A tremendous effort to keep the Atlantic convoy routes open and the British Isles supplied began World War II. Many surface/commerce raiders sneaked out of German waters soon before war was declared. They were supplied by axis cargo ships or tankers and could and did attack anyplace. That ship was the Admiral Graf Spee, and three poorly equipped Royal Navy cruisers with 6 and 8 inch guns bravely faced off against this fearsome 11 inch pocket battleship.