page_title: SS Clement
section_title: Interception
hierarchical_section_title: SS Clement / History / Interception
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Panzerschiff "Admiral Graf Spee" Information added by Wikimedia users.English: German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee
context_page_description: TSS Clement, was a British turbine steamship operated by the Booth Steamship Company from 1934 to 1939 until she was intercepted and sunk by the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee off the east coast of Brazil becoming the first victim of Graf Spee's commerce raiding sortie.
context_section_description: On September 30 Graf Spee intercepted the Clement at a position 50 nautical miles southeast of Pernambuco. The Graf Spee transmitted to the Clement that under no circumstances should they operate the ship's radio, however the wireless operator ignored the instruction and proceeded to transmit an "RRR" signal ("I am under attack by a raider") as well as giving the position of the Clement in addition to which Captain Harris ensured that important documentation was jettisoned over the side.
  As part of the interception, Graf Spee had scrambled her Arado Ar 196 floatplane which proceeded to make several passes of the Clement, shooting at her upper works with its MG 15 machine gun during the course of which the Chief Officer of the Clement received a slight wound to his hand. 
  In time the crew of the Clement were taken off the ship in the vessel’s four lifeboats. Once in their lifeboats the crew were given a course to steer to the Brazilian port of Maceió, however the Clement's Master, Capt. F.C.P. Harris O.B.E. and Chief Officer were transferred to the Graf Spee following which Capt. Harris was questioned whilst the Chief Officer received treatment for his injury.
caption: Panzerschiff Admiral Graf Spee
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