Battle of the River Plate

The battle

At about 06:14 local time (GMT -2) on 13 December the ships sighted each other and closed. Admiral Graf Spee, despite having correctly identified Exeter initially suspected that the two light cruisers were smaller destroyers and that the British ships were protecting a merchant convoy, the destruction of which would be a major prize.

Related Topics:
13 December - Destroyer

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The British executed their battle plan; Exeter turned to the north-west whilst Ajax and Achilles, operating together, turned to the north-east. The Graf Spee opened fire with her six 11-inch (279 mm) guns at 06:18, eventually splitting her turrets between the two targets, as the British had hoped. Exeter opened fire at 06:20, Achilles at 06:21, Exeter's aft guns at 06:22 and Ajax at 06:23.

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At 06:23 an 11-inch (279 mm) shell burst just short of Exeter, abreast the middle of the ship. Splinters from this shell killed the torpedo tubes' crews, damaged the ship's communications, and riddled the funnels and searchlights. One minute later Exeter suffered a direct hit. This shell struck her B-turret, putting it and its two guns out of action. Shrapnel swept the bridge, killing or wounding all bridge personnel except the captain and two others. Wheelhouse communications were wrecked. Communications from the aft conning position were also destroyed, and the ship had to be steered via a chain of messengers for the rest of the battle.

Related Topics:
Shell - Funnels - Searchlights - Aft

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Meanwhile Ajax and Achilles had closed and started making in front of the Graf Spee, causing Admiral Graf Spee to split her main armament at 06:30, and otherwise using her 5.9-inch (150 mm) guns against them.

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At 06:32 Exeter fired two torpedoes from her starboard tubes but both missed. At 06:37 Ajax catapulted her spotter aircraft. At 06:38 Exeter turned so that she could fire her port torpedoes, and received two more direct hits from 11-inch (279 mm) shells. One hit A-turret and put it out of action, the other entered the hull and started fires. At this point Exeter was severely damaged, having only Y-turret in action, a seven degree list, was being flooded and being steered with the use of her small boat's compass.

Related Topics:
Torpedo - Starboard - Catapulted - Aircraft - Port - Compass

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At 06:40 an 11-inch (279 mm) shell burst just short of Achilles, in line with the bridge, damaging her and causing a few casualties, However, gunnery continued from the secondary control position. At about this time Admiral Graf Spee turned to the west under the cover of a smokescreen. The light cruisers were now doing about 31 knots, having worked up to speed from 14 knots initially.

Related Topics:
Smokescreen - Knots

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At 06:56, Ajax and Achilles turned to starboard to bring all their guns to bear, causing at 07:10 Admiral Graf Spee to turn away and lay a smokescreen. At 07:10 the two light cruisers turned to reduce the range from 8 miles (13 km), even though this meant only their forward guns could fire.

Related Topics:
Mile - Km

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At 07:16 Admiral Graf Spee turned to port and headed straight for the heavily damaged Exeter, but fire from Ajax and Achilles forced the Graf Spee at 07:20 to turn and fire her 11-inch (279 mm) guns at them, who turned to starboard to bring all their guns to bear.

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Ajax turned to starboard at 07:24 and fired her torpedoes at a range of 4.5 miles (7 km), causing Admiral Graf Spee to turn away under a smokescreen.

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At 07:25 Ajax was hit by an 11-inch (279 mm) shell that put X-turret out of action and jammed Y-turret, causing some casualties.

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At 07:30 Exeter's remaining turret was put out of action by loss of electrical power caused by flooding. Severely damaged, unable to fire and keep up with the action, Exeter broke off at about 07:40 and steamed slowly towards the Falklands.

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By 07:40, Ajax and Achilles were running low on ammunition and the British decided to change tactics, moving to the east under a smokescreen. Harwood decided to shadow Admiral Graf Spee and try to attack at night when he could attack with torpedoes and better utilise his advantage of speed and manoeuvrability while minimising his deficiencies in armour. Ajax was again hit by an 11-inch (279 mm) shell that destroyed her mast and caused some casualties. Admiral Graf Spee continued on a westward course.

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