The Case of Admiral Graf Spee

[A Very Super Market]

You forget that Langsdorff did not have the fuel to get to Germany, nor the ammunition, and was trapped in Montevideo. Her damage was mostly in the engines, so I doubt she could have managed full speed.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Contact

So explain me how on earth Deutchland class cruiser which top speed was 28.5 knots managed to escape two Leander class (HMS Ajax & HMS Achiles) light cruisers and one York-class (HMS Exeter) heavy cruiser where all of them could maintain ~ 32 knots before reaching Montevideo ?

She didn't escape them. They shadowed her all the way. They were in much worse shape than Graf Spee after the battle, and further engagement would have been foolhardy when reinforcements were on the way.

Remember that, from a tactical standpoint, Graf Spee won the battle.

Find a copy of Battle Of The River Plate, by Dudley Pope.
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-River-P...1979889&sr=1-2

It will explain everything.

[bookworm_020]

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

You forget that Langsdorff did not have the fuel to get to Germany, nor the ammunition, and was trapped in Montevideo. Her damage was mostly in the engines, so I doubt she could have managed full speed.

He was also denied any good information about the odds that he faced. He wasd not allowed to do a recon with a local sea plane and he believed rumors that were put out by the British that there was a large force off shore waiting for him.

With an exhausted crew, a damaged ship with low ammo and no where to go, you can see that his options were limited!

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

You forget that Langsdorff did not have the fuel to get to Germany, nor the ammunition, and was trapped in Montevideo. Her damage was mostly in the engines, so I doubt she could have managed full speed.

Is it a problem when your in the harbour to get fuel AND to repair engines ?

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

She didn't escape them. They shadowed her all the way. They were in much worse shape than Graf Spee after the battle, and further engagement would have been foolhardy when reinforcements were on the way.

Remember that, from a tactical standpoint, Graf Spee won the battle.

Find a copy of Battle Of The River Plate, by Dudley Pope.
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-River-P...1979889&sr=1-2

It will explain everything.

Thanks, will check it out now

Also the Great story of Graf Spee is here:

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by Contact

Is it a problem when your in the harbour to get fuel AND to repair engines ?

Well, yes, you only have 24-hours in the port, that doesn't give you much time

Oh, and the movie is great

I finally made my personal conclusion on this case: The bigger part of blame for loosing Admiral Graf Spee is falling on Berlin. The FAILURE in diplomatic negotiations on permission to stay longer in Montevideo for necessary repairs with Uruguayan government lead to the loss of this ship.
What a shame