Doric Star Report Used to Track Raider
Harwood uses Doric Star's distress report to estimate the likely movements of the German raider.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Henry Harwood Biography and Timeline
Follow Henry Harwood through 16 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Henry Harwood, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
16Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1939–1939Years on this page
1939
River Plate Interception Date Predicted
From recent merchant losses, Harwood calculates that the raider could reach the River Plate focal area around 13 December.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Cruiser Concentration Ordered off River Plate
Harwood orders Ajax, Achilles and Exeter to concentrate off the River Plate before his predicted arrival of the German raider.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
River Plate Squadron Rehearses Action Plan
Harwood's three cruisers conduct manoeuvres and rehearse the tactics intended for an encounter with a German pocket battleship.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Ajax and Achilles Ordered to Close
Harwood presses the two light cruisers closer to bring their six-inch guns effectively into action against Graf Spee.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Daylight Engagement Broken Off
Around 07:40 Harwood turns away, intending to shadow Graf Spee and renew the fight later under more favourable conditions.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Divided Cruiser Attack Plan Executed
Harwood separates Exeter from Ajax and Achilles so Graf Spee must divide its fire or leave one British group less engaged.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Exeter Sent to Investigate Smoke
Harwood detaches Exeter to investigate smoke on the horizon before the contact is identified as Admiral Graf Spee.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Graf Spee Shadowed toward Montevideo
Harwood keeps Ajax and Achilles in contact as the damaged German ship steams toward the River Plate estuary.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Light Cruisers Move to Protect Exeter
When Graf Spee turns toward the badly damaged Exeter, Harwood orders Ajax and Achilles to close and draw German fire away.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Reinforcements Requested off Montevideo
Harwood seeks additional warships while maintaining a naval watch outside the neutral port where Graf Spee has taken refuge.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Cumberland Joins River Plate Force
HMS Cumberland reaches Harwood's force off Montevideo, strengthening the cruisers waiting for Graf Spee to leave port.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1939
Battle of River Plate
Ajax & Achilles shadow the Graf Spee into the neutral port of Montevideo
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of River Plate
Commands the HMS Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate
Role range: 1939-1945
Graf Spee
Ajax & Achilles shadow the Graf Spee into the neutral port of Montevideo
Role range: 1939-1945
Neutrality
Ajax & Achilles shadow the Graf Spee into the neutral port of Montevideo
Role range: 1939-1945
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.