The threat of night action drives Graf Spee toward port

The running fight continues as Graf Spee periodically fires at long range to force Ajax and Achilles away whenever they gain ground. A Uruguayan naval observer records parts of the exchange, although the different reports and time systems make the exact sequence difficult to reconcile. Harwood intends to wait for darkness and then close to torpedo and short gunnery range. German radar-ranging fire delays that approach by showing the pursuers that Graf Spee can still see and engage them. As a torpedo specialist, Langsdorff has good reason to respect both British torpedoes and concentrated 6-inch fire after the damage already received. Those pressures help explain why Graf Spee continues toward Montevideo rather than risk a close night action against the two light cruisers.