Graf Spee's switchback and the timing of the hunt

After the sinking on 15 November, Graf Spee headed south and east, away from the shipping lanes and from ships that might report its position. Langsdorff chose a wide detour to return to the South Atlantic before turning toward the River Plate. Avoiding contact helped the raider survive, but the extra time also gave the Royal Navy longer to catch up. A shorter route carried its own risk because British forces might already have been waiting along it. The long passages repeatedly upset British expectations of when Graf Spee would reach its next operating area.