Between 20 November and 2 December, the Royal Navy's Forces H and K pass through Graf Spee's former Atlantic cruising grounds and move far south, almost to the Indian Ocean. Earlier in the cruise, the raider had moved more slowly than the British expected. The hunters therefore timed their arrival on the assumption that Langsdorff was still taking his time, with enough fuel and supplies to watch the area for about six days. Graf Spee had since accelerated its movements, and Langsdorff had already passed through before they could intercept it.
Chapter · 3:19-5:43
Forces H and K search behind Graf Spee
Graf Spee's earlier slow progress leads the British to expect another slow passage, but Langsdorff's rapid return to the Atlantic puts the raider past Forces H and K before they can intercept it.