The Battle of the River Plate
Dec 15, 2019 17:35:23 GMT 12
Luther Moore, Naki., and 1 more like this
Post by nuuumannn on Dec 15, 2019 17:35:23 GMT 12
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.
A nice model of the Admiral Graf Spee in the navy museum at Torpedo Bay.
River Plate 08
One of Achilles' turrets noutside the entrance to HMNZS Philomel.
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 considerable 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.
River Plate 20
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.
River Plate 27
Taken from Fortaleza del Cerro, the hilltop fort in the picture of the ship signed by her prisoners, 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
More to come...
A nice model of the Admiral Graf Spee in the navy museum at Torpedo Bay.
River Plate 08 One of Achilles' turrets noutside the entrance to HMNZS Philomel.
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 considerable diplomacy.
River Plate 14A 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 19A framed picture within the Museo Naval in Montevideo, which has excellent displays on the battle and the ship.
River Plate 20A 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.
River Plate 27 Taken from Fortaleza del Cerro, the hilltop fort in the picture of the ship signed by her prisoners, 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 More to come...
