2 weeks after the Second Battle off the Channel Islands and 18 days after the first success of Operation ZërstorenKonvoi, the Panzerschifee Graf Spee, under the command of Hans Langsdorff, intercepts and destroys a convoy on Early 1940. The sole escort of the convoy, HMS
Vega, immediately sends distress signals and closes in to Graf Spee, going at nearly 35 knots.
While Vega fires star shells at Graf Spee, the 8 merchants disperse to the North.
At 11:40PM, Graf Spee's 28 cm guns fire. The first salvo passes over Vega at nearly 2000 miles per hour. At 11:42 Graf Spee fires again. Again her gunners miss their mark. This gives Vega time to adjust her fire, and, having got the range to the Graf Spee, fires her main and secondary batteries. 4.7" and 3" shells crash into the bridge of Graf Spee, starting fires and wounding many. Graf Spee fires her third salvo, which just misses. The shrapnel from her 11" shells damage the destroyer, and also kill some and wound many. Her C and D turrets are knocked out, the people manning them either unconscious, heavily wounded, or dead. Yet she charges on, firing every 4 seconds. At 11:45 PM a 4.7" she'll hit knocks out Port Secondary turret A and B. But Vega's courageous act comes at a cost: Soon, when the clock hits 11:50 AM Graf Spee focus fires Vega. 6 11" shells hit her two guns, possibly destroying both. Just as Vega turns to fire 8 Mk 21 torpedoes, another 6 11" shells hit those and destroy them. Graf Spee opens up with her remaining 2 secondaries. Those hit and penetrate deep into the decks of the ship, hitting the Diesel engines, and making Vega a sitting duck. Graf Spee now turns her attention to the merchants.
After sinking one small 4.000 ton tramp steamer, Graf Spee now goes after a small ocean liner. The only ship in position to stop her is the the battered HMS Vega. Amazingly, damage control aboard Vega gets Gun A and B working again. Again, Vega fires, starting flames onboard the aft part of the ship. Vega fires, specifically aiming for secondary weapons, successfully knocking out Port Secondary Turret D. But, finally Graf Spee delivers the Cóup Dé Gráce, and Vega slips under the ocean with 81 men.
Langsdorff immediately opens fire at a small merchant of about 500 tons in front. 2 11" hits sink the small thing, the rest of the convoy, scatters. A few days later, Graf Spee sinks 2,250 tons of former shipping of this convoy. Langsdorff is proud.
