Nr. 1 / 2006 - Marinehistorisk Selskab og Orlogsmuseets Venner

Graf Spee´s bevægelser fra den 3-13 december 1939.således:”I decided that the Plate, with its largernumber of ships and its very valuablegrain and meat trade, was the vitalarea to defend. I therefore arranged toconcentrate there my available forcesin advance of the time at which it wasanticipated the raider might startoperations in that area.”Som følge heraf sendte han kl. 1313følgende signal til sine skibe:”In view of report pocket battleship,amend previous dispositions, Cumberlandself-refit at Falkland Islands asprevious arranged but keep at shortnotice on two shafts. Achilles leaveRio de Janeiro so as to arrive andfuel Montevideo 0600 8 th December,Exeter leave Falklands Islands forPlate AM 9 th December, covering ssLafonia with returning volunteers.Ajax, Achilles ,concentrate in position35 degrees south, 50 degrees westat 1600 10 th December. Exeter topass through position 090 degreesMedanaos Ligth 150 miles at 0700 12 thDecember. If concentration with Ajaxand Achilles not effected by that timefurther instructions will be issued toExeter….” (34)Den 12. december var koncentrationen14