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Subject: Raising the Graf Spee.....
PuckaMan    2/26/2004 6:31:49 PM
They're raising the Graf Spee from its 64 year resting place at the bottom of the of the River Plate in Uruguay: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/26/1077676896334.html That'd be great to have a look at. Even better if they could raise the Bismarck or Mushashi..... but then again, a battle cruiser is a bit smaller and lighter than a Battleship.........
 
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PuckaMan    RE:battle cruiser is a bit smaller and lighter than a Battleship........    3/2/2004 12:15:23 AM
Battlecruiser/Pocket Battleship, who cares? It's cool that they're raising it, and once more it was a damn fine ship in its day. It'd be great to see up close.
 
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bombard    RE:battle cruiser is a bit smaller and lighter than a Battleship........    3/2/2004 4:31:36 AM
Initially, the British Consul thought that the Graf Spee had come off the worst in the battle, so the best thing was to chivy it out again as soon as possible. Once the damage to Exter and Achilles was communicated, it became necessary to keep her in until the blockade could be reinforced. This was achieved by sending out merchantment at timed intervals, since a combatant in a neutral port could not leave straight after a hostile merchantman, and I think the delay was again 48 hours. These departures were timed to force the Graf Spee out during daylight hours. Simultanouslty, the BBC and other propaganda channels publicised the huge fleet heading to ensure the destruction. The account I've read claimed that Captain Langsdorff had been shaken by the losses to his crew, and refused to send them to die. He brought his ship out, scuttled it, and afterwards wrapped himself in the flag of the old imperial navy and shot himself. He was never a member of the Nazi Party.
 
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Jack Tar    RE:battle cruiser is a bit smaller and lighter than a Battleship........    3/2/2004 5:00:03 AM
'He was never a member of the Nazi Party' Absolutely correct. I've seen a great photo of Langsdorff giving a naval salute at the burial of the Graf Spee's dead while getting an evil stare from a priest giving the Nazi salute. A picture paints a thousand words indeed!
 
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Marcus    Ownership of the AGS   3/2/2004 7:38:36 AM
Are here expert of international sea law or did somebody know who is the owner of Graf Spee now? Our goverment says it is still a german ship!
 
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