Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Graf Spree Emerges From Its River Plate Grave
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2-27-2004 | Seamus Mirodan

Posted on 02/26/2004 6:57:59 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: emerges; graf; grafspree; grave; plate; river; shipwreck; spree
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last
To: Vic3O3
Ping
21 posted on 02/26/2004 7:46:11 PM PST by dd5339 (Happiness is a full VM-II and a DEAD AND BURIED AWB!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Dilbert56
The "weird rule" was established international law -- beligerent warships entering a neutral port could stay for a maximum of 48 hours to conduct necessary repairs or for humaitarian reasons.

Britain's bluff was to convince the Germans that the Royal Navy had a task force bearing down on Montevideo to sink or capture the Graf Spee as she emerged from Montevideo harbor.

British intelligence agents in Uraguay (a hotbed of pro-Nazi sympathy) leaked the story of the fake task force knowing that German agents or sympathizers would pick it up and transmit this information back to Germany, and the Kreigsmarine (German Navy).

The bluff worked. The Graf Spee's Captain, under pressure from international law and the belief that a British surface force was coming to pound his ship, scuttled his vessel and then took his own life, after ensuring that his crew made it ashore.
22 posted on 02/26/2004 7:47:23 PM PST by Wombat101 (Sanitized for YOUR protection....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Wumpus Hunter
I had a bit of trouble climbing around in a B-17 a few years back...couldn't make it through the bomb-bay to the aft guns. I'm a little bashful about attempting to squeeze into a WWII sub.

But a genuine U-boat? I think I'd try.

23 posted on 02/26/2004 7:51:53 PM PST by Petronski (John Kerry looks like . . . like . . . weakness.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: dinok
The term is "fought", not "faught" and she should have beaten the three Commonwealth Cruisers, but she wasn't as good at fighting those who could fight back as she could against helpless merchantment.

Game, Set and Match!

24 posted on 02/26/2004 7:52:17 PM PST by Redleg Duke (tStir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: eddie willers; gcruse
<== Mash This
25 posted on 02/26/2004 7:52:33 PM PST by SAMWolf (I even have boring dreams...I fall asleep in my sleep!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: eddie willers
You're an old guy, too, eh? :)
26 posted on 02/26/2004 7:57:07 PM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke
A. I admit to being a bad speller. Quit being anal.

B. You ASSUMED I was singing praize to the Graff Spee. I was stating fact from a military history perspective. Get a grip will yah?
27 posted on 02/26/2004 8:00:16 PM PST by dinok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
Outstanding!! Thanks for that.
28 posted on 02/26/2004 8:02:37 PM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Petronski
Here it is online: The U505. Be sure to check out the history tab.


The U-505 on Lake Michigan with the 1954 Chicago skyline in the background.

Looks like you'll need to wait until 2005 to see it, as they are remodeling.

29 posted on 02/26/2004 8:19:32 PM PST by Wumpus Hunter (<a href="http://moveon.org" target="blank">Communist front group</a>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: gcruse
You're welcome. I remember that song too.
30 posted on 02/26/2004 8:48:29 PM PST by SAMWolf (I even have boring dreams...I fall asleep in my sleep!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: blam
Never thought I'd see this bump.
31 posted on 02/26/2004 9:51:00 PM PST by witnesstothefall
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wumpus Hunter
The U-505. Being from Chicago, I remember when they brought it to the Museum and installed it. They had to lay temporary rail tracks from the lake shore, across the Outer Drive, and to the side of the museum.

The producers of "Das Boot" used U-505 as the model for their mockups and sets.

32 posted on 02/26/2004 10:07:02 PM PST by Erasmus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: dinok
Got it out of your system now? Good!
33 posted on 02/27/2004 10:46:49 AM PST by Redleg Duke (tStir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson