[1][2][3][4][5] Under the command of Kapitän zur See Hans Langsdorff, Admiral Graf Spee sailed from Wilhelmshaven on 21 August 1939, bound for the South Atlantic.

She transited through the Denmark Strait, and out into the open ocean where she rendezvoused with her supply ship Altmark on September 1 at a position southwest of the Canary Islands.

During the course of the morning, at a point 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) south-southwest from the lighthouse at Cape Zavora, she was spotted by the Graf Spee who ordered her to stop by the firing of a shot across her bow.

Dove was incensed by the interception of his ship, and complained personally to Kapitän Langsdorff, citing that the Africa Shell was within Portuguese Territorial Waters and that the action was in clear violation of international law.

Scuttling charges were placed within the ship, and their timers set, following which the party re-embarked in the motor launch and made their way back to the Graf Spee.

With all personnel safely aboard the Graf Spee, Langsdorff and his crew observed the detonation of the charges which blew two holes in the Africa Shell's stern.

[1][2][3][4] Having sunk the Africa Shell Langsdorff left the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and made passage back into the South Atlantic.

Graf Spee's time in the Indian Ocean yielded a poor return for Langsdorff, the only success being the sinking of the Africa Shell.

[8] Dove's book provided the basis for the Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger 1956 British war film The Battle of the River Plate, (released in the United States under the title Pursuit of the Graf Spee).