Death of a Pocket Battleship
Admiral Graf Spee

Introduction

by Marvin Scott

In the introduction to his naval wargame, Fletcher Pratt reports that "the result has been surprisingly like the real thing. The battle off Montevideo was not much of a surprise to some of the players who had participated in a floor game in which Admiral Graf Spee was pulled down by lighter ships -- though at the time the result of the floor game was discounted."

Pratt's naval wargame was first published in 1940 after eleven years of playing and development. He was a journalist with an interest in naval affairs. His game became widely known in the United States. Sometimes it was played in rented halls with spectators in bleachers. Even naval professionals took note. His article on the game appeared in the December 1932 issue of the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings. The Graf Spee was destroyed off Montevideo in December 1939. Pratt's reference to this event started me looking into the event most sources call the Battle of the River Plate. (It's Rio de la Plata in Spanish.) The battle does suggest some lessons for wargame designers, but not all of them are included in Pratt's rules.

History it seems is more complex than games. In this article, I'll review the history of the Graf Spee and the Battle of the River Plate; then draw some conclusions about how valid Pratt's wargame was. After that I'll suggest some scenarios for gaming alternative versions along with model ships, rules and a report on a solo game.

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