December 13 - Focus: Battle of River Plate

[Ariecho]

FIND ALL OUR DAILY THREADS HERE

 

General:

 

As usual, let's start with what we couldn't cover, surface warships with the exception of destroyers or anything smaller.  Ships, classes, or events linked are those that we already covered in our daily threads.

 

1908 - SMS Posen - Nassau-class - Launched

1914 - IJN Takasago - Takasago-class - Sunk

1915 - SMS Szent István - Tegetthoff-class - Commissioned

1918 - USS Milwaukee - Omaha-class - Laid down -- Later renamed USSR Murmansk

1936 - IJN Kamikawa Maru - Kamikawa Maru-class - Launched

1941 - Alberto da Giussano - Condottieri-class - Sunk

1941 - Alberico da Barbiano - Condottieri-class - Sunk

1941 - Battle of Cape Bon

 

Statistics:  

 

For a change, I'll post the entire list of ships that were laid down, launched, commissioned, or sunk on a December 13.  If in the list, there is any particular ship that you'd like us to speak about, let us know.

 

Allies:

Laid down: 25

1917:   Destroyer Thanet (H 29)

1918:   Light cruiser Milwaukee (CL 5) -   Light cruiser Murmansk

1933:   Torpedo boat La Melpoméne

1942:   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-233 (LCI(L)-233)

1943:   Landing Craft Tank LCT 925 (LCT 925) -   Frigate Loch Achray (K 426) -  Destroyer Escort Gentry (DE 349) -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-398 (LCI(L)-398) -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-538 (LCI(L)-538) -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-539 (LCI(L)-539) -   Landing craft tank LCT 629 (LCT 629) -   Landing craft tank LCT 630 (LCT 630) -   Landing craft tank LCT 706 (LCT 706) -   Tank landing ship LST 545 (LST 545) -   Tank landing ship LST 656 (LST 656) -   Tank landing ship LST 684 (LST 684) -   Tank landing ship LST 730 (LST 730) -  Motor torpedo boat PT 470 -   High speed transport Trunxton (APD 98) -   High speed transport Upham (APD 99)

1944:   Cutter Klamath (WPG 66) -   Medium landing ship LSM 353 (LSM 353) -  Medium landing ship LSM 395 (LSM 395) -   Medium landing ship LSM 396 (LSM 396) -   Tank landing ship LST 1107 (LST 1107)

 

Launched: 18

1924:   ASW Trawler Bretwalda (FY 266)

1941:   Minesweeper YMS-23 (YMS-23)

1942:   Destroyer Escort Hammann (ii) (DE 131) -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-82(LCI(L)-82) -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-83 (LCI(L)-83) -   Landing Craft InfantryLCI(L)-84 (LCI(L)-84) -   Tank landing ship LST 197 (LST 197) -   

1943:   Motor minesweeper MMS 304 (J 804) -   Corvette Tintagel Castle (K 399) -   Landing craft tank LCT 606 (LCT 606) -   Landing craft tank LCT 945 (LCT 945) -  Tank landing ship LST 521 (LST 521) -   Tank landing ship LST 524 (LST 524) -  Motor torpedo boat PT 504

1944:   Minesweeper Polaris (J 447) -   Landing craft support LCS(L)-129(LCS(L)-129) -   Tank landing ship LST 879 (LST 879) -   Tank landing ship LST 969(LST 969)

 

Commissioned: 39

1918:   Minesweeper Turkey (AM 13)

1940:   Motor Launch ML 122 (ML 122) -   Motor Launch ML 125 (ML 125) -   Motor Launch ML 128 (ML 128)

1941:   Minesweeper Bellechasse (J 170) -   Corvette Charlottetown (i) (K 244) -  Minesweeper Cromarty (J 09) -   Motor minesweeper MMS 116 (J 616) -   Net TenderLarch (AN 21) -   Fleet tug Tuscarora (AT 77)

1942:   Tug Daisy -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-109 (LCI(L)-109) -   Motor minesweeper MMS 266 (J 766) -   Tank landing ship LST 447 (LST 447) -   Motor torpedo boat PT 87 -   Fleet tug Ute (AT 76)

1943:   Corvette Louisburg (ii) (K 401) -   Frigate Saint John (K 456) -   Motor minesweeper MMS 240 (J 740) -   Motor minesweeper MMS 241 (J 741) -   Fleet tug Alsea (AT 97) -   Destroyer Escort Bronstein (DE 189) -   Destroyer Escort Finch (DE 328) -   Destroyer Escort Kretchmer (DE 329) -   Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-517 (LCI(L)-517) -   Tank landing ship LST 285 (LST 285) -   Tank landing ship LST 493 (LST 493) -   Destroyer Escort Maloy (DE 791) -   Patrol craft PCS-1424 (PCS-1424) -   Motor torpedo boat PT 495

1944:   Frigate Carlplace (K 664) -   Destroyer Cavendish (R 15) -   Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 497 (MTB 497) -   Minesweeper Fancy (AM 234) -   Medium landing ship LSM 121 (LSM 121) -   Tank landing ship LST 828 (LST 828) -   Tank landing ship LST 864 (LST 864) -   Patrol craft PGM-11 (PGM-11) -  Motor torpedo boat PT 566

 

Austria-Hungary:

1 ship commissioned (Battleship SMS Szent István)

 

Germany:

1 ship launched (Battleship SMS Posen)

 

Italy:

2 ships sunk (Light cruisers Alberto da Giussano and Alberico da Barbiano)

 

Japan:

1 ship sunk (Protected cruiser Takasago)

 

1939

 

On October 1, 1932, the keel of one of the best known German ships was laid down.   The ship would be launched on June 30, 1934, and on January 6, 1936, would be commissioned as Admiral Graf Spee.

 

Graf Spee in Wilhelmshaven

 

Admiral Graf Spee was an infant of the Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany hostage with a 10,000 tons allocation and a mere 280mm caliber (11-inch) to replace her aging battleships.  By the same token, other nations could build ships up to 35,000 tons and guns as large as 406mm (16-inch).  To make it simple, the Allies wanted Germany to bring a knife to a gun fight.

 

Panzerschiffe concept:

Germany came with a concept known as the Panzerschiffe, a ship that would be “stronger than anything faster, and faster than anything stronger”.  With this concept, the idea of “pocket battleships” was born, as well as a new arms race.

 

Between February 5, 1929 and October 1, 1932, Germany laid down 3 Panzerschiffe ships: KM Deutschland (or SMS Deutschland at that time), KM Admiral Scheer and KM Admiral Graf Spee.  Graf Spee would be fitted with 6 x 280mm guns, a better armor than her sister-ships, and would become the first German ship to be equipped with a radar in 1938.

 

Graf Spee, followed by Admiral Scheer and Deutschland (1936)

 

Graf Spee in good company (HMS Hood and HMS Resolution) in 1937

 

Start of hostilities:

When World War II started, 2 of the 3 Panzerschiffes were at sea, and within a few weeks, they received orders to engage British shipping.  Graf Spee had left his harbor on August 21, 1939, and when Germany started its invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, he was already rendezvousing with Altmark, his supply ship, close to the Canaries islands.

 

[Note: German ships are referred as "he", unlike many other nations who refers them as "she"]

 

Graf Spee in Kiel

 

Graf Spee’s first encounter should have been on September 11, but he avoided it, thanks to his reconnaissance aircraft.   HMS Cumberland, a Royal Navy’s County-class heavy cruiser was close to catch Graf Spee off-guard, but the Panzerschiffe’s Arado Ar-196 spotted the British ship in time, and Graf Spee decided to avoid combat, as to not reveal his position.

 

County-class heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland

 

On September 26, Graf Spee was finally authorized to interfere with British shipping, and he met his first victim on September 30, SS Clement.

 

 

Deception:

To prevent ships from recognizing him, Graf Spee’s Captain changed his appearance, first by altering the paint of his forward turret's and superstructure's walls, giving the impression  from a distance of the presence of a tripod mast.  This lured his next victim, SS Newton Beech, who thought that he was in the presence of a French warship.  The tripod mast camouflage worked another two times, and again, the victims thought that they were dealing with an Allied warship.

 

Darker paint applied on the ship's walls to alter his appearance

 

Another measure taken by Captain Langsdorff, Commanding Officer of the Graf Spee, was to set up a fake turret, to make the ship look like an Allied cruiser.

 

Fake turret

 

 

Change of plans:

Graf Spee continued his merry way for a while, but got informed that the Allies were sending more and more forces to intercept him, including HMS Renown, a British battlecruiser who, with her 6 x 15-inch guns could on her own outgun Graf Spee’s  6 x 11-inch guns.  Also present was the French battlecruiser Strasbourg, who had been specifically built to chase Deutschland-class German ships, and who could also outgun and outrange Graf Spee with her 8 x 13-inch guns.   While the French guns were labeled as inaccurate, they could penetrate 28-inch of armor, and all it would take was one shell to make Graf Spee’s life miserable.

 

To avoid any pursuit, Graf Spee left the Atlantic for the Indian Ocean for a while, following only a few successes.  However, by the end of October, Langsdorff knew that rather sooner than later, he would have to find a way to get back to Germany to overhaul his engines. 

 

Therefore, it was decided that instead of avoiding Allied warships, as had been the case until now, Graf Spee would fight her way back.  Graf Spee made his presence in the Indian Ocean known, sinking the British tanker Africa Shell, then eventually headed back west.

 

On December 1, Graf Spee intercepted the Doric Star, but instead of getting in close distance before requesting his target to stop, the German ship opened fire from a distance of 14 miles, giving his victim the chance to send distress signals, which were picked by the British Admiralty, revealing Graf Spee's position.

 

 

 

[Ariecho]

Graf Spee's cruise

 

South America

After returning in the Atlantic, Graf Spee continued his way westward, as to avoid French and British forces off the coast of Africa.  On December 7, another ship, SS Streonshalh, fell victim of the German ship, whose Captain found confidential papers indicating of good target possibilities off the River Plate estuary.  However, more by luck than anything else, the British had anticipated the move.

 

Four British ships were supposed to cover the area off the coast of Uruguay: HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax, HMNZS Achilles, and HMS Cumberland, forming what was known as Force G.  Because of boiler problems, the latter one had to stop in the Falklands, and never joined the battle in time.

 

York-class HMS Exeter

HMS Ajax

 

HMS Ajax and HMNZS Achilles were Leander-class light cruisers armed with 8 x 6-inch guns.  Only HMS Exeter, a York-class heavy cruiser was equipped with 6 x 8-inch guns.  None had the firepower of the Graf Spee.

 

 

December 13 – River Plate

On December 13, off the coast of Venezuela, Graf Spee spotted the 3 Allied ships, mistaking them for a weak convoy escort.   Graf Spee closed in and when he realized that he was facing 3 Allied cruisers, it was too late to turn back.  While the German ship had better guns than his counterparts, they were faster than he was.

Admiral Graf Spee opened fire first, and focused on HMS Exeter.  2 minutes later, at 06:20, the British cruiser returned fire, followed one minute later by the two Leander-class cruisers.

 

Because he didn’t identify Exeter correctly, Graf Spee’s gunnery officer ordered his guns to be loaded with HE rounds, which, while they hit Exeter with the third salvo, did little damage.   The British heavy cruiser closed range, and launched a torpedo attack, but had to change direction, as she was being hit several more times, the German shells damaging turrets B and X, as well as the wheelhouse.

 

In the meanwhile, the two light cruisers also closed the distance, and started to draw the German ship’s attention, but without receiving any damage, thanks to a hit from Exeter that had disrupted Graf Spee’s rangefinder.

 

HMNZS Achilles, seen from HMS Ajax during the battle of River Plate

 

While Ajax and Achilles were charging, Exeter returned to the fight, and this time, despite reduced accuracy, Graf Spee’s 11-inch guns destroyed her A-turret.  Despite only having her Y-turret operational, she remained in the fight, while her two Allies lamented as the lack of efficiency of their 6-inch guns against the Graf Spee’s armor.

 

A little before 07:20, Graf Spee took Exeter's last turret out of action, eliminating her from the fight.  Ajax tried to divert Graf Spee’s attention by launching a torpedo salvo, which was easily avoided by the German ship.  In return, Graf Spee opened fire on her, and destroyed her X- and Y-turrets.

 

Exeter's damage from Graf Spee's 11-inch shells

 

By 07:40, Ajax had fired 80% of her ammunition.  Achilles was the only ship intact, but was also low on shells, and Exeter was out of action.  The British ships decided to leave the battle, shadowing the German ship from a distance.

 

Despite not having any apparent damage, Graf Spee was in bad shape.  His forward 11-inch turret had no electricity, he had expended 60% of her shells, and his diesel fuel purifiers and his rangefinders were destroyed.  More importantly, being slower than the British cruisers, it was only a matter of time before more British ships would join, as Graf Spee couldn’t outrun his opponents.  As a matter of fact, Cumberland was on her way, as well as Renown and Ark Royal, although the last two were further away.

 

Graf Spee continued hisr course towards Montevideo, where he asked to stay because of his condition.  After inspection from Uruguayan authorities, he was granted to stay in port until December 17^th, at which point he’d have to either leave or become a prisoner of war.

 

Langsdorff knew that he could force the blockade of Ajax and Achilles, if needed, but couldn’t outrun them.  While he was weighing his options he received a (false) report that Ark Royal, Renown, and the French battlecruiser Dunkerque had arrived. 

 

On December 17, rather than surrender to either the Allies or the Uruguayans, Langsdorff brought his ship to the limit of the territorial waters, where he scuttled him.  Two days later, he committed suicide.

 

Graf Spee scuttled

 

 

[Sampsonite]

One of my favorite battles. Thanks Ari (+1)

[JeeWeeJ]

Great work Ari! +2!

[Yoodlee]

"On December 17, rather than surrender to either the Allies or the Venezuelans, Langsdorff brought his ship to the limit of the territorial waters, where he scuttled him.  Two days later, he committed suicide."

 

Sorry, but Venezuelans had nothing to do with this battle. Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay...   Nevertheless, a good article about a fascinating ship and a dramatic battle. Thanks for this reminder - I think, I must see the movie this weekend!

[Ariecho]

"On December 17, rather than surrender to either the Allies or the Venezuelans, Langsdorff brought his ship to the limit of the territorial waters, where he scuttled him.  Two days later, he committed suicide."

 

Sorry, but Venezuelans had nothing to do with this battle. Montevideo is the capital city of Paraguay...   Nevertheless, a good article about a fascinating ship and a dramatic battle. Thanks for this reminder - I think, I must see the movie this weekend!

Actually, it's Uruguay, not Paraguay...   I have no clue why I spoke of Venezuela 

+1 for spotting my moment of catnip withdrawal.

[Yoodlee]

Yeah, I saw this error, but you were faster!

[Capcon]

Very Nice! +1

 

I've always liked the look of the HMS Ajax and her sisters, and HMS Exeter too. 

 

And who doesn't want to see the Graf Spee in the game? Too bad the wait will be a long one I'm afraid. 

[Ariecho]

Very Nice! +1

 

I've always liked the look of the HMS Ajax and her sisters, and HMS Exeter too. 

 

And who doesn't want to see the Graf Spee in the game? Too bad the wait will be a long one I'm afraid. 

Now, in what category do you think they'll put the Deutschland-class?  Heavy cruisers?  If so, yes, "he" will be a deadly force to reckon with.  Anything above (battlecruiser?), and he will be severely outgunned by anything of the same era the Allies can throw at him.

[dave_96]

Really nice post! Good work!!

[Wolcott]

So much talk about raising the Graf Spee years ago. At least they salvaged a few pieces of the ship, but that's about it. Guess the wreck is not a hazard to other ships anymore.

[JeeWeeJ]

Now, in what category do you think they'll put the Deutschland-class?  Heavy cruisers?  If so, yes, "he" will be a deadly force to reckon with.  Anything above (battlecruiser?), and he will be severely outgunned by anything of the same era the Allies can throw at him.

I thought Teit said in the Q&A thread a while back that it's class as a low-tier battleship at the moment, which i find odd, as even a low-tier BB will ROFLSTOMP it, due to it's severe lack of armor.

Classing it as a CA makes more sense. It'll be slower, still not as heavily armored as other CA's, yet packs one hell of a punch!

[Ariecho]

I thought Teit said in the Q&A thread a while back that it's class as a low-tier battleship at the moment, which i find odd, as even a low-tier BB will ROFLSTOMP it, due to it's severe lack of armor.

Classing it as a CA makes more sense. It'll be slower, still not as heavily armored as other CA's, yet packs one hell of a punch!

Yep.  11-inch guns is why I said that the Allies wanted the Germans to bring a knife to a gun fight, unless of course, they decide to give the Deutschland-class a hypothetical higher gun caliber.

As pointed in my article, the British had the Renown with 6 x 15-inch guns, and the French had the Dunkerque-class, with 8 x 13-inch guns.  

 

11-inch guns was not even good enough anymore by the end of World War I, as far as battlecruisers were concerned, so 20 years later they become suicidal in fleet versus fleet engagement.

[Capcon]

JeeWeeJ said:

"I thought Teit said in the Q&A thread a while back that it's class as a low-tier battleship at the moment, which i find odd, as even a low-tier BB will ROFLSTOMP it, due to it's severe lack of armor.

Classing it as a CA makes more sense. It'll be slower, still not as heavily armored as other CA's, yet packs one hell of a punch!"

 

Low tier BB's will be "early" and due to low elevation on the main guns and early type shells, have short gun ranges.

HMS Dreadnought gets 13.5° for her 12"/45's which yields a 18,850 yards max range.

Graf Spee's has 40° elevation for her 28cm/52's which gives 39,890 yards max range. (Not that anyone ever got a hit at that range on a moving ship)

Maybe that is the difference/equlizer?

 

Small battleship or large cruiser, either way it will be a bit of a balancing headache I think.

[Ariecho]

I see your point, Cap, but with the exception of maybe some French and or Italian battleships, what other battleships' armor will you penetrate with 11-inch guns?

[Capcon]

Inside about 15,000 yards the 28cm gun will get through the belt of the Standard type US Battleship, 13.5", from straight on so it is not completely impotent. But that is darn close in, so close even the 5"/51 on those same ships is starting to reach and Graf Spee is so lightly protected it would be a "bad thing". (Ghost Busters movie reference). But what if there are two Graf spees? Say versus a USS Pennsylvania? 

[Ariecho]

Any battleship Captain who lets a battlecruiser come as close as 15,000 yards needs to walk the plank. If he doesn't want to volunteer, he can be replaced by JeeWeeJ... 

[mr3awsome]

The Deutschlands have more than 10km  more range than the other tier 4 BBs. (Those being Gangut and Orion off the top of my head)

[Guest]

Very impressive post! thank you for sharing! 

[Ariecho]

The Deutschlands have more than 10km  more range than the other tier 4 BBs. (Those being Gangut and Orion off the top of my head)

They may have more range, but if they can't penetrate a battleship's armor, what good will that do them?

 

According to specialists, these guns were intended to pierce armor of French and British cruisers, and were not expected to do more than that.  Here is the exact quote:

 

"These guns had 28 cm Psgr.m.K. L/3,7 armor-piercing projectiles, which were more or less a 'warmed-over' Krupp 28 cm Psgr.m.K. L/3,4 post-1911 World War I AP projectiles with a slight decrease in weight, a blunter nose, a thicker AP cap and a more pointed windscreen to increase range.  They were still just as poor at oblique-angle impact as their older brothers, having the same '0.5-caliber-KC-penetration-at-500 mps-and-30°-obliquity' specification as did the pre-World War I design.  Both the older projectile and this newer one barely met that requirement.  These guns also had a very blunt-nosed SAP-type Common projectile (Spgr.m.Bdz) with only light AP penetration ability, though the blunt nose shape gave it good thin-deck (British and French 'Treaty' cruisers) penetration at long range, which was probably what it was for." -- Nathan Okun

[waffles1945]

Nice post c:

[YYismyname]

Very nice work, good article. +1 for both.

[Appollosnos]

Woot woot HAS Ajax for the win, also nice write up as always.

[Wolfar1000]

Great read I loved it!