Events In History
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23 February 1940100,000 Aucklanders welcome home HMS Achilles
The Battle of the River Plate in December 1939 was the Allies’ first naval victory of the Second World War. The involvement of the cruiser HMS Achilles, more than half of whose crew were New Zealanders, was greeted with jubilation in New Zealand. Read more...
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13 December 1939Battle of the River Plate
When the cruiser HMS Achilles opened fire on the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee in the South Atlantic, it became the first New Zealand unit to strike a blow at the enemy in the Second World War. Read more...
Articles
Battle of the River Plate
When HMS Achilles opened fire on the German 'pocket battleship' Admiral Graf Spee on 13 December 1939, it became the first New Zealand unit to engage the enemy in the Second World War. More than 80 years later, the Battle of the River Plate still holds a special place in this country’s naval history.
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Page 2 – New Zealand's naval forces
New Zealand’s naval forces and strategy before the outbreak of the Second World War.
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Page 3 – The outbreak of war
The outbreak of the Second World War and New Zealand naval involvement in the Battle of the Atlantic.
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Page 4 – Into the South Atlantic
HMS Achilles joins the Royal Navy's South America Division patrolling the South Atlantic in search of German raiders.
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Page 5 – The battle
The British cruisers Achilles, Ajax and Exeter engage the German ‘pocket battleship’ Admiral Graf Spee.
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Page 6 – After the battle
The aftermath of the battle and the return of HMS Achilles to New Zealand.
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Page 7 – Further information
Website links and books related to the Battle of the River Plate.
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Main image: HMS Achilles memorial, St Heliers
On 16 January 1940, to recognize the role the New Zealand ship HMS Achilles had played in the Battle of the River Plate, Auckland City Council resolved to name the tip of the headland on the western side of the Tamaki River as Achilles Point.