The Admiral Graf Spee was a German pocket battleship launched in 1934. It was named after Admiral Maximilian von Spee, a naval commander during World War I. The ship was designed for commerce raiding and had a significant impact during the early stages of World War II. In December 1939, the Admiral Graf Spee engaged in the Battle of the River Plate against British warships. After sustaining damage and facing overwhelming odds, the captain, Hans Langsdorff, ordered the ship to be scuttled in Montevideo, Uruguay, to prevent its capture.