In September 1939 a Tribal-class flotilla was already south of the Suez Canal. Admiral Graf Spee might have met those destroyers steaming down the African coast if the raider had continued into the Indian Ocean. Graf Spee doubled back, so the interception never occurred. Prewar dispositions had generated an immediate response, yet one change of route decided the outcome of an ocean-wide search.
Notable Point · 44:12-44:56
The Tribal flotilla that nearly crossed Graf Spee's route
A destroyer flotilla already south of Suez might have met Graf Spee had the raider continued toward the Indian Ocean.