THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATEAn account of events before, during and after the action up to the self-destruction of the Admiral Graf Spee

Compiled in the Admiralty from despatches forwarded by Rear-Admiral Harwood and the Captains of H.M. ships Ajax, Achilles and Exeter

ISBN 10: 147454259X / ISBN 13: 9781474542593

Published by Naval & Military Press, 2026

About this Item

2026 N&MP reprint (of original pub 1956). 13pp., with 3 maps On 13 December 1939, the South Atlantic witnessed the Royal Navyâ s first major clash of World War II at the Battle of the River Plate. The German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, commanded by Captain Hans Langsdorff, engaged a British squadron under Commodore Henry Harwoodâ "HMS Exeter, Ajax, and HMNZS Achilles. Having begun commerce raiding in September, Graf Spee was intercepted off the RÃo de la Plata.Exeter was heavily damaged and forced to withdraw; Ajax and Achilles shadowed the crippled German ship until she entered neutral Montevideo. Believing overwhelming British forces lay in wait, Langsdorff scuttled Graf Spee on 17 December and subsequently took his own life.This engagement highlighted the deadly stakes of naval warfare, where hundreds of Royal Navy ships were lost or damaged to enemy action, from U-boats to aircraft and mines, across the globe.

Seller Inventory # 32386

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATEAn account of events before, during and after the action up to the self-destruction of the Admiral Graf Spee
• Publisher: Naval & Military Press
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 147454259X
• ISBN 13: 9781474542593
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New
• Seller catalogs:
  • History
  • Military History

About this title

Synopsis

On 13 December 1939, the South Atlantic witnessed the Royal Navy's first major clash of World War II at the Battle of the River Plate. The German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, commanded by Captain Hans Langsdorff, engaged a British squadron under Commodore Henry Harwood-HMS Exeter, Ajax, and HMNZS Achilles. Having begun commerce raiding in September, Graf Spee was intercepted off the Río de la Plata.

Exeter was heavily damaged and forced to withdraw; Ajax and Achilles shadowed the crippled German ship until she entered neutral Montevideo. Believing overwhelming British forces lay in wait, Langsdorff scuttled Graf Spee on 17 December and subsequently took his own life.

This engagement highlighted the deadly stakes of naval warfare, where hundreds of Royal Navy ships were lost or damaged to enemy action, from U-boats to aircraft and mines, across the globe.