The Battle of the River Plate: The First Naval Battle of the Second World War
At dawn on 13 December 1939, smoke was seen on the horizon; HMS Exeter was told to close in and investigate. Two minutes later a dramatic signal was sent from the British cruiser – ‘I think it is a pocket battleship.’

It was. The Deutschland-class heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, marauder of the South Atlantic shipping, had sailed into a trap. Three smaller British cruisers closed in on a German warship which, so Hitler had boasted, could out-sail any ship powerful enough to damage her, and out-gun any ship able to keep up with her – an invincible ship.

So began the Battle of the River Plate, story which has its duplicates in British naval history, but which nevertheless brought pride and inspiration into the hearts of a nation unwillingly at war once again.

A terrible battle was fought that day off the coast of South America, a naval encounter in the finest Nelson tradition – and true to that tradition, victory went to the men with the finest armament of all, courage.

This edition will be presented with an Appendix containing the official despatch detailing the Battle of the River Plate.
1123483409
The Battle of the River Plate: The First Naval Battle of the Second World War
At dawn on 13 December 1939, smoke was seen on the horizon; HMS Exeter was told to close in and investigate. Two minutes later a dramatic signal was sent from the British cruiser – ‘I think it is a pocket battleship.’

It was. The Deutschland-class heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, marauder of the South Atlantic shipping, had sailed into a trap. Three smaller British cruisers closed in on a German warship which, so Hitler had boasted, could out-sail any ship powerful enough to damage her, and out-gun any ship able to keep up with her – an invincible ship.

So began the Battle of the River Plate, story which has its duplicates in British naval history, but which nevertheless brought pride and inspiration into the hearts of a nation unwillingly at war once again.

A terrible battle was fought that day off the coast of South America, a naval encounter in the finest Nelson tradition – and true to that tradition, victory went to the men with the finest armament of all, courage.

This edition will be presented with an Appendix containing the official despatch detailing the Battle of the River Plate.
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The Battle of the River Plate: The First Naval Battle of the Second World War

The Battle of the River Plate: The First Naval Battle of the Second World War

by Gordon Landsborough
The Battle of the River Plate: The First Naval Battle of the Second World War

The Battle of the River Plate: The First Naval Battle of the Second World War

by Gordon Landsborough

Hardcover

$34.95 
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Overview

At dawn on 13 December 1939, smoke was seen on the horizon; HMS Exeter was told to close in and investigate. Two minutes later a dramatic signal was sent from the British cruiser – ‘I think it is a pocket battleship.’

It was. The Deutschland-class heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, marauder of the South Atlantic shipping, had sailed into a trap. Three smaller British cruisers closed in on a German warship which, so Hitler had boasted, could out-sail any ship powerful enough to damage her, and out-gun any ship able to keep up with her – an invincible ship.

So began the Battle of the River Plate, story which has its duplicates in British naval history, but which nevertheless brought pride and inspiration into the hearts of a nation unwillingly at war once again.

A terrible battle was fought that day off the coast of South America, a naval encounter in the finest Nelson tradition – and true to that tradition, victory went to the men with the finest armament of all, courage.

This edition will be presented with an Appendix containing the official despatch detailing the Battle of the River Plate.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473878952
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication date: 08/19/2016
Pages: 208
Product dimensions: 5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Gordon Holmes Landsborough, (1913–1983), English publisher, author and bookseller, was in the forefront of change in the paperback publishing in England during the 1950s to 1980s. He was noted for his prolific output as an author and his books include Long Run to Tobruk and Benghazi Breakout.

Table of Contents

Foreword - Long Ago vii

Acknowledgements viii

List of maps and illustrations ix

Introduction John Grehan x

Chapter 1 The First Victim 1

Chapter 2 The Hunt Begins 6

Chapter 3 Newton Beech 16

Chapter 4 Graf Spee's Third Victim 20

Chapter 5 The S.S. Huntsman 22

Chapter 6 The Tanker Africa Star 27

Chapter 7 The Liner Doric Star 29

Chapter 8 Tairoa 33

Chapter 9 H.M.S. Exeter Sighted 36

Chapter 10 The River Plate 44

Chapter 11 Dawn, 13 December 1939 47

Chapter 12 Graf Spee Could No Longer Avoid Battle 52

Chapter 13 H.M.S. Exeter is Pounded 68

Chapter 14 Exeter Is Ordered Out of Battle 75

Chapter 15 The S.S. Shakespeare 82

Chapter 16 Battle in Uruguayan Territorial Waters 88

Chapter 17 The Diplomatic Battle Begins 91

Chapter 18 The Press Arrive 95

Chapter 19 The Prisoners are Freed 97

Chapter 20 A Propaganda War 105

Chapter 21 Sail for Argentina? 118

Chapter 22 Hysteria Ashore 121

Chapter 23 Graf Spee is Scuttled 125

Chapter 24 Langsdorff's Death 132

Chapter 25 The Victors Return Home 136

Chapter 26 The 'Altmark' Incident 144

Chapter 27 The Altmark is Found 155

Chapter 28 The True End to the Last Cruise of Admiral Graf Spee 162

Appendix: The Despatch on the Battle of the River Plate which was submitted to tile Lords commissioners of me Admiralty, by Rear Admiral H.H. Harwood, KCB, OBE, Rear Admiral Commanding South American Division, on 30 December 1939.

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