The closest ship to the viewer is HMNZS 'Achilles' (1932) and the other on the left is the light cruiser HMS 'Ajax' (1934), flagship of Commodore Henry Harwood, British commander in the action. The time shown is about 7.30 a.m. and 'Ajax' already has her mainmast shot away. The German 'Admiral Graf Spee', with which both ships are engaging, can be seen in the distance beyond the bow of 'Achilles'.

This painting forms part of Norman Wilkinson's ‘The War at Sea’ series, depicting the work of the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and RAF Coastal Command, of which 53 were exhibited under that title at the National Gallery in 1944, and the full set of 54 presented by him to the nation via the War Artists Advisory Committee (this item's WAAC number being LD 4318). For details of the slightly complex history of the acquisition see BHC1590, the start of the set by modern NMM catalogue number.

In 1940 Wilkinson exhibited a painting at the Royal Academy summer exhibition (no. 316) with the title 'River Plate Action , December 13th 1939. Painted from a description of the battle by Captain C.H.L. Woodhouse R.N., H.M.S. Ajax'. This may be the the same one and, if so, must have been painted earlier than 1942 but that cannot be assumed, since he did do versions of others in his 'War at Sea' set.