"HMS Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate, 13th December 1939"

Acrylic on Paper

9 1/4 x 13 1/2 inches (23.5 x 34.5 cm)

Signed, lower right

Illustrated: “British Light Cruisers 1939-45”, Osprey Publishing 2012

This famous action was the first naval engagement of the Second World War. The German pocket battleship Graf Spee was seen approaching the mouth of the River Plate, off Argentina and Uruguay. Stationed there was the British Force G consisting of the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and the Leander class light cruisers Ajax and Achilles.

The cruisers split up and engaged the German battleship which, after an hour, broke off the action and made for the River Plate.

In Paul Wright's exceptional painting we see HMS Ajax from the after deck of HMS Achilles; the time is around 7250 am. Ajax is firing at the damaged Graf Spee which is seen in the background and above flies a Fairey Seafox launched from Ajax before the action began.

At this early point in the war all the British ships were painted mid-grey without camouflage.

Full description on request / A larger photograph is available

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