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.

[dd5339]

Ping

[Wombat101]

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.

[Petronski]

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.

[Redleg Duke]

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!

[SAMWolf]

<== Mash This

[gcruse]

You're an old guy, too, eh? :)

[dinok]

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?

[gcruse]

Outstanding!! Thanks for that.

[Wumpus Hunter]

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.

[SAMWolf]

You're welcome. I remember that song too.

[witnesstothefall]

Never thought I'd see this bump.

[Erasmus]

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.

[Redleg Duke]

Got it out of your system now? Good!