Video
Battle of the River Plate a Quick Overview - A River Plate 80 Video
Study Battle of the River Plate a Quick Overview - A River Plate 80 Video, a Dr. Alex Clarke video from 13 Dec 2019, with 5 time notes. Topics include Admiral Graf Spee, Battle Of The River Plate, Commerce Raiding.
Time notes
- 0:54Reading the opening movements at the River PlateChapter
A broad battle map shows the ships' movements at first contact and centers HMS Exeter's place in the opening action.
- 1:28Graf Spee opens fire near maximum rangeNotable Point
Graf Spee opens fire near maximum range, a choice interpreted as an admission of weakness in the opening action.
- 2:02Exeter and Ajax reach the killing swingChapter
By about 6:50, Exeter and Ajax have reached the desired attack position around Graf Spee, though Exeter has already taken heavy damage as the German ship's main target.
- 3:14Graf Spee underestimates the British cruiser forceNotable Point
A mistaken assessment of the British ships helps explain Graf Spee's expectation of victory after earlier actions against merchant shipping.
- 3:42Langsdorff and Harwood fight for different victoriesNotable Point
Langsdorff needs to escape with Graf Spee still able to raid merchant shipping, while Harwood seeks the raider's destruction.