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2006-12-16 10:25:17 · 8 answers · asked by claptrapvonspielderbeanz 2 in Arts & Humanities History

8 answers

The previous poster said that the Graf Spee was 'scuttled'. That means that it was sunk intentionally by it's owners to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Sunk=destroyed.

2006-12-16 11:23:33 · answer #1 · answered by Joe Schmo from Kokomo 6 · 0 1

Wikipedia has lots of info but I don't think any ships were sunk though some sustained a lot of damage, though naval history's not my thing. Here's a taster from Wiki:
The Battle of the River Plate (December 13, 1939) was the first major naval battle of World War II. The German pocket battleship (heavy cruiser) Admiral Graf Spee which had been commerce raiding since the start of the war in September was found and engaged off the estuary of the River Plate in South America, by three smaller Royal Navy (RN) cruisers: HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles, which was part of the RN's New Zealand Division. In the ensuing battle, Exeter was severely damaged and forced to retire, while all other ships received moderate damage. Ajax and Achilles then shadowed the Graf Spee which entered the neutral Uruguayan capital Montevideo. After a tense period, the captain of the Graf Spee, Hans Langsdorff scuttled his ship rather than face the overwhelmingly superior British force that he believed had assembled.

2006-12-16 18:35:39 · answer #2 · answered by ammie 4 · 1 0

The German pocket battleship, Graf Spee. It was scuttled by its captain, Hans Langsdorff as his ship was trapped in the River Plate estuary by British naval forces & he didn't want the ship to fall into British hands.

2006-12-17 08:35:40 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin F 4 · 0 0

Admiral Graf Spee, commander Captain Langsdorff

17th. DECEMBER 1939
“Graf Spee” claimed three more victims to bring the total to nine ships of 50,000 tons, before heading for the South American shipping lanes off the River Plate. Cdre Harwood with Hunting Group G - 8in-gunned cruisers “Exeter” and “Cumberland” and 6in light cruisers “Ajax” and New Zealand “Achilles” - correctly anticipated her destination. Unfortunately “Cumberland” was by now in the Falklands. At 06.14 on the 13th, 150 miles east of the Plate Estuary, “Graf Spee” (Capt Langsdorff) was reported to the northwest of the three cruisers . Faced with “Graf Spee's" heavier armament, Cdre Harwood decided to split his force in two and try to divide her main guns. “Exeter” closed to the south while the two light cruisers worked around to the north, all firing as they manoeuvred.

“Graf Spee” concentrated her two 11in turrets on “Exeter” which was badly hit . By 06.50 all ships were heading west , "Exeter” with only one turret in action and on fire. “Ajax” and “Achilles” continued to harry the pocket battleship from the north, but at 07.25 "Ajax" lost her two after turrets to an 11in hit and “Achilles” already had splinter damage. HMS Exeter was forced to break off and head south for the Falklands, but "Graf Spee" failed to press home her advantage. By 08.00, still with only superficial damage, she headed for the neutral Uruguayan port of Montevideo, the cruisers shadowing. “GRAF SPEE” entered port at midnight. As other Allied hunting groups headed for the area, much diplomatic manoeuvring took place to hold her there. Finally, on the 17th, Capt Langsdorff edged his ship out into the estuary where she was scuttled and blown up. Only “Cumberland” had arrived by this time. Langsdorff then committed suicide.

2006-12-17 06:20:23 · answer #4 · answered by Chariotmender 7 · 0 0

If you mean the Admiral Graf Spee it wasn`t destroyed , it was SCUTTLED by it`s Captain to avoid it`s capture by the Royal Navy which was steaming towards it.

2006-12-16 23:04:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

The Graf Spee was not destroyed but scuttled

2006-12-16 18:39:01 · answer #6 · answered by David R 5 · 3 0

admiral graf spee i think.

2006-12-16 18:28:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

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