History -- Military history -- List of battles -- World War II
The Battle of the River Plate resulted in the eventual sinking of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee by scuttling. British light cruisers Ajax, Exeter and Achillees engaged the battleship close to the estuary of the River Plate. Following intense gunnery action where the battleship had the advantage of longer range guns, whilst the British were able to divide fire, the Graf Spee eventually headed for Montevideo harbour in Uruguay.
Intense negotiations were undertaken, Uruguay being neutral. Rather than either being interned or risking being destroyed in further action Captain Langsdorff of the Graf Spee was given instruction from Hitler to scuttle her in the River Plate estuary.
A film of this title exists and is regularly shown on television
The Battle of The River Plate
US Title: Pursuit of the Graf Spee