Admiral Graf Spee had already sighted mastheads and identified Exeter, but initially suspected that the two light cruisers were smaller destroyers and that the British ships were protecting a merchant convoy, the destruction of which would be a major prize.
O Admiral Graf Spee, a pesar de ter identificado correctamente ao Exeter, inicialmente sospeitou que os dous cruceiros lixeiros eran destrutores máis pequenos e que os barcos británicos estaban protexendo un convoi mercante, cuxa destrución sería un premio importante.