and releasing the prisoners. In a hotel, Langsdorff writes a letter to his family, lays upon the battle ensign of Graf Spee and shoots himself.

Ajax

Royal Navy

(Henry Harwood)

1 heavy cruiser

2 light cruisers

Kriegsmarine

(Hans Langsdorff)

1 pocket battleship

NN

The River Plate, 1939Casualties & Aftermath

Kriegsmarine: Royal Navy:

1 pocket battleship (scuttled)

96 sailors

or

100%

1 heavy cruiser (heavily damaged)

100 sailors

or

33%

By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

The loss of Graf Spee left only two other pocket battleships for surface raiding: the Lützow and Scheer. The South Atlantic became safer for British merchant shipping although a number of German U-boats still operated in the waters.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps

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By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©