At the outbreak of World War II, Exeter served in Commodore Henry Harwood's South American Division under Captain Frederick Secker Bell. During the Battle of the River Plate, Admiral Graf Spee treated her as the principal British target and concentrated much of the German ship's fire on her. The German crew briefly seems to have mistaken Exeter for a light cruiser, although she was the heaviest British combatant present. The punishment she withstood shows why the design critique should be kept separate from the fighting qualities of the ship and crew.
Chapter · 24:10-25:37
Exeter under Graf Spee's fire at the River Plate
Exeter's South American Division service placed her under Admiral Graf Spee's concentrated fire at the Battle of the River Plate.