British cruiser HMS Ajax visited Montevideo, Uruguay probably for repairs according to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 4 January 1940

Leander-class

Admiral Graf Spee

An item dated Montevideo, Uruguay 3^rd reported the British cruiser Ajax ((1) in the harbour showing the flag of read admiral sir Henry Harwood. She was a stay of 48 hours allowed to load fuel and stores. British citizens living at Montevideo planned a demonstration to honour the crew. Despite a British statement that she was just paying a visit reported the newspaper Tribuna that the British ambassador asked for permission to stay longer while it was necessary to repair the damage caused by the battle. The commission which investigate the damage of the Admiral Graf Spee (2) was now to investigate the damage of the Ajax.

Notes

1. Pennant 22. Of the Leander-class light cruisers consisting of the Leander, Orion, Neptune, Ajax, Achilles, Amphion, Apollo and Sydney). With the Leander and the Perth-Sydney-Hobart forming sub classes. Preceded by the Emerald class and succeeded by the Arethusa-class. Building ordered on 1 October 1932, laid down at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, England on 7 February 1933, launched on 1 March 1934, commissioned on 12 April 1935, participated in the Battle of Rio de Plata against the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee on 13 December 1939, decommissioned in February 1948, a sale to India was cancelled by Winston Churchill, after temporarily being grounded arrived she at Cashmore’s, Newport, England to be broken up on 18 November 1949.

2. Of the Deutschland-class armoured ships well known as pocket battleships later classified as heavy cruisers. Laid down by Reichsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 1 October 1932, launched on 30 June 1934, commissioned on 6 January 1936, after the Battle of the River Plata with British/New Zealand cruisers on 13 December, scuttled by her own crew in the harbour of Montevideo, Uruguay on 17 December 1939.