Battle of the River Plate
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The Battle of the River Plate was fought in the South Atlantic on 13 December 1939 as the first British naval battle of the Second World War.
HMS Achilles as seen from HMS Ajax during the battle
Admiral Graf Spee
The route of Admiral Graf Spee's cruise, from the British HMSO report.
HMS Achilles
HMS Exeter (68)
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HMS Exeter was the second and last York-class heavy cruiser built for the Royal Navy during the late 1920s, and the last heavy cruiser the Royal Navy would ever build. Aside from a temporary deploymen
Battle of the River Plate
…commanded by Commodore Henry Harwood, comprising the light cruisers HMS Ajax, HMNZS Achilles (on loan to the New Zealand Division) and the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter. Graf Spee had sailed into the South Atlantic in August 1939, before the war began, and had begun commerce raiding after receiving authorisation on 26…
Exeter after 1941 refit
Aerial view of Exeter at anchor with awnings rigged, Balboa, Panama, 24 April 1934
Exeter at anchor, early 1941
Exeter at the Royal Naval Dockyard Bermuda, circa 1936