Dragon and Diomede began the war on Northern Patrol and Home Fleet duties, leaving no opening for comprehensive conversions. Diomede became a training ship in September 1943, once newer hulls had arrived and a costly anti-aircraft reconstruction carried less priority. Dragon moved toward the South Atlantic search for Admiral Graf Spee. Had the ships met alone, Graf Spee would probably have won, although Dragon's six-inch guns and large torpedo battery might still have inflicted damage.
Notable Point · 21:37-23:48
Northern Patrol work and the hunt for Graf Spee
Dragon and Diomede carried the early-war patrol burden, and Dragon's search for Admiral Graf Spee exposed a lightly armed cruiser to a dangerous possible encounter.