The Admiral Graf Spee was built as a battleship in the naval yards of Wilhemshaven in 1932. Launched in 1936, it was classified among the heavy cruisers in 1940. 
On December 13, 1939, the Graf Spee faced the British cruisers EXETER, AJAX and ACHILLES off the mouth of La Plata.
Thinking that the Franco-British naval forces cut off its retreat to the high sea, the Graf Spee was scuttled on December 17, 1939, at the mouth of La Plata.

FEATURES
Displacement maximum: 16,200 tons
Length: 186 overall
Width: 21.6 m
Draught: between 5.8 and 7.4m according to equipment
Power: 54,000 HP
Speed: 26 knots
Crew: up to 1150 men.