Achilles and two other cruisers, HMS Ajax and HMS Exeter, were in an operation that forced the crew of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee to scuttle their ship rather than face the loss of many more German seamen's lives.
Achilles og to andre krydsere, HMS Ajax og HMS Exeter, deltog i en operation der tvang besætningen på krigsmarinens lommeslagskib Admiral Graf Spee til at sprænge skibet i luften frem for tabet af mange tyske søfolks liv.