80 years ago, on 10 December 1939 was the Battle of the River Plate, resulting in the Kriegsmarine's first capital ship loss of World War Two, the scuttling of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee on the 17th. Whilst in South America a few years ago I went on my own personal "Hunt For the Graf Spee". Here are some pictures.
The Ship - Admiral Graf Spee pre-war.
River Plate 01
Y-turret of HMS Achilles survives outside HMNZS Philomel, Devonport Naval Base, Auckland, New Zealand. The ship did not become HMNZS Achilles until 1941.
River Plate 06
Ship's bell of the cruiser Uruguay. It's a little known fact that the Uruguayan navy sent its most powerful warship out into the battle to enforce its sovereign waters on the evening of 10th December. The plucky little light cruiser Uruguay actually steamed between the Achilles and the Graf Spee at one time, whilst the British ship was firing at the German vessel. A protest was raised, but the Urugauyans were placated through clever diplomacy.
River Plate 14
A memorial to the battle on the Montevideo shore, which took place ten miles off Punta del Este, north of Montevideo. In the faded image, the cruiser Uruguay can be seen steaming ahead of the Achilles firing at the Graf Spee.
River Plate 15
Once the German ship arrived in Montevideo, the subterfuge began. This is Palacio Salvo, designed by Mario Palanti, who designed the identical Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires. On the 14th floor of the tower, British Plenipotentiary to Uruguay, Eugen Millington-Drake pondered the Graf Spee's arrival and set in motion the intelligence war against the Germans that prevented the ship from leaving, although the Uruguayans wanted it out of their waters in 24 hours. <Millington-Drake was also responsible for the rumour that the British had sent capital warships on their way to sink the German ship. It was this that led directly to her captain's decision to scuttle the ship on the 17th. On that day, Millington-Drake watched its final moments from his office window.
River Plate 19
A framed picture within the Museo Naval in Montevideo, which has excellent displays on the battle and the ship. Note the hilltop fort in the background of the picture. This is Fortaleza del Cerro and was a popular spot for the ship's crew to visit.
River Plate 20
Fortaleza del Cerro from the Montevideo port, with the bulk freighter Sofia, built in Hamburg incidentally, standing in for the pocket battleship.
River Plate 21
A crewmember enjoys the view from the top of the hill in front of the fort.
River Plate 24
That same view today.The Sofia is to the right of the gun barrel, roughly where the Graf Spee was.
River Plate 25
A wireless message sent to the Ajax from her Fairey Sea Fox aircraft, announcing the end of the German ship. This is on display in the Royal New Zealand Navy Museum at Devonport, Auckland.
River Plate 27
Taken from the top of Fortaleza del Cerro, eight kilometres in the distance is the last resting place of the Admiral Graf Spee. Contrary to popular belief, it cannot be seen at low tide - it is 65 feet below the surface and the circle of pylons sticking out of the water to the right is not the location of the ship.
River Plate 29
In the intervening years, a few items have been recovered from the ship, including one of its anchors, seen here at the entrance to the port.
River Plate 31
The ship's foretop range finder. Its Seetakt radar housing was also raised, but this had deteriorated. In considerable secrecy, the British removed the Seetakt unit and its mattress aerial not long after the ship had stopped burning.
River Plate 34
One of her 5.9-inch guns sits outside the Museo Naval.
River Plate 37
A light anti-aircraft range finder from her bridge outside the museum.
River Plate 40
The Museo Naval has many artifacts salvaged from the ship and items gifted by her crew, including this cap.
River Plate 49
The most controversial item recovered from the ship is its sternadler, which the navy has locked away in a secret location. On its recovery, a war of words erupted between the Uruguayan and West German government, who laid claim to it. It was recently announced that it is to be auctioned off.
River Plate 54
In Cementario Britannico is this common grave for three of Achilles' crew, whose bodies washed ashore. The British chose to bury their dead at sea, whereas the Germans interred theirs in Montevideo.
River Plate 58
The last resting place of Kapt Hans Langsdorff, who shot himself three days after he ordered the scuttling of his ship, in La Chacarita Cemetery, Buenos Aires.
River Plate 62
Memorial to the ship's crew who lost their lives during the battle.
River Plate 68
For the full set of images, take a look here: Battle of the River Plate
The Ship - Admiral Graf Spee pre-war.
Y-turret of HMS Achilles survives outside HMNZS Philomel, Devonport Naval Base, Auckland, New Zealand. The ship did not become HMNZS Achilles until 1941.
Ship's bell of the cruiser Uruguay. It's a little known fact that the Uruguayan navy sent its most powerful warship out into the battle to enforce its sovereign waters on the evening of 10th December. The plucky little light cruiser Uruguay actually steamed between the Achilles and the Graf Spee at one time, whilst the British ship was firing at the German vessel. A protest was raised, but the Urugauyans were placated through clever diplomacy.
A memorial to the battle on the Montevideo shore, which took place ten miles off Punta del Este, north of Montevideo. In the faded image, the cruiser Uruguay can be seen steaming ahead of the Achilles firing at the Graf Spee.
Once the German ship arrived in Montevideo, the subterfuge began. This is Palacio Salvo, designed by Mario Palanti, who designed the identical Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires. On the 14th floor of the tower, British Plenipotentiary to Uruguay, Eugen Millington-Drake pondered the Graf Spee's arrival and set in motion the intelligence war against the Germans that prevented the ship from leaving, although the Uruguayans wanted it out of their waters in 24 hours. <Millington-Drake was also responsible for the rumour that the British had sent capital warships on their way to sink the German ship. It was this that led directly to her captain's decision to scuttle the ship on the 17th. On that day, Millington-Drake watched its final moments from his office window.
A framed picture within the Museo Naval in Montevideo, which has excellent displays on the battle and the ship. Note the hilltop fort in the background of the picture. This is Fortaleza del Cerro and was a popular spot for the ship's crew to visit.
Fortaleza del Cerro from the Montevideo port, with the bulk freighter Sofia, built in Hamburg incidentally, standing in for the pocket battleship.
A crewmember enjoys the view from the top of the hill in front of the fort.
That same view today.The Sofia is to the right of the gun barrel, roughly where the Graf Spee was.
A wireless message sent to the Ajax from her Fairey Sea Fox aircraft, announcing the end of the German ship. This is on display in the Royal New Zealand Navy Museum at Devonport, Auckland.
Taken from the top of Fortaleza del Cerro, eight kilometres in the distance is the last resting place of the Admiral Graf Spee. Contrary to popular belief, it cannot be seen at low tide - it is 65 feet below the surface and the circle of pylons sticking out of the water to the right is not the location of the ship.
In the intervening years, a few items have been recovered from the ship, including one of its anchors, seen here at the entrance to the port.
The ship's foretop range finder. Its Seetakt radar housing was also raised, but this had deteriorated. In considerable secrecy, the British removed the Seetakt unit and its mattress aerial not long after the ship had stopped burning.
One of her 5.9-inch guns sits outside the Museo Naval.
A light anti-aircraft range finder from her bridge outside the museum.
The Museo Naval has many artifacts salvaged from the ship and items gifted by her crew, including this cap.
The most controversial item recovered from the ship is its sternadler, which the navy has locked away in a secret location. On its recovery, a war of words erupted between the Uruguayan and West German government, who laid claim to it. It was recently announced that it is to be auctioned off.
In Cementario Britannico is this common grave for three of Achilles' crew, whose bodies washed ashore. The British chose to bury their dead at sea, whereas the Germans interred theirs in Montevideo.
The last resting place of Kapt Hans Langsdorff, who shot himself three days after he ordered the scuttling of his ship, in La Chacarita Cemetery, Buenos Aires.
Memorial to the ship's crew who lost their lives during the battle.
For the full set of images, take a look here: Battle of the River Plate
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