{"product_id":"32821","title":"\"HMS Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate, 13th December 1939\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcrylic on Paper\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9 1\/4 x 13 1\/2 inches (23.5 x 34.5 cm)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSigned, lower right\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated: “British Light Cruisers 1939-45”, Osprey Publishing 2012\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis famous action was the first naval engagement of the Second World War. The German pocket battleship \u003cem\u003eGraf Spee\u003c\/em\u003e 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 \u003cem\u003eExeter\u003c\/em\u003e and the Leander class light cruisers \u003cem\u003eAjax\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAchilles\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cruisers split up and engaged the German battleship which, after an hour, broke off the action and made for the River Plate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Paul Wright's exceptional painting we see HMS \u003cem\u003eAjax\u003c\/em\u003e from the after deck of HMS \u003cem\u003eAchilles\u003c\/em\u003e; the time is around 7250 am. \u003cem\u003eAjax\u003c\/em\u003e is firing at the damaged \u003cem\u003eGraf Spee\u003c\/em\u003e which is seen in the background and above flies a Fairey Seafox launched from Ajax before the action began.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt this early point in the war all the British ships were painted mid-grey without camouflage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFull description on request \/ A larger photograph is available\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor queries or to reserve the painting for 24 hours, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003econtact\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharles Mayes \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ecm@marineartists.co.uk +44(0)20 7352 7759 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eor buy direct through our secure website\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVAT does not apply\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PAUL WRIGHT, RSMA (British, born 1947)","offers":[{"title":"Framed \u0026 Glazed Original Painting","offer_id":55616658047318,"sku":"-32821","price":1600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/Wright_20-_20River_20Plate_20-_20stamped_20-_20JP_20-_20DSC_3903_1717ecf9-4353-4a6a-9cbd-83e2b5e6dca8.jpg?v=1791280060","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/32821","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}