Battle of the River Plate 1939: Minute-by-Minute DOCUMENTARY

The Battle of the River Plate took place in December 1939, and featured the Royal Navy cruisers Exeter, Achilles and Ajax, against the German Panzerschiffe, Graf Spee.
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Sources:
Richard Petrow, The Bitter Years: The invasion and Occupation of
Denmark and Norway April 1940-May 1945 (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1974). - first chapter of the book includes a brief description of the hunt for the Graf Spee
Corelli Barnett, Engage The Enemy More Closely: The Royal Navy in the Second World War (London: Penguin, 1991)
Commodore Harwood's own account of the battle, made available here: naval-history.net/WW2LGGrafSpe...
Graf Spee's voyage described here: www.deutschland-class.dk/admi...
Video clips from World of Warships gameplay and the Battle of the River Plate film, 1958
Music:
“Crypto" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
“Division" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
“Crossing the Chasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Sound Effects:
Gunshots and so on are recordings from World of Warships, where the gameplay footage of the ships hails from.

[@historigraph]

*NOTES + CORRECTIONS FOR THE VIDEO PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING* 1. I misspelled Panzerschiffe at the start; alas its only now been spotted after it has gone live. It's a typo, as I had spelt it correctly in the script! Apologies. 2. HMS Exeter is represented during this video by a Crown-Colony class cruiser, as that is what both the River Plate film from the 50s and World of Warships had available. Exeter was actually a York-class heavy cruiser, but I needed to find some way of distinguishing her visually from the Leander class light cruisers. 3. The battle scene is not strictly to scale 4. I listed Achiilles as 'HMNZS' to reflect her status as a ship crewed by New Zealand sailors. I'm aware there is some debate over whether this is strictly correct as the Royal Navy wasn't founded until 1941, so strictly she still would have been just 'HMS'. However, listing her as HMS would have somewhat erased the contribution of the New Zealanders, so I decided to visually distinguish her from the two other ships. 5. Yes, I misspelled Cruiser

[@historigraph]

Ah yes you're correct on HMS Exeter's class- will correct.

[@SergeantC2]

You misspelled "cruiser" twice in a few seconds.

[@historigraph]

Ah yes, so I did. Typos

[@Kbrusky15]

First video I've seen of yours, you've got a faithful subscriber now. :)

[@timonsolus]

Try ‘Atlantic Fleet’ app. Turn based combat, but a far more accurate representation of WW2 naval combat than World of Warships. Graphics aren’t everything. Graf Spee took far more damage than necessary because Langsdorff ventured too close to the British squadron early in the fight. He should have kept the British light cruisers out of effective 6” gun range for as long as possible. Secondly Graf Spee should have kept her 11” main armament concentrated on Exeter until all 3 of Exeter’s turrets were out of action, since Exeter’s 8” guns were the most dangerous threat. This would leave Graf Spee with 4 secondary 5.9” guns to keep the light cruisers honest. But Langsdorff allowed himself to be rattled by the 6” salvos from the 2 light cruisers, even though they weren’t doing much damage early in the battle, and divided the fire of his 2 main turrets before Exeter had been put out of action. Worse still, he kept switching targets for his main turrets between the various British ships to try and frighten them off, which greatly hindered Graf Spee’s sustained accuracy, and therefore limiting her damage potential. Gun accuracy in 1939 depended on selecting one target, finding the exact range through ranging salvos, and then sticking with that target until it was knocked out. Had Graf Spee kept concentrated 11” fire on Exeter until all her main armament was silenced, Exeter could then have been safely ignored, and the two 11” turrets could have been trained on one light cruiser each for the rest of the battle. Exeter would almost certainly have been sunk that way, and more damage done to both light cruisers.

[@L1V2P9]

The town of Ajax, Ontario (population 119,000) was built around the defense industry during the early part of WWII. As the town grew, it commenced naming its streets after the officers and men who participated in the Battle of the River Plate. Its main street is Harwood Avenue. Breaking with the tradition of using the names of only allied sailors, the Town decided to name a street after Captain Langsdorff. In October 2007 Inge Nedden, Langsdorf's daughter attended a ceremony naming a new street Langsdorff Drive. Inge spoke of her desire to have peace in the world. Captain Langsdorff always delivered the crews of merchant ships he sunk to coastal towns.

[@joelbrittain6379]

Message from Ajax, Ontario, Canada (where I live): Unfortunately, they are about to rename Langsdorff Road to something else because 1) He was a Nazi and 2) people don't bother to read about the fact that he wasn't a Nazi.

[@martinjohnson9316]

@@joelbrittain6379 It seems that Capt Langsdorff was a man of honour in battle, so thats unfortunate that his name is being extinguished. Martin (UK)

[@AppleRick]

Salute to Langsdorff for captaining the ship that I liked the most

[@ramseybarber8312]

@@AppleRick But the ship didn't last long did it.

[@ramseybarber8312]

Randall M I think you will find that did not happen in your last paragraph, The prisoners were put onto the Almark as he did not want to give his position away by landing the prisoners, When the Altmark was intercepted by the Royal Navy off Norway she had 200 Plus prisoners on board, HMS Cossack went and Boarded the Altmark despite Norway objecting who were told to keep away, The Chief Petty Officer in charge of the boarding called down into the hold where the prisoners were [ ARE THERE ANY ENGLISHMEN DOWN THERE and 200 plus voices shouted YES, the CPO called [ these immortal words ] COME UP THEN THE NAVY'S HERE]

[@robevans9300]

40-odd years ago, my favourite teacher at school was a lovely chap called Mr Maggs. He served as an engineer on Exeter, and told us many stories about the battle. Not only that, he took a load of photographs pre and post. So. On any given day when we 12-yr-olds were bored with maths (he was an excellent teacher but y’know, maths), we’d only have to drop in a Graf Spee mention and we’d be off to the dark room to develop photos and soak up the history! At the time we saw it as a great way to skive off maths lessons, but this was the match that ignited my love of history, so swings and roundabouts. An excellent human being, it was a privilege to be taught by him.

[@otocan]

I envy my parents generations who had the opportunity so often to converse with real life heroes.

[@-V-K-]

Our once next door neighbour was on the Ajax at that event.

[@hionmaiden663]

I had a great teacher too, my late father, also an Ex matlot who was on an aircraft carrier in WW2. When in my mid teens one of the youth clubs I used to frequent was called the Polish Club, so called because it was run by four Ex Polish WW2 vets; two were navy; one army and one RAF. The army chap was in the Polish Brigade he was at Monte Cassino and Arnhem, the navy were on destroyers one was at the Battle of North Cape and the RAF chap was 303 Squadron.

[@trevorgibbs1297]

Alexander Challis Non. U.K.:? D/;

[@AristocrateOlly]

Wow that must of been great! Could you tell a story?

[@thingme9941]

The last serving New Zealand serviceman still serving some 37 years later in the RNZN, having served at the Battle of The River Plate, was Lt Freddy Connew. He lost a brother-in law during this battle whose tombstone lies in South America.

[@Thomas_Name]

Are you nigker? Nobody with a psychological disability cares about any of that nonsense.

[@afreeman63]

I am British and I live in Argentina. My best friend's father served on Graf Spee and I have visited Captain Langsdorf's grave in Chacarita, when there is an anniversiary of the battle both British and German diplomats pay their respects. Capain Langsdorf, by all accounts, always tried to rescue the crews of the ships he sank.

[@mattosullivan9687]

Everything I have seen says he has a calss act

[@afreeman63]

@@johnzenkin1344 No he didn{t do some research. You will find that Captain Langsdorf went to great pains to rescue crews of enemy ships. Where do you get your numbers hunreds of ships LOL thousands of crew members LOL...

[@robertwilcock7112]

Quite a few decades ago, a very good friend of mine was the chief engineer on the Exeter at the Battle of the River Plate. Without orders he flooded the side of the ship to stop it capsizing following the battle. He got an award at Buckingham Palace for saving the ship. The quietest person one could ever meet.

[@peace-now]

Interesting. The sailors on the Exeter had a hard time. Actually, the ship did sink. My next door neighbour was on Exeter when she sunk. The enemy Captain rescued the crew.

[@dr.aculasdad2713]

Between 2000 & 2004, I worked in Browns Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. An old Gentleman, wearing a "River Plate Association" cap came into the shop. I went to him, and asked, " Were you present at the River Plate battle?" He replied, " I was up in the Fire Direction post on HMS Achilles -- which is why I wear two hearing-aids". A fabulous chance-meeting, with someone who was such a witness to History in the making ..............

[@Argie87]

I’m from Buenos Aires, I work just few blocks away from the German Cementary, visited Langsdorff tomb a couple of times, curious fact, It’s next to the British cementary.

[@brianbelton3605]

That is fascinating info. I would love to visit these historic places. It is amazing that after the cold war started, we all became friends. And now, sadly, the USA is turning socialist It starts with education, or de-education, and maybe they'll win after all.. . . .

[@stevemolloy1289]

He was an admirable man . I'm from New Zealand ,and if you could pay your respects to him for me ,Id be grateful.

[@OverkillGamingPC]

@@brianbelton3605 USA turning socialist? What planet are you living on? The democrats are a center-right party by european standards.

[@timjones2329]

@@brianbelton3605 the USA becomes more right-wing year after year? Corporations headed by lunatics (eg Elon musk) have more power than ever, you elected an openly racist and sexist president who then proceeded to undermine your entire democracy in an effort to stay in power for longer. No I don't think there is any risk of the USA becoming left wing at all, let alone socialist, you're all far too self centred, individualistic and downright deluded by the nationalist and corporatist propoganda shoved down your throats. Seriously what developed nation forces its youth to sing the national anthem at school every day? Is it 1930s Germany?

[@gustorena7609]

I’m from Uruguay and my grand father was a marine at that time,most of the German crew that passed where laid to rest in cementerio del Norte , Montevideo Uruguay

[@VexillologyHub]

“After being supplied by the naval auxiliary ship, Altmark” HEY I KNOW THAT GUY!

[@roylandmaines299]

Vexillology Hub lmao I thought the same thing

[@williamadiputra2850]

Historigraph shared universe

[@williamadiputra2850]

The most ambitious crossover ever

[@alexshi1679]

Graf Spee is where Altmark got those POWs

[@BetoNetwork]

loool

[@kennye4950]

My friend served on the HMS Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate He told me some amazing stories of the bravery of his shipmates and himself He passed away ten years ago Go rest his soul and all his ship mates who sailed on the 3 allied cruisers at Battle of the River Plate

[@manic65cvn]

When I was young and first started drinking at a bar I met a man who served on the Achilles during this battle. It was really interesting to hear his stories. God bless them all.

[@benwilson6145]

HMS Ajax sailed from Malta in early 1946 escorting the liner Highland Monarch to Montevideo to pick up over 600 Germans that had been interned from the Graph Spee and the Tacoma. They went to Freetown, Lisbon and finally to Hamburg.

[@mariacornwallis1602]

It is called "HMS AJAX" not "The HMS AJAX"

[@lobotomyE.G.O.RegretFaust]

Admiral Graf spee sailors exists...

[@robertdarby1039]

@@mariacornwallis1602 I'm glad you cleared up that point. It was troubling us all.

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

Fun facts: 1 - Kapt. Langsdorff was knocked out cold for some time during the battle with the British forces. He later recovered and, after the battle, called all his senior officers in order to discuss what they should do next. 2 - Kapt. Langsdorff's was the first in his family to have a career in the sea. Everyone in his family was either a lawyer or a priest. He too was about to go to the seminary when he had a conversation with (get this) Admiral Spee (the real one) who inspired him to become a sailor. Also note, Spee died on a sea battle that took place near the Falkland Islands (which is also near to Montevideo). History is weird isn't it? 3 - Eugen Millington-Drake is a direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake. He wanted to make a name for himself but didn't like that he was assigned as a diplomat in far-flung Uruguay. His ancestor must have heard his prayers because of all the diplomats that would be present on Uruguay when the Graf Spee sailed into Montevideo, it would be him.

[@platbear9103]

DeadTroperSociety thicc

[@BillyDrakePianoMan]

There aren’t any direct descendants of Sir Francis Drake. He didn’t have any children. My name is William Drake IV, and my Drake family has a extensive and detailed book that my great great grandpa made about our family history that goes all the way back to 1360. Interesting fact, when Sir Francis, who, to my knowledge, was at most a distant relative of the main Drake family, decided to take the Drake coat of arms, which really pissed off Sir Barnard Drake (who I am a direct descendant of), the head of the Devonshire Drakes. It pissed him off so much that he actually boxed Francis’s ears. It’s likely that I’m a very very very very distant relative of Sir Francis, but I, like everyone else in the world, am not a direct descendant.

[@leondillon8723]

#3)I read somewhere that with a last name like his, an ancestor was adopted. An adoptee keeps their last name and the name of the adopting family is added on. So he might not be related to the pirate!!

[@oceanhome2023]

Alexander Challis I would imagine there was a sizable German community there with most coming after WW1 . There are some other areas too where German communities grew . One that I have seen myself is in the very south of Chile in the Patagonia they seemed happy in their new home there was 2 diaspora from Germany after the WW1 and after WW2. Also a very large German community in Valparaiso Chile . Those are the ones that I have seen, there are many more

[@lescobrandon3047]

Langsdorff, if I remember correctly killed himself under the naval ensign instead of the Nazi flag.

[@GrumblingGrognard]

This VASTLY under plays Adm. Harwood's personal contribution to this action. His force was not by any means over-powering for the Graf Spee. It was his attention to detail and commitment to his duty that made it possible. While the Graf Spee was literally on the other side of the planet; when he was under no orders to "be on extra alert" or anything of the sort (quite the contrary actually); he, on his on initiative calculated that the Graf Spee could have just enough fuel to reach his area of operations and that the move to the coast of South America would be exactly what a raider might want to do after a trip into the Indian Ocean to throw his pursuers off... and while a long shot...he started training his 3 ship force just in case. Sure enough on the EXACT morning when he anticipated the German ship it was spotted and his men executed his plan perfectly. Simply a great commanding officer doing EXACTLY what he was supposed to do yet would have been missed by nearly all others in the same situation.

[@daveroberts6884]

A battle won by a good plan and raining, who would have thought that? Harwood served his country well!

[@stevenpilling5318]

He became Rear Admiral Sir Henry Harwood KB in short order!

[@Peoples_Republic_of_Devonshire]

Harwood was one of the best in the business

[@timonsolus]

Harwood had been deployed in the South Atlantic for a long time, he knew the shipping routes very well and had friendly local contacts in both Brazil and Argentina keeping an eye on the South Atlantic ports for him.

[@CaesarInVa]

An officer of Adm. Harwood's calibre and capacity couldn't be found in today's US Navy today (I know, Harwood was RN). Today's USN task force commanders are more focused in "sensitivity training", female empowerment and diversity awareness than actual readiness training, to the extent that their ships are nothing more than cannon fodder to today's adversaries. Hell, today's skippers can't even navigate waters like the Malacca Strait without colliding with other ships. Sad.

[@daveg.howell9892]

In 1972 my Coxswain in the 44'MLB, CCG106 was John Tubb. At age 18 John was an LS/Gunner on HMS Ajax off the River Plate. His first-hand accounts of the action were fascinating. John was a great seaman, and one you could cross the bar with, which we did many times in some very nasty weather. RIP John. Missed but not forgotten.

[@shkeni]

One of the anchors from the Ajax is still displayed in Punta del Este, Uruguay, I remember seeing it a million times. There's also plenty of material from the Graf Spee in Montevideo (as it didn't sink as far as Langsdorff had hoped and key components were pretty salvageable for a while before it went into the mud of the Plate). One of its 150mm guns is still mounted by the shore. Good video!

[@ivanlussich8146]

I am Uruguayan and after WW II the former British ambassador sir Eugen Millington-Drake visited us many times. One of my aunts was close friend to him and his family so I met sir Eugen. He didn't talk much of the battle but kept a relationship with both British and German battle veterans.

[@e30325ikiller]

he killed langsdorf

[@KEB129]

I have read that Langsdorff did everything he could to save the lives of the men from all the ships he was ordered to sink. Not even a single one died from his attacks on the merchant ships!

[@Moncho1234]

When I was a child I was told the story of this battle by local people in Maldonado, Uruguay. They assured me that the blast of the cannon was perfectly heard from the coast, and could even be seen as lightning over the horizon.

[@mariobonilla4960]

Yes, that is right. It was heard from San Carlos.

[@StevioGaming1]

Keep these videos coming, they're very well made

[@johnutting9615]

My uncle served in Achillies x turret during this scrap and managed to recover a lump of Graf Spees 11in shell which is with me, unfortunetly he was killed when the Moa was sunk at Guadacanal . RIP Moa crew who did not come home.

[@Transistor78]

My great uncle served on the HMNZS Achilles as a stoker, fought in the battle of the river plate, as a young fella i heard stories but just couldn't understand what it was that my uncle and his good fellows were really talking about, they would talk for hours n hours until i was bored of playing with hand made battle ships, now i understand and how i treasure those memories.

[@josephbryanmitchell5938]

my father Joseph Mitchell Royal Marine was on the Exeter at this battle

[@nomadnametab]

i do hope he was not still assigned to her by the time of java sea.

[@josephbryanmitchell5938]

late reply, sorry, no he had left the Exeter and was on the Dido by that time

[@ethanvance220]

Dude I’ve watched every single video you’ve made, and I’ve loved every one. Please please keep making more cause you’re amazing at making them.

[@doomgu544]

I love these videos so much, I get so excited whenever I see one in my subscription box. Please keep them coming

[@historigraph]

awesome, thats a lovely thing to hear!

[@michaelthompson342]

Great presentation! Love the footage from the film which is up there with the best!

[@pedroleuenberger4270]

I’m argentinian and in the la plata River there is a island wich a naval base for the argentinian navy, after the battle, due to argentina feeling towards the third reich, a lot of German crew of the Graf Spee join the argentinan navy and married argentinan woman and moved to the continent, one of them was the father of my grandfather and hi still save his Iron cross and passed to me his luger

[@vivekt.2038]

What's the name of yo grandfather ?

[@ricardocorbachoarges6046]

how old was the father of your grandfather in 1939? How old are you now?

[@pedroleuenberger4270]

Vivek T. The crewmen was heinrich ausmueller

[@pedroleuenberger4270]

Ricardo Corbacho Arges my grandfather was born in 1950 but his grandfather (the crewmen) I dont know his age at the time

[@martinmendl1399]

They escaped to Argentine before it was cool

[@Gabriel-Kazu]

This was absolutely amazing! I love the incorporation of the movie clips. Very well done. One of my all time favorite monumental ships of the war. Please keep these coming. Youve earned yourself a subscriber and a donation good sir.

[@shadow_wolf6629]

Well done Addaway, keep the videos coming!

[@martinsiala1691]

Very intresting video, good use of a favorite movie, thank you for remebering new zealanders were battling along side the royal navy too. When HMS Exeter and HMS Ajax went back to england to receive their cheers and job well done. New Zealanders welcome back our HMNZS Achilles with just as much pride and respect. Lest we Forget!

[@TheAmir259]

Sadly though, HMS Exeter would go on to be sunk by the Japanese cruisers in the Battle of the Java Sea

[@keithwatson1384]

Technically she was still RN so not HMNZS but yes, thank you so much, without the commonwealth we wouldn't be where we are today, I just wish we still had our close relationship, let's hope we fix that after brexit!

[@todd.sherley]

@@keithwatson1384 still being run by New Zealand sailors. So was a New Zealand ship even though the name hasn't technically been changed yet

[@keithwatson1384]

@@todd.sherley yes your right, still HMS though!

[@brianduff5361]

@@keithwatson1384 Kiwi crew , Kiwi ship. Its not the Steel that matters but the Heartbeat..

[@MTG776]

Wow! Great video... I was enthralled.

[@eltlaw]

The Royal New Zealand Navy came into existence in October 1941 - So she was HMS Achilles for this battle.

[@j.chiari4222]

Very good video. Congratulations, GREAT channel, love it.

[@litestuf]

Fabulous video. Well documented and easy to understand. Thanks

[@haroldgodwinson832]

Very good summary of the Battle. Thanks.

[@kieranjam2]

Great video, loved your innovative use of different media types sourced from film, video games and original map annotation! Looking forward to your next one :)

[@historigraph]

thank you very much !

[@canopus101]

When I was young (I'm 58 years old) I was always puzzled that Langsdorff scuttled his ship when he had enough fuel, functioning engines and all armament intact. The galley was wrecked but British sailors would have eaten cold bully beef for the journey home and it is certain that German sailors would have done the same. The reason, which I don't think was known, or not publicised at the time, was that Graff Spee's onboard refinery was damaged and could not be repaired in that particular port. Graff Spee was unusual at the time for being powered by diesel engines instead of steam turbines. The ship converted heavy oil to diesel using a refinery. Then pocket battleship only had a day tank of prepared diesel ready. As soon as this was consumed it did not matter what the bunker level of heavy oil was. in the absence of the possibility of refining more diesel the Grff Spee was a sitting duck.

[@chrisvickers7928]

The Graf Spee had also used 2/3 of the shells for her 11 in guns. The Cumberland had 8 8in guns and was more powerful than the Exeter with her 6 8in guns. Low on ammunition and almost out of fuel Langsdorf saved his crew from a pointless death.

[@williampaz2092]

I did not know about this refinery. Thank you.

[@caelestigladii]

william paz it was mentiond in the video. Refer to 8:05.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The diesels were also badly in need of a yard overhaul as well. Between his troubled diesels, and battle damage, he was really trapped no matter what. He was a humane man and did not take or loose life lightly. His death, the finale tragedy of the battle.

[@hionmaiden663]

What is not mentioned in this presentation, is Force G consisted of four cruisers, the three mentioned but also HMS Cumberland. Cumberland was a County Class Heavy Cruiser who Comdr Harwood had dispatched to the Falklands while searching for the GS. Cumberland rejoins Force G; it is battle ready but more importantly undamaged, with the propaganda war in full swing with the RN and French tightening the noose, and reports of HMS Renown; a 15" guned battlecruiser close by. Langsdorff has two choices save his crew or send them on a suicide run.

[@gatorgityergranny]

great production. congrats and thanks.

[@DBLDoG]

Excellent video, well done !

[@rodigoduterte9192]

Sometime learning history never fail

[@MatHelm]

While I believe this version to be accurate, there is always two sides to every story...

[@johnd2058]

OMG EL PRESIDENTE GRANDE *TROLLING INTENSIFIES MOAR*

[@xsupremeyx9923]

@@MatHelm Actually, it was a alot more loss to British. Exeter was such badly damage, So many people would have died in Exeter... Few Gunmen in Ajax would have died, plus countless other Merchants were sunk, Plus Germany only Lost Graf Spee but not its crew, Keeping that suicide aside..... But yeah, in short they destroyed graf spee by diplomatically

[@Nick-ne4ln]

@Supreme Gamer even if the British lost all ships in the battle, if graf spee was scuttled it would be a victory. The British could afford to take loses in terms of ships, but when the Germans lost the graf spee it was a substantial blow to their navy.

[@shanemcdowall]

In December 1939 Achilles was still HMS. In October 1941 the Royal New Zealand Navy became a separate force from the Royal Navy. One of her turrets is on display at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland, NZ.

[@davidtaylor351]

You are absolutely correct. However in reality, it was really just a technical matter. Since prior to October 1941, NZ Naval ships operated as the NZ Division of the Royal Navy. The nucleus of which was based around 2 light Cruisers. Which in the late 1930s, were Achillies and Leander. They were the lead ships of the NZ Division RN. Which in effect was the NZ Navy. In peacetime the Division came under NZ control. And was based in NZ. In wartime it came under British Admiralty control. Exactly the same arrangement applied to the Australian and Canadian Navies. These agreements were decided at the Imperial Defence Conferences held in London, between the UK and Commonwealth Countries. Anyway by October 1941 the NZ Division had been expanded - and that process was on going. So the name was changed to the Royal New Zealand Navy. And the ships became HMNZS. Which simply recognised the reality. So many now prior date the change. And refer to the ship as HMNZS Achillies. As in 1939. It was part of, what was in all but name, the NZ Navy. And had been since 1936. By the way Wikipedia refers to the ship as being loaned to NZ in 1936. That is not correct. As stated these policies were agreed to at the Imperial Defence Conferences. NZ took responsibility, financially and otherwise for maintaining and supporting these NZ Division ships. And as part of the agreement. Also paid an annual sum towards the upkeep of the Singapore Naval Base. As well as maintaining its own Naval Base at Devonport Auckland. Cheers.

[@shanemcdowall]

@@davidtaylor351 Agree with everything you wrote.

[@rickmorgan3930]

Good job and thanks for the video!!

[@JJ-cf7nb]

Fantastic video! Nice work!

[@666LUFC]

My Uncle Francis was killed on the Exeter and I still have his original white uniform.

[@user-yn1bd4yf3h]

Anthony Mcdonnell make sure to keep that uniform in good condition and don't let it go anywhere

[@666LUFC]

@@user-yn1bd4yf3h Will do it's our only family heirloom.

[@brianrichard8310]

My thanks and sympathy from Canada.

[@666LUFC]

@@brianrichard8310 Very kind of you. Thanks from Leeds UK.

[@brianrichard8310]

@@666LUFC my Maternal Grandfather was from Reading.

[@Deevo037]

I don't know if this happened in reality but in the movie Captain Bell of the Exeter had one of the most British lines of all times. When the ship was damaged and forced to retire from the battle Bell signaled Commodore Harwood with the message "Request permission to submit revised list of spare part requirements."

[@andrewstackpool4911]

It is fact. Hooky bell was one of those type of fighting British captains, like CAPT Vian

[@lefrenchaudir188]

York class feels like a ship made from left over parts from county class and scraped cannons

[@Deevo037]

@@lefrenchaudir188 Despite that they were a capable cruiser.

[@lefrenchaudir188]

@@Deevo037 yeah a good koln hunter

[@rossbrown6641]

He meant 'spare ribs'!

[@Fritztoons]

Very good documentation. Thank you for that!

[@orangelion03]

Well done presentation!

[@roybennett6330]

These presentations are a work of historical art

[@puirYorick]

The old 50s film is quite worth watching and is a pretty fair account of events if one reads all the disclaimers about necessary changes they made. Langsdorf is portrayed as a patriot who never regarded himself a Nazi.

[@dylanwight5764]

This is a theme quite common among the sea commanders of the Kriegsmarine. Much of it stems from their being raised mainly by old aristocratic families who did not politically support the Nazi Party. Raeder & Donitz were neither fully fledged supporters of the Party, and the main reason why Donitz was named Hitler's successor was because of his general lack of interest in politics.

[@wino0000006]

Best part - KM Admiral Graf Spee is represented by Des Moines class cruiser.

[@ArenBerberian]

Thee film is unique as hell in the sense that noting like it will ever be made again. They used actual WW2 ships (some of which where at the real battle) to film it. considering running WW2 ships don’t exist anymore you will never get a film like this ever again.

[@MEIJIN44]

@mPky1 my understanding is that all of Germany was at war. No matter how fucked up one part of the military is if you want to survive a war and come out better than you left you have to fight no matter if you agree or disagree. How many Americans agree with all the wars we fought in? I bet far fewer than you think. A soldier is a soldier fighting for ones country doesn't mean you are immune from shitty deal made by the higher ups or politicians. Remember behind every enemy line is a human who wants not to die just as much as you do. Some aren't even given the option to quit and have to make the best of it. I do not hate all the Nazis or the Germans because we all know that shit happens and agreeing or disagreeing with politics does not get you a free pass of the field of battle.

[@chuckkline2970]

MEIJIN44: Well said.

[@megapangolin1093]

Excellent video, very clear, well narrated, facts, facts, facts. What could be better. Thank you and well done.

[@johnhunter2058]

Excellent commentary. Somewhere in my souvenirs I have a thread from the battle ensign of Achilles flown at that affair (which was a bit before my time, though).

[@mauricehodgson3143]

My first job after school worked with ex navy guy. Battle of River Plate he was in the rear turret of the AJAX. During the battle he went out to get sandwiches for the crew, but when he returned the turret had taken a direct hit and crew killed.

[@brianallen858]

I like your channel, my great grandfather was killed at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles onboard the HMS Louvain in January 1918, it was formerly known as the SS Dresden, Rudolph Diesel was assassinated on board this ship before the outbreak of world war 1, by the German intelligence service. Michael Golden leading seaman Wexford town, Ireland.

[@dunstrugglin]

Interesting Never heard this ,what was the reason?

[@neilwilson5785]

Love these videos. They are great if you already know the strategic picture, but want to know more about the tactics at the local level.

[@_andyemcee_]

This channel is fantastic!

[@cubaj8723]

Thanks, awesome vid man this is really cool to me because the town I live in is actually named after The Ajax and it's really cool to be able to connect to my towns history

[@gangleweed]

Not anything to do with shipping but I have a milling machine named AJAX.

[@christianperspective9527]

My hometown is Ajax Ontario, it was a shell factory during WWII. Main street Harwood Ave, also Exeter St and Achilles Ave are prominent. Also Clement st.

[@3vimages471]

Thank you Ajax, Ont.

[@ProWhitaker]

Very Good, Thanks for the video.

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

Great Video !

[@000lyndon]

Nice to have a human narrator too.

[@johngardiner6800]

My late father was aboard HMS AJAX in that Battle and many more subsequently. He was and remains my hero. (HHJ Gardiner)

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Respect to his memory and service.

[@Thereishope664]

And my late father would have been pushing the ship along as he was a chief stoker on the Ajax. I wish I could have spoke to him about the battle, sadly he was killed in a road traffic accident when I was a small boy in 1968. Respect for the these brave servicemen HHJ Gardiner & Thomas Frank Greenhalf.

[@Kwijiboz]

Excellent work

[@BastiTheBroda]

i love your videos bro!

[@rossnapier4552]

My grand farther served on the Exeter I knew that the ship was damaged and was later sunk but not what the battle was like thank you for making this video

[@xylomeat9913]

Exeter was sunk by the Japanese on March 1, 1942, in the Java Sea

[@rossnapier4552]

xylomeat I was told by my grand farther it was scraped well he was 90 so he could have just been mixed up with 1 of the ships he served on in the Atlantic convoy's

[@xylomeat9913]

No biggie. All fine ships crewed by brave and tough men, of which your grandfather was one . Was your grandfather at the River Platte battle?

[@rossnapier4552]

xylomeat he was at the battle

[@xylomeat9913]

Wow! And then he served in the Arctic convoys, where the weather was almost as deadly as the Germans? Positively an ancestor to be proud of.

[@sethicus3486]

nice editing

[@historigraph]

thank you!

[@Kai_Peters]

Another one of those channels, nice! You got my sub.

[@jamesharrison1536]

Love your work

[@MarsFKA]

4:13 Sometimes it paid to be a warship captain. In the battle of Denmark Strait, when the Hood was lost, one of Bismarck's 15-inch shells scored a direct hit on Prince Of Wales' bridge. The shell didn't explode as it passed in one side of the bridge and out the other, but, on the way through, it hit the compass binnacle. The spray of fragments killed everyone on the bridge except Captain Leach.

[@ronclark9724]

The actor who played the captain of HMS Prince of Wales in the film Sink the Bismarck lost any eye when one of the shells hit her. Because of his injury he was not on her when the Japanese sunk the ship...

[@brianmassey772]

Ron Clark e

[@dulls8475]

@@ronclark9724 Esmond Knight.

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

@@dulls8475 And Knight was a regular in the Powell & Pressburger movies too, so there's a River Plate movie link. :)

[@dulls8475]

@@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures What a great man he was when you read his life story. Todays actors seem a shallow lot with not much depth to life. Did you know Basil Rathbone was an MC winner in the first world war.

[@SteveJones-gz4vd]

I sailed out of the river plate a few times with work, you still see the antenas of the German vessles there , impressive

[@michaeleasterwood6558]

Very nicely told

[@nicholasrancourt4540]

Good video, waiting for more!

[@1ytcommenter]

60+ hits and still afloat. Wonderful ship.

[@historigraph]

Also true of HMS Exeter, who managed to stay afloat all the way to the Falklands despite crippling damage

[@michaelshore2300]

Yea great ship hit by 8" and 6" shells, Exeter hit by 11" Shells still afloat rubbish ship though.

[@alangrant5278]

My fathers best mate was on the HMNZS Archilles in the battle of the river plate. Not forgotten

[@dulls8475]

HMS Achilles at the time of the River Plate..

[@johntasker9588]

@@dulls8475 At the time, the NZ division of the Royal Navy, Crewed mainly by NZ's the RNZN was Inaugurated 1/10/41

[@dulls8475]

@@johntasker9588 River plate was dec 1939. What was nice was the English Captain received a request from the New Zealanders on board to fly the New Zealand Battle ensign, which he then did. From a time when rubbishing the UK was unheard of and is now the modern attitude. I dont blame you as going into the Eu was a crappy thing for us to do.

[@johntasker9588]

@@dulls8475 My Father was an officer aboard the Achillies, I'm privy to a great deal of info not commonly known about the battle.

[@dulls8475]

@@johntasker9588 Feel free to correct me.

[@WealthyJester98]

I love your videos, keep it up.

[@milrevko]

Excellent work Good job

[@patriciofaust4101]

80 years ago around this time, the Graf Spee had almost been spotted by the British ships somewhere here on the Uruguayan coast

[@zip_zipreviews154]

Another interesting footnote would have been that Langsdorff despite the unrestricted warfare practiced by german subs, himself he tried to preserve the lives of as many of the merchant crews as he could. Giving the merchants a chance to surrender first and taking prisoners which he later transferred to the supply ship. Perhaps only to save ammunition but the merchant crews reported they were very well treated iirc

[@benwilson6145]

Not Merchants! Merchant Navy Sailors!

[@lostdrathen4254]

Nice video like always 👍

[@peregrinemccauley7819]

Thanks for the quality doco' .

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

There are various other videos about the Battle. One by The Chieftain is very good. The critical hit that doomed the Graf Spee was fired by Exeter. One of the 8 inch shells wiped out the diesel purification plant. The Graf Spee used diesel oil, but the raw oil had to be purified before use otherwise it would clog the fuel lines. Raw diesel had plenty of impurities including rust, sea water and other contaminants which had to be filtered out. Pure diesel was then stored in special tanks ready for use. As soon as the plant was hit. Langsdorff was told and they worked out how far the ship could go on the pure oil. Trouble was that with all the maneuvering at high speed, they had burnt a sizable quantity of it. They worked out that they could reach Montevideo, but were not sure they could get to Buenos Aires if they were stuck in the shallows of the Plate. Remember they were being pursued and that meant they had to maintain high speed, or be caught out when they slowed to negotiate the channel. Langsdorff opted to go to Montevideo and when he was told that they could not repair the purification plant, the only option was to go to fight, go to Buenos Aires or sink the ship. They were short on ammo and they didn't know how many ships were waiting for them. If they were boarded, this would increase the enemy's strength. Likewise they could not be sure to reach BA as the channel is shallow and not easily navigated at high speed. The last option seemed the best, but they had to ensure that the ship could not be re-floated if scuttled, so they sent charges to blow the remaining ammo and tear the hull apart. Good video. Like the use of the excerpts from the film. Still one of the better WW2 pictures as it was realistic and had the actual participants, except Exeter of course. The parallel to the Original Battle of the Falkland Islands is well known. In both cases, the German Commanders knew that they were doomed. The saddest part of the first battle is that Admiral Graf Spee's sons were also amongst the dead.

[@benwilson6145]

The Altmark did not carry diesel, it had a full cargo of Texas Crude loaded at Port Arthur.

[@benwilson6145]

@@WOTArtyNoobs Not sure what your answer means? The Graf Spee was a motorship and used diesel fuel, it used most of what it had in the 3 and a half months at sea, it refueled from the Altmark twice. Not sure what boilers you mean?

[@benwilson6145]

@@WOTArtyNoobsThe Altmark loaded a full cargo of Texas crude. If the Graf Spee did not use this oil , Texas crude is light, then where did the Graph Spee get its diesel from? There is no way that the Graph Spee carried enough diesel for three and a half months operation. Was the Altmark just have a jolly sail around the South Atlantic?

[@benwilson6145]

@@WOTArtyNoobs Can you tell me of any other "Merchant Vessel/Tanker" with the capacity to carry 400 prisoners? Altmark was a Kriegsmarine vessel. A standard tanker may have held 20 men in the forecastle.

[@asheer9114]

You known... this story is perhaps one of the history's biggest trolling because at December 8 1914 happen the battle of Falklands where Admiral Maximilian von Spee lost his life... and 25 years later a ship which bears his name was sunk in the same month practically in same area he fought with the Royal Navy... o_O

[@ronclark9724]

But Admiral von Speed had a large victory at the battle of Coronel...

[@asheer9114]

@Ron Clark : True, but later on his ships were destroyed by the Royal Navy's Battlecruiser squadron at Falklands and Admiral perished during combat. It's interesting fact that Admiral Spee after battle of Coronel was pretty sceptical about his squadron's chances to reach Germany, because he expected that as fallout of said battle RN will do everything possible to stop him. Maybe, if he did NOT attempt to attack Falklands he would be able to sneak out around and perhaps reach area at the North Atlantic where resupply his ships in ammo and coal would be possible, but major question in that scenario would be... how high chances he would have to avoid detection on route at the North Sea and deployment Beatty's ships against his squadron?..

[@barrierodliffe4155]

Asheer. A tiny problem the falklands is over 1,100 miles from where the battle of the River Plate happened. It would be a bit like saying London is in practically the same area as Rome

[@jamesrosemary2932]

Distance between Malvinas and Montevideo is the same distance between London and Gibraltar. Practicaly the same area, you know?.

[@mariacornwallis1602]

@@jamesrosemary2932 What is a Malvinas? Is it a type of banana?

[@TBAS606]

Good work bro!

[@ianrobertson5884]

Excellent video on River Plate Ian R...

[@HaurakiVet]

Following the battle coveted in this the Achilles returned to New Zealand where her crew paraded up Queen St, the main street of Auckland, her home port. My mother recalled the big turn out for this and a have seen a 8mm movie clip of the event taken by her brother.

[@Purlee100]

Achilles was sold to the Indian Navy post-war. When she was broken up, her ''A'' turret was returned to NZ and is on display at MOTAT

[@rossbrown6641]

I worked many years at a Christchurch printers where a NZ compositor had been, as a youth, on the Achilles. He never said a word about his experiences, yet every Englishman who migrated to work at the printers had been 'a war hero', in their boasting terms. One man, relating his time as a brave firefighter in the London blitz had, as it turned out, actually been sitting in an office answering a phone.

[@Gerry5252]

One of my fathers cousins was abord the Graf Spee. He was imprisioned but escaped and made it back to Germany. He also survived the war and I knew him well.

[@glynisgibson3986]

Well narrated...keep up the good reporting..

[@wayne.thomson-qe1pf]

Absolutely a superb job of historical facts of the battle. Looking forward to seeing more of your work, enclosure my family has served in the royal Australian Navy, my grandfather's joined in 1930 till 1954 one of the major battles in the Pacific theatres of WWII the battle of leyte gulf on HMAS Shropshire he was at the time chief gunnery officer., and my dad also serves 20 years in the royal Australian Navy, and myself I became a ship builder for Lloyds shipping,.. awesome job thank you.

[@GlenCychosz]

What kind of repairs could a ship get in 1939 at the Falkland Islands?

[@theoriginaldylangreene]

Quite extensive ones, Stanley had a small but well equipped dockyard.

[@historigraph]

In terms of Exeter specifically, she was made seaworthy and then sailed back to the UK for extensive refitting

[@GlenCychosz]

Thank you.

[@MarsFKA]

I have an old black & white, slightly blurry photo somewhere, showing Exeter coming alongside at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland on the way back to the UK. The ship's battle damage is clearly visible

[@stevejauncey3086]

@Atomic Steel now in The Great Britain Museum in Bristol.

[@timothyevans7383]

I remember my father telling me he listened to this on the radio when he was 7 years old in NZ

[@normanboyes4983]

Very well done.

[@LM-ek2hb]

Thank you for this!! I've watched the movie twice and still didn't really follow it as effortlessly as your documentary!

[@Dormitator1]

Excellent video! Well researched and extremely accurate. At 4:08 I thought I had caught a mistake - I thought you said one of her (Exeter's) four turrets (she only had three) but now I realize you said one of her fore-turrets.

[@chriswalford9228]

My Grandad lost an eye in this battle he was in the front gun turret

[@johnnyofthesticks7260]

Im half argentinian half uruguayan. My grandma, who died in 2015, told me several times of this battle, and how she heard the canon from her house in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Uruguay is a small country, three million people, and almost every one knows about this battle. There are lots of stories, since almost the entire crew of the Graff Spee decided to settle down in Uruguay and live there forever (today the descendants gather like every year, for instance a couple of years ago, when they decided to go to the ship and get some nazi stuff, like a huge iron eagle.... there are photos, google it)... From what I ve heard, not only from my grandma but from other old uruguayan men, the battle was very disputed, it wasnt a tie certainly, I woulnt say they were even, but given the germans had only one ship, and the british three, the battle itself, the casualties, the damages, everyting says it was very close. The three british ships ended quite damaged, as the Graff Spee.

[@philipm06]

Only the Germans scuttle their ships.

[@dutchhoke6555]

Yes, the full length 1956 movie captures the desperate slugfest nature of the battle.

[@benwilson6145]

Many of the Graff Spee crew escaped from Argentina to Peru where they went by Japanese Liners to Japan, then by Trans Siberian rail home In 1946 the British send the RMS Highland Monarch to Uruguay escorted by HMS Ajax to return the remaining crew to Germany.

[@johnnyofthesticks7260]

@@benwilson6145 Some there are still living in Argentina (Córdoba) and Uruguay, I understand.

[@benwilson6145]

@@johnnyofthesticks7260 I would expect return was voluntary and many had chose to stay rather than return to a destroyed Germany

[@fredsalfa]

Great video

[@greyhound2401]

Excellent!

[@MarsFKA]

3:34 HMNZS Achilles played itself in the movie of the battle. At the time of the movie, the ship was owned by the Indian Navy and named INS Delhi. The two rear turrets and After Director Control Tower had been removed. "Y" turret and the Director Control Tower were returned to New Zealand in the early 1980s and are now mounted at the entrance to HMNZS Philomel Naval Base in Auckland. Achilles' only damage during the battle came from an 11-inch shell exploding on the water nearby. Splinters riddled the main Director Control Tower, killing four and seriously wounding three. Splinters also penetrated the bridge, causing slight injuries to Captain Parry and several others.

[@historigraph]

Interesting details!

[@dunstrugglin]

A mates father was a radio operator on the Achilles and oddly enough My grandfather was a stoker on the Philomel when it was a floating ship (not a base) ,was of shore at Gallipoli

[@todd.sherley]

My grandfather was one of the 3 seriously wounded you mentioned. Crazy how close it was to me never being born...

[@alfredomarquez9777]

@@todd.sherley My father was named as the Naval Attachè of the Embassy of Mexico in London from 1940-45. During the Blitz, he was close to several places that were hit by german bombs, but was never hurt then... Later on, in 1944 he was almost killed when he was caught far from the shelter when one of the V-1 buzzing bombs fell nearby, but when he hesad the pulsejet engine cutting, he quickly dove into the corner of a stone facade building entrance stairs, the wall and the sidewalk floor... The blast wave apparently passed mostly over the stair and he was hurt in his leg by one fragment and temporarily lost his hearing. The doctors judged it was difficult to remove that fragment as it wedged between the femur bone, the femoral artery and the nerve, so they disinfected the wound and left the fragment there! CRAZY TOO for me being close to not being born! My father returned in 1945, went to Annapolis Naval Academy in Washington USA, and finally married my mother (which he had met long before in the 1930's) in May 1953, and one year and one day later I was born!

[@stevenpilling5318]

I understand that in the film "Pursuit of the Graf Spee" (of which several clips were shown) the cruisers Ajax and Achilles portrayed themselves. Exeter could not, as she was later sunk by Japanese aircraft. Graf Spee was portrayed by USS Salem... which still exists as a war memorial.

[@PaulP999]

Sorry not quite right. Only Achilles was in the film, she had become the Indian Navy ship Delhi and was borrowed for filming, other WW2 cruisers (Sheffield for Ajax, Jamaica for Exeter) played the others BUT the real Cumberland played herself however she was filmed shortly before scrapping so actually has no turrets. Cumberland could have made a difference as she was a full heavy cruiser (ie; all 8 guns) against Exeter being a sort of medium cruiser, only six guns.

[@peace-now]

My dad was a New Zealander the Battle of Maleme and was saved by Ajax. Our next door neighbour from New Zealand was on the Exeter, when it sunk. Achilles was a New Zealand ship. People forget the Battle of the River Plate, as it was well before WW2.

[@P1X1E56]

Loved it!

[@Mustang_Dan]

I was so stupid as a kid and always thought the world's navies were just ferries for armies and supplies and their guns were more for symbolic purposes of days gone by. Even with my grandpa being sunk twice by the Japanese in WWII and having an intense interest in WWII in general, I still sorta had this opinion until I read my grandpa's copy of _Last Stand 0f the Tin Can Sailors_ in my teens. How naive I was! I only wish I had read that book before my grandpa had died so I could pick his brain more than I did already and let him know how bad ass and brave I thought he and his comrades were. Anyways, I still study WWII as an adult, all parts of it, but sometimes I end up inadvertently taking breaks from naval history videos/shows or even history videos/shows in general but it's when I watch a naval history video like this that it makes me remember how epic and terrible WWII naval combat was and what a key role a capital ship plays representing it's country in diplomatic and combat situations.

[@sachinshah931]

I love seeing this battle as my great grandad fought in this battle

[@andyher1880]

Christ, but how old are you guys? Your great-grandad?! My uncle died in France in '44, and I'm not even 60 yet! Either my family has long, slow generations or other people have very quick ones, apparently...

[@sachinshah931]

@@andyher1880 Well I'm 16 my mum is 58 my gran is 90 and my great grandfather(now deceased) would be 119 i think

[@JOYOUSONEX]

Excellent video and very accurate. The scenes from the movie added to the realism. BTW the movie was excellent.

[@jackperson3626]

Thanks!

[@historigraph]

Thank you!