The Battle of the River Plate took place on December 13, 1939, during World War II. It was a naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the German battleship Admiral Graf Spee. The battle occurred off the coast of Uruguay, near the estuary of the River Plate, and was significant as it marked one of the first major naval confrontations of the war. The British forces, consisting of three cruisers, engaged the Admiral Graf Spee and inflicted damage, forcing the German ship to seek refuge in the neutral port of Montevideo. After a brief stay, the captain, Hans Langsdorff, scuttled the ship to prevent its capture, marking a decisive victory for the Allies.