Sunk Australian WWII Cruiser Found

HSK Kormoran Discovered - Latest Search Reports

incredible news, now to find the Sydney

 

more on the Hilfkreuzers :

Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser / Raider) - Introduction

from here click HK Komoran photo and you will have a very good run-down on the ship

 

let the continued stupidity of over 60 years on this very battle continue ...........

Shots fired over role of HMAS Sydney's captain - National - smh.com.au

 

Mein Gott what a weekend off the Australian coast

they found her as well, maybe in the near future conclusions can be drawn

Wreckage of HMAS Sydney found off West Australian coast | Herald Sun

 

Australian WWII ship finally found, ending wartime mystery¤

By ROD McGUIRK

Associated Press Writer

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ The wreck of an Australian warship that went down during a fierce World War II battle with 645 men aboard has been found off western Australia, ending an enduring maritime mystery, the prime minister announced Monday.
The wreck of battle cruiser HMAS Sydney was discovered off western Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Monday. The Sydney sank on Nov. 19, 1941, after a battle with German vessel the DKM Kormoran.
All 645 men aboard the Australian vessel were lost, and its resting place has remained elusive for decades.
The ship was found upright in 2,470 meters (8,100 feet) of water on Sunday, a few days after search crews located the Kormoran, which was disguised as a Dutch merchant ship when it opened fire on the Sydney, kicking off a fierce battle.
Both ships were badly damaged and sank. Of the Kormoran's 397 crew, 317 survived and rowed to the Australian coast in life boats and were taken prisoner.
At a news conference in Canberra, Rudd said the Sydney had been found about 12 nautical miles (14 miles; 23 kilometers) from the wreckage of the Kormoran, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Perth, the capital of Western Australia state.
Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, said the find would help determine exactly what happened to the Sydney.
"For 66 years, this nation has wondered where the Sydney was and what occurred to her, we've uncovered the first part of that mystery ... the next part of the mystery, of course, is what happened," said Shalders, speaking at the news conference with Rudd.
Ted Graham, chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation, the group carrying out the search, said a remote-operated vehicle would be used to further examine the wreckage found on the sea floor for clues about the battle.
The government-funded US$3.9 million (€2.5 million) search for the Sydney began two weeks ago and is headed by U.S. shipwreck hunter David Mearns.
Mearns was involved in finding the wrecks of the British battle cruiser the HMS Hood and the DKM Bismarck, the German battle ship that sank her in the North Atlantic in 1941.
The Sydney weighed in at 6,600 metric tons (7,300 U.S. tons), making it the largest vessel from any country to be lost with no survivors during the war.
The fate of the ship and its crew has remained an enduring mystery, though a parliament inquiry into the tragedy in 1999 accepted accounts by Kormoran survivors that they last saw the ship in flames and heading toward Perth.
Rudd said he had instructed the Defense Department to contact relatives of the sailors who died aboard the Sydney about the find, and described the wreck as a tomb for Australian sailors that would be protected as a sacred site.
"This is over 65 years ago, but pain and family loss even at 65 years removed, is still pain, and very deep pain," Rudd said.
Relatives of sailors who died on the ship welcomed the find as helping to resolve pain caused by not knowing where their loved ones died, or exactly what happened to them.
"I haven't felt the sense of relief, but I've broken down and cried," Barbara Craill, whose father Walter Freer, a 38-year-old gunner, disappeared aboard the Sydney, told television's Nine Network.
Another victim's relative, Debra Malycha-Coombs, whose uncle Walter Leslie Curwood was 23 when he disappeared aboard the Sydney, said the mystery caused enduring pain for the victims' families.
"My mother died over 20 years ago not knowing where he was," Malycha-Coombs told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "I can't tell you how I feel _ it's so many emotions that all I can do is cry."

 

the ships are covered in the Atlantic forum thread so please read up if you would

 

well that is where I put it as one usually does not think of the Km in the pacific, that is the reason. what I am getting at Jeff is forum members need a review of what has been posted instead of starting up new threads...........make sense ?

 

I don't understand why this piece of news should be put in the Atlantic threads and that this finding of the wreck had been covered before in that area. I just took this off the AP news wire at my office a while ago today. Are you saying that the wreck had been found before and that this piece of news is dated?

 

Good move and thanks. You're right. I didn't think to check the Atlantic threads because the wreck was found in the Pacific.

 

Yeah isn't great that they found those 2 Aussie warships I am thrilled, a guy came in today who also likes ww2 and we talk for ages about it, plus it was all over the radio and the news

 

Thought this would be approriate

HMAS Sydney

 

[FONT=&quot]H. M. A. S. S Y D N E Y[/FONT]​

Modified LEANDER-Class cruiser ordered under the 1932 Estimates from Swan Hunter at Newcastle upon Tyne on 10th February 1933 and laid down on 8th July that year. Although launched as HMS PHAETON on 9th October 1934 as PHAETON this was changed in 1935 to SYDNEY after the decision to transfer her to the Royal Australian Navy. Build was completed on 24th September 1935 and she commissioned that day for RAN service.

[FONT=&quot]B a t t l e H o n o u rs[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]EMDEN[/FONT] Action [FONT=&quot]1914 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]CALABRIA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 1940 - [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]CALABRIA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 1940 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]MEDITERRANEAN[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 1940 - [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]KORMORAN Action 1941 - [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]KOREA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 1951-52*[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot](* Awarded by next HMAS Sydney)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]D e t a i l s o f [/FONT][FONT=&quot] W a r S e r v i c e[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]1 9 3 9[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]September Deployed with RAN Western Force based at Fremantle for trade defence in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Indian[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Ocean[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]October Deployed on patrol duty off NW Australia for interception of commerce raiders.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]to[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]November[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]December Escorted troop convoy carrying 2nd Australian Imperial Force on passage to the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Middle East[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] until relieved by HM Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE on [/FONT][FONT=&quot]12/12/39[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot] for routine docking.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 15th Under refit in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1 9 4 0[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]January Resumed operational duty on completion.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 11th Escorted military convoy US2 with HM Australian Cruiser [/FONT][FONT=&quot]AUSTRALIA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] from[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Jervis[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Bay[/FONT][FONT=&quot] arriving on [/FONT][FONT=&quot]12/1/40[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]February[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 6th Relieved HMAS [/FONT][FONT=&quot]AUSTRALIA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] as Western Force cruiser for Trade Defence duty off[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Western Australia[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]March[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Trade defence and interception duty in continuation.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]April[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 1st Transferred to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]East Indies[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Station.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 19th Deployed with HM Australian Cruiser [/FONT][FONT=&quot]ADELAIDE[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and HM Battleship RAMILLIES for[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Trade defence and convoy escort duty.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 28th Detached to join military convoy US3 for [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Indian Ocean[/FONT][FONT=&quot] passage.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]May[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 1st Detached from US3 to take passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Singapore[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to refuel.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 8th Arrived at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Colombo[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and Joined Squadron.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 12th Sailed to rejoin US3 but ordered to return to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Colombo[/FONT][FONT=&quot] prior for transfer to[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 7th Cruiser Squadron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] in Mediterranean Fleet.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 18th Passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Aden[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 22nd Joined HM Cruiser [/FONT][FONT=&quot]GLOUCESTER[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE for passage through[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Red Sea[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 26th Joined Squadron at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alexandria[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]June Carried out exercises and worked-up with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, ORION, NEPTUNE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]LIVERPOOL[/FONT][FONT=&quot] of 7th Cruiser Squadron..[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] (Note: CinC Mediterranean had arranged extensive programmes of exercises in anticipation of[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] the entry of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Italy[/FONT][FONT=&quot] into hostilities.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 12th Deployed for an offensive sweep and reconnaissance off North African coast and in[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Aegean Sea[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 21st Bombarded Bardia with French battleship [/FONT][FONT=&quot]LORRAINE[/FONT][FONT=&quot], HMS NEPTUNE, HMS ORION and[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, HASTY and STUART (RAN).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 28th Deployed with Squadron and joined by HM Cruisers CALEDON and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]CALCUTTA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] for the[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] cover of convoys in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Aegean Sea[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Engaged Italian destroyers attempting to attack[/FONT][FONT=&quot] a convoy and sank Italian ESPERO.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, THE BATTLE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] FOR THE [/FONT][FONT=&quot]MEDITERRANEAN[/FONT][FONT=&quot] by D. Macintyre and Naval Staff History (HMSO - 2002).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]July[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 6th Deployed to covered Aegean convoys.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 7th Transferred to provide cover passage of Convoys MS1 and MF1 from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Malta[/FONT][FONT=&quot] with ships of[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Squadron andHM Australian Destroyer STUART.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 8th Under Italian air attacks.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 9th Took part in Battle of Calabria during which Italian Fleet disengaged.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] (For details see above references).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 18th Carried out Anti- submarine sweep and shipping search with HM Destroyers ILEX,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HERO and HASTY in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Gulf[/FONT][FONT=&quot] of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Athens[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 19th In action with HM Destroyers HYPERION and HAVOCK against 2 Italian cruisers[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] on passage between [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Tripoli[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and Leros. Cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI was[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] sunk by the destroyers.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Engaged and hit BANDE NERE which then withdrew.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Return fire damaged one funnel slightly. (For details see above references).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 27th Joined HMS NEPTUNE to meet HM Battleships MALAYA, WARSPITE,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] RAMILLIES and H M Aircraft Carrier EAGLE.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Came under air attack.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 28th Intercepted and sank Greek tanker ERMIONE.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]August Deployed with 7th Cruiser Squadron in eastern [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Mediterranean[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 28th Covered Fleet units during bombardments of seaplane base in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Gulf[/FONT][FONT=&quot] of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Bomba[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Bardia harbour.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 30th Part of Force "F" for cover of passage of HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers [/FONT][FONT=&quot]CALCUTTA[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]COVENTRY[/FONT][FONT=&quot] from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Gibraltar[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] to join Fleet at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alexandria[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and also passage of convoy MB to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Malta[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (Operation HATS).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]September[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 1st Remained with convoy MB when it was threatened by Italian major warships, which[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] withdrew when Fleet units responded.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] For details see above references).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 3rd Adopted disguise of Italian cruiser and bombarded airfield at Scarpanto with[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HMS ORION, HM Destroyer DECOY and HM Destroyer ILEX.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] In action with E-Boats sinking one and damaging another.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 6th Routine docking at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alexandria[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 24th Patrolled off [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cyprus[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and covered HM Netlayer PROTECTOR near [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Beirut[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 28th Deployed with Fleet units to cover passage of HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS LIVERPOOL[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] taking troops to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Malta[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 30th Patrolled off [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Malta[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]October[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 1st Detached with HMS ORION to bombard airfield at Stampalia in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Dodecanese[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 9th Deployed with Fleet to cover passage of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Malta[/FONT][FONT=&quot] convoy MB6.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 25th Carried out Aegean sweep including [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Dardanelles[/FONT][FONT=&quot] area and supported convoys with[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HMS ORION, H M Destroyer JERVIS and HM Destroyer [/FONT][FONT=&quot]JUNO[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 28th Patrolled with HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS ORION and HM Cruiser [/FONT][FONT=&quot]YORK[/FONT][FONT=&quot] off [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Crete[/FONT][FONT=&quot] during[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Italian invasion of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Greece[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] (For details of naval operations in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Greece[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Crete[/FONT][FONT=&quot] see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]November[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 5th Embarked troops and stores for passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Suda[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Bay[/FONT][FONT=&quot] with HMS AJAX. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 7th Joined Fleet to cover [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Malta[/FONT][FONT=&quot] convoy MW6 and transfer of HM Battleship BAHRAM.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HM Cruiser BERWICK, HM Cruiser GLASGOW and three Fleet destroyers of Force[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] "F" from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Gibraltar[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to join Fleet (Operation COAT).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 11th Detached with HMS AJAX, HMS NUBIAN and HMS ESKIMO to join HMS AJAX in[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] offensive sweep in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Adriatic[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and a bombardment of Valona.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 12th Night attack on Italian convoy off [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Brindisi[/FONT][FONT=&quot] sinking four ships and damaging an escort.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Rejoined Fleet west of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Crete[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 15th Embarked troops and made fast passage to Piraeus at 30 knots with HM Cruisers BERWICK,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HMS GLASGOW and HMS [/FONT][FONT=&quot]YORK[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 25th Covered transit of HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HMS BERWICK and HMS NEWCASTLE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] to western [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Mediterranean[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and the transit of HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SOUTHAMPTON[/FONT][FONT=&quot] with 3 Fleet destroyers in Force "F" from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Gibraltar[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to join Fleet.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] (Operation COLLAR).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 26th Covered HMS EAGLE during air strike on [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Tripoli[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]December Based at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Suda[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Bay[/FONT][FONT=&quot] for convoy defence and interception of Italian convoys.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 17th Offensive sweep in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Adriatic[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and covered Convoy MW2 with Fleet units.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] (Operations MC2 and MC3).[/FONT]
20th Detached from covering duty and returned to Suda Bay.
23rd Under refit in Malta (Mileage steamed in 1940 - 60,000).
30th Relieved by HM Australian Cruiser PERTH in 7th Cruiser Squadron and released from
Mediterranean Fleet for return to RAN.

[FONT=&quot]1 9 4 1.[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]January[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 8th Passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alexandria[/FONT][FONT=&quot] escorted by HMAS STUART.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 12th Sailed from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Suez[/FONT][FONT=&quot] for [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 24th Diverted at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Seychelles[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to search for the German commerce raiders ATLANTIS and[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] PINGUIN reported NW of islands.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]February Resumed passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]March Under refit in [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]April On completion deployed for Convoy escort in Australian waters.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 14th Embarked delegation for ABDA conference and took passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Singapore[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 18th Passage from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Singapore[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Australia[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]May Escorted troop convoy from Fremantle to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sunda[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Strait[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and returned with single[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] empty ship.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]June Escorted convoy from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to Fremantle.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]July Deployed on escort of convoys between [/FONT][FONT=&quot]New Zealand[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Australia[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]August Escorted convoy from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Auckland[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and returned to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sydney[/FONT][FONT=&quot] via [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Suva[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]September[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 4th Escorted Convoy US12A from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Australia[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Colombo[/FONT][FONT=&quot] and returned independently.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 22nd Escorted Convoy US12B from [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Melbourne[/FONT][FONT=&quot] to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sunda[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Strait[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Returned independently.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]October Local convoy defence in continuation.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]November[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 11th Escorted troopship ZEALANDIA from Fremantle on passage to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Sunda[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Strait[/FONT][FONT=&quot].[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 17th After relief by HM Cruiser [/FONT][FONT=&quot]DURBAN[/FONT][FONT=&quot] returned independently.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 18th Diverted to search for German raider KORMORAN.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 19th Intercepted KORMORAN 300 miles off western Australian and closed when identity given was[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] known to be incorrect.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Soon after first exchange of fire shells from the enemy ship hit Bridge structure and damaged[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] the main armament fire-control director.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Fires were started and although guns had to be used in Local Control obtained several hits on[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] KORMORAN.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The raider fired two torpedoes. one of which hit forward. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]SYDNEY[/FONT][FONT=&quot] was disabled and unable[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] to move or to fight effectively.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Fires became uncontrollable.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Owing to the extent of damage inflicted by [/FONT][FONT=&quot]SYDNEY[/FONT][FONT=&quot] the enemy ship was abandoned after[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] scuttling charges had been set.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The resultant explosions caused extensive fires that soon reached magazines. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] KORMORAN then disintegrated.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 315 survivors were later rescued and taken to [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Australia[/FONT][FONT=&quot] where they became POW.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] HMAS SYDNEY was last seen ablaze and it is assumed she sank with no survivors.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Some wrecked life rafts were found a few days later. [/FONT][FONT=&quot](Casualty List - note on casualties) [/FONT]

 

Always enjoy the pictures - thanks!

 

more from the Aussie headlines ..........

Memorial to HMAS Sydney's souls lost at sea | Herald Sun

 

and another for more reading .........

www.theage.com.au - Broken bow likely cause, overwhelming the crew

 

This is good link to HMAS Sydney's Battle ar Cape Spada against an Italian Surface group.

Cape Spada. HMAS Sydney at her finest