13.Dezember 1939
<<
12.Dezember 1939 14.Dezember
1939 >>
The five destroyers
(Beitzen“, „Steinbrinck“, „Heinemann“ „Ihn“ and „Kühne“) after being
subjected to an attack made in error by German aircraft, were still some 130
miles away, they were ordered to form an anti-submarine screen around the
cruisers with all despatch, but shortly afterwards the 'Ihn' and 'Steinbrinck'
were diverted to Wilhelmshaven because of machinery breakdowns.
The minesweeping trawler „William Hallet“
(202BRT) struck a mine and sank off the Tyne. The exact position of the wreck
is unclear, but it is thought to be off Whitley Bay.
The german battleship „Graf Spee“
encounters the british heavy cruiser „Exeter“ (61 KIA, 23 WIA) and the
light cruisers „Achilles“ (4 KIA) and „Ajax“ (7 KIA, 5 WIA) at
the La-Plata Estuary. The „Graf Spee“ is heavily damaged and escapes
into the harbor of Montevideo.
The german Fast-steamer „Bremen“
returns from New York breaking through the british blockade via Murmansk.