December 12, 2019 HISTORY | New Zealanders tested in Battle of River Plate Written by Michael Wynd on December 12, 2019. Posted in Ausmarine - Featured, Ausmarine - Maritime Security, Naval, Work Boat World Features. At 6.18am on 13 December, 1939, cruisers HMS Ajax, Exeter and Achilles (the last of which was from the New Zealand Division) took on German armoured cruiser KMS Admiral .. Read More