The German destroyers had spent heavily while defeating and driving off the H-class force. They had little opportunity to replace that ammunition before a larger British destroyer force and HMS Warspite arrived. Their depleted magazines left almost no margin for another sustained fight. The comparison with Admiral Graf Spee is logistical: a tactical success could not replace supplies that were out of reach.
Chapter · 4:23-5:14
Ammunition shortages leave German destroyers nearly empty
Combat against the H-class force consumed much of the German destroyers' ammunition, and limited resupply left them badly depleted when the Tribals and HMS Warspite arrived.