Uruguayan officials identified 6-inch shell holes in Graf Spee, evidence that the British light cruisers had inflicted damage. The large volume of fire from Ajax and Achilles further challenges the claim that their contribution was negligible. In this assessment, Graf Spee's inability to resist some of that fire exposed weaknesses in the protection of the Panzerschiffe. Limited German experience in armor production is offered as part of the explanation, while the quality of the British 6-inch shell also receives credit.
Notable Point · 1:41:17-1:42:36
Six-inch shell damage and Graf Spee's protection at the River Plate
Shell damage and firing volume support the contribution of Ajax and Achilles, while Graf Spee's armor performance prompts a debate over metallurgy and ammunition quality.