Graf Spree Emerges From Its River Plate Grave

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2-27-2004 | Seamus Mirodan

[blam]

Graf Spee emerges from its River Plate grave

By Seamus Mirodan in Buenos Aires
(Filed: 27/02/2004)

More than 64 years after the Graf Spee's captain scuttled his pocket battleship off Uruguay to stop it falling into British hands, divers have raised part of the vessel.

A part of the Graf Spee is raised

After weeks of failed attempts a 27-ton section of the command tower, including the first embryonic radar antenna installed on a warship, was brought to the surface of the River Plate estuary using a floating crane.

Germany's Graf Spee, equipped with 11-inch guns and a prototype diesel engine, was one of the most advanced vessels of its time. It was smaller and faster than a traditional battleship and caused serious unease in the Royal Navy.

It sank nine commercial vessels in the Atlantic in late 1939 before engaging with British and New Zealand warships in the battle of the River Plate that December, one of the first naval clashes of the Second World War.

Outnumbered and badly damaged, the Graf Spee managed to make port in Montevideo but neutral Uruguay gave in to British pressure and sent it back out. With the British ships Exeter and Ajax and New Zealand's Achilles waiting for him, Capt Hans Langsdorff knew he had no chance so he blew up his ship in 36ft of water.

Now the Graf Spee is being raised in sections over the next three years and will be rebuilt as a land museum.

[gcruse]

neutral Uruguay gave in to British pressure and sent it back out

Please, Mr Custer, I don't want to go...

[Viking2002]

Only 36 feet of water? Her superstructure must've been a navigational hazard. How big was she?

[Dilbert56]

Britain bluffed. They invoked some weird rule that would force the Graf Spee to sail (it was only supposed to stay a minimum number of hours in a neutral port). Meantime they pretended to have a large fleet wiating over the horizon. The captain and German embassy fell for it. The captain (Langsdorf?) scuttled to save his crew and then blew his brains out.

[dinok]

She was the size of a large cruiser...but she had big guns that could outrange cruiser guns. Its why she faught 3 cruisers to a draw.

[gcruse]

I love psychological warfare. Rommel was another master of it.

[solitas]

And it was a great movie too!

[nkycincinnatikid]

The Plate is so wide where she went down , they probably just marked her on the charts

[Tennessee_Bob]

Go here: http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/h_class.htm and scroll down a bit - you'll see pictures of what she looked like after being scuttled.

[Viking2002]

Incredible. Thanks!

[blam]

Dang, I just remembered that I have/had a 1939 Life magazine with a picture of the Graf Spree on the cover. I gave it to my son. I'll email him this story.

[gcruse]

I used to have Life from 1942, the year of my birth. The Japanese were portrayed as buck-toothed, spectacle wearing monkeys in the magazine. Makes me think of the Quiznos critters, come to think of it.

[hc87]

12,100 tons. Length 609', Width 70', Draft 21.5'.

[martin_fierro]

Check it out!

This is like end-of-the-world-kewl stuff for little Uruguay.

HUIJA!! <|:)~

[Petronski]

I can't wait to visit that museum, wherever it is (hopefully close).

[blam]

"The Japanese were portrayed as buck-toothed, spectacle wearing monkeys in the magazine. Makes me think of the Quiznos critters, come to think of it."

I remember see those...I was born in 1943.

[SAMWolf]

Admiral Graf Spee

Size (Max): 16023 t
Length (Total): 186,0 m
Length (Waterline): 181,7 m
Beam: 21,65 m
Draft: 7,34 m
Crew: 1001-1150

[blam]

Graf Spree Entering Montevideo Harbor

[Wumpus Hunter]

This is kind off the subject, but have you ever been to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry?

They have a Nazi sub you can walk through. The whole saga of it's capture and transport to where it's now sitting is documented and is really interesting.

[eddie willers]

LOL....I remember that song!