Harwood weighs Graf Spee's remaining targets

Henry Harwood knew the South American station from three years in his current command and an earlier posting there. He understood the River Plate's commercial importance and the trade routes that could offer Langsdorff a major success. In this interpretation, Graf Spee's brief Indian Ocean sortie narrowed the remaining choices: return home through gathering naval forces or strike the River Plate and draw British ships toward South America. The modest tally of sinkings gave Langsdorff a reason to seek a more impressive result before returning to Germany. The move east followed by a prompt return suggested that the cruise was entering its final phase, while British forces were still shifting toward the Indian Ocean.