HMAS Sydney in 1940. A spar projecting forward from the bridge and the single 4. In Sailing, a spar is also know as a round pole of wood or Metal used on a Sailing ship. The bridge of a Ship is an area or room from which the ship can be commanded 0 inch (102 mm) AA guns amidships distinguished Sydney from other ships in her class. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces
Career (Australia)
Name:	HMAS Sydney
Namesake:	HMAS Sydney (1912)
Ordered:	1931
Builder:	Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited, Wallsend-on-Tyne[1]
Laid down:	8 July 1933
Launched:	22 September 1934
Christened:	HMS Phaeton[1]
Commissioned:	24 September 1935
Renamed:	HMAS Sydney (II) (before launching)
Homeport:	Fremantle, Western Australia
Fate:	Sunk by Kormoran 19 November 1941
Notes:	Wreck discovered in March 2008
General characteristics
Class and type:	Amphion-class cruiser[2]
Displacement:	6,830 tons
Length:	562 ft (171. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. History Sydney was laid down by the London and Glasgow Engineering Company at Govan, Scotland, in February 1911 launched on 29 August 1912 by Lady Swan Hunter, formerly known as " Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson " was one of the best known Shipbuilding companies in the United Kingdom. Wallsend is a town in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fremantle (commonly known as Freo is a Port City in Western Australia, located southwest of Perth, the state capital at the mouth of Early history Kormoran was built by Germaniawerft of Kiel and launched on 15 September 1938 as the merchant ship Steiermark of HAPAG Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Design The Leander class was influenced by the ''York'' class heavy cruiser, and was an attempt to better provide for the role of commerce protection 3 m)
Beam:	56 ft (17. 1 m)
Draught:	19. 1 feet (5. 8 m)
Propulsion:	4x Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers, Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, 72,000 shp (53700 kW) on 4 shafts
Speed:	32. A water-tube boiler is a type of boiler in which water circulates in tubes heated externally by the fire Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company was a British Engineering company based in Wallsend, North England, on the River Tyne. A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts Thermal energy from pressurized Steam, and converts it into useful mechanical work 5 knots (60 km/h)
Range:	5,730 nmi (10,610 km) at 13 knots (24 km/h)
Complement:	645
Armament:	8 × BL 6 in Mk. XXIII (152 mm L/50) guns, twin turrets Mk. XXI 4 × QF 4 in Mk.V (102 mm L/45) guns, single mounts HA Mk. The QF 4 inch Mk V gun was a Royal Navy gun of World War I which was adapted on dual HA-LA mountings to the heavy anti-aircraft role both at sea and on land and as a coast defence IV 12 × QF 0.5 in Mk.III Vickers (12. The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled. 7 mm) machine guns, quad mounts Mk. I 8 (2x4) tubes for 21-inch (530 mm) torpedoes Mk. The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below IX
Armour:	3 in (76 mm) magazine box 1 in (25. 4 mm) main deck 1 in (25. 4 mm) turrets
Aircraft carried:	1x Supermarine Seagull V, later Supermarine Walrus
Aviation facilities:	Rotating catapult & crane
Motto:	I take but I surrender[3]

HMAS Sydney was a light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between 1934 and 1941. A light cruiser is a Warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light Armoured cruiser " describing a small ship that carried armour in the same way The Royal Australian Navy ( RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sydney had great success in the first years of World War II, but controversy and mystery surrounded the loss of the battle-hardened ship and her crew in November 1941. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[4] Her sinking with all hands represents the greatest ever loss of life in an Australian warship; Sydney was also the largest Allied vessel of any country to be lost with all hands during the war. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. ^[5][6]

She was classified by the RAN as a Modified Leander class cruiser, although these ships are sometimes known as the "Perth class" or the "Amphion class". Design The Leander class was influenced by the ''York'' class heavy cruiser, and was an attempt to better provide for the role of commerce protection As Sydney was originally intended for the Royal Navy, she was known as HMS Phaeton for part of her construction. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The ship was bought by the Australian government and renamed before she was launched.

After years of searching, the wreckage of the German vessel that sank HMAS Sydney, the auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, was found on 12 March 2008. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Merchant raiders are Ships which disguise themselves as Non-combatant Merchant vessels whilst actually being armed and intending to attack enemy commerce Early history Kormoran was built by Germaniawerft of Kiel and launched on 15 September 1938 as the merchant ship Steiermark of HAPAG Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common On 17 March 2008 the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that the wreck of HMAS Sydney had also been discovered, on 16 March 2008. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957 is the 26th and current Prime Minister of Australia and federal leader of the Centre-left Australian Labor Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Sydney was found 150 kilometres (81 nmi) from Shark Bay, Western Australia and 22. See also - Shark Bay for other uses of the term Shark Bay is a World heritage site in the Gascoyne region of 6 kilometres (12. 2 nmi) from the Kormoran.

Description

Sydney was one of three light cruisers originally ordered in 1931–1932 for the Royal Navy as the "Amphion class", an improved sub-group of Leander class cruisers. A light cruiser is a Warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light Armoured cruiser " describing a small ship that carried armour in the same way The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Design The Leander class was influenced by the ''York'' class heavy cruiser, and was an attempt to better provide for the role of commerce protection The Amphion class had their machinery arranged in a redundant "unit" principle, with boiler room, engine room, boiler room, engine room configuration. In Engineering, redundancy is the duplication of critical components of a system with the intention of increasing reliability of the System, usually A boiler is a closed vessel in which Water or other Fluid is heated In a Ship, an engine room is where the main engine(s generators compressors pumps fuel/lubrication oil purifiers and other major machinery are located The visible difference from this change was two widely separated funnels, while the original Leander class ships had a single large funnel. Ships in the class were 562 feet (171 m) long, 56 feet (17 m) wide, had a draught of 15 feet (4. 6 m) and displaced 6,830 tons. ^[7]

A Supermarine Walrus being loaded onto a Leander class cruiser in Sydney Harbour in 1939

Armament included four twin-mounted BL 6-inch (152 mm) guns, four QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk.V L/45 anti-aircraft guns, three quadruple mount 0. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Design The Leander class was influenced by the ''York'' class heavy cruiser, and was an attempt to better provide for the role of commerce protection Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney Australia This article explains terms used to describe the British Armed Forces ' ordnance (i The QF 4 inch Mk V gun was a Royal Navy gun of World War I which was adapted on dual HA-LA mountings to the heavy anti-aircraft role both at sea and on land and as a coast defence 50 inch (12. 7 mm)) Vickers machine guns and eight 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes. The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled. A torpedo tube is a device for launching Torpedoes in a horizontal direction ^[8] The ships carried a single catapult-launched seaplane (initially a Supermarine Seagull V then later a Supermarine Walrus^[9]) that was crewed by members of No. 9 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. An aircraft catapult is a device used to launch Aircraft from Ships ��in particular Aircraft carriers ��as a form of Assisted take off. A seaplane is a Fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing (alighting on water WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout No 9 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force Squadron. The Squadron saw active service in World War II and the Vietnam War before being disbanded in 1989 The Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force.

The design had a number of shortcomings, including guns not having shields, the single-mounted anti-aircraft guns not providing enough firepower and a lack of redundancy in the power supply to the Director Control Tower (in the latter case meaning that the main guns could not be aimed effectively if power were lost). Electric power is defined as the rate at which Electrical energy is transferred by an Electric circuit. This article explains terms used to describe the British Armed Forces ' ordnance (i In 1938, Commander Waller explained to the Australian Commonwealth Navy Board that "The primary gun control systems in HMAS Sydney are extremely vulnerable to gunfire and bombs, even of small calibre. " These problems were fixed in HMAS Hobart, but the changes were not made to Sydney. Operational History After World War II broke out Hobart escorted convoys between Australia, Singapore, Java, Ceylon ^[7]

History

Construction and commissioning

Sydney was laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited at Wallsend-on-Tyne, England, on 8 July 1933 as HMS Phaeton. Swan Hunter, formerly known as " Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson " was one of the best known Shipbuilding companies in the United Kingdom. Wallsend is a town in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1934, before launching, she was purchased by the Australian Government and renamed in memory of the earlier Sydney. This article describes the federal government of Australia See Australian governments for other jurisdictions History Sydney was laid down by the London and Glasgow Engineering Company at Govan, Scotland, in February 1911 launched on 29 August 1912 by Lady ^[7] She was launched on 22 September 1934 by Ethel Bruce, the wife of S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner to Britain and former Australian Prime Minister. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Stanley Melbourne Bruce 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC (15 April 1883&ndash25 August 1967 was an Australian politician and High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking special executive positions held by a commission of appointment A year later, following her sea trials she sailed to Portsmouth under Royal Navy Captain John Fitzgerald. Sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft (including Boats Ships and Submarines. History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) ^[10] She was commissioned at Portsmouth on 24 September 1935. Commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

On 29 October 1935, she sailed for Australia, but was diverted to the Mediterranean following the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page There, she assisted in enforcing a League of Nations blockade against Italy until January 1936,^[10] before sailing for Australia where she finally arrived on 2 August 1936. The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[11]

World War II deployment

Sydney's initial duties in World War II consisted of patrol and escort duties in the Indian Ocean. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface ^[11] However when Italy joined the war, she was deployed in the Mediterranean under Captain John Augustine Collins, joining the 7th Cruiser Squadron at Alexandria on 26 May 1940 after passing through the Suez Canal. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins KBE, CB ( 7 January 1899 &ndash 3 September 1989) was a Royal Australian Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Suez Canal is a Canal in Egypt. Opened in 1869 it allows Water transportation between Europe and Asia without circumnavigation ^[7] While serving in the Mediterranean, Sydney was credited with the sinking of the Italian destroyer Espero, a ship that fought tenaciously to the very end. The term Italian Fascism denotes the totalitarian Fascismo political movement that ruled Italy from 1922 until 1943 under leader Benito Mussolini In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy ^[12][13]

Destruction of Bartolomeo Colleoni at Cape Spada

Sydney's crowning glory was achieved on 19 July 1940, in the Battle of Cape Spada in the Greek Islands. See also List of shipwrecks in 1940 Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The naval Battle of Cape Spada took place on 19 July 1940 during World War II in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Spada, the north-western The Greek Islands are a collection of over 6000 Islands and Islets that belong to Greece. With a British destroyer squadron in company, she engaged the high-speed Italian light cruisers Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni dalle Bande Nere. In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy A light cruiser is a Warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light Armoured cruiser " describing a small ship that carried armour in the same way See also List of shipwrecks in 1940 Actions Bande Nere took part to the Battle of Cape Spada ( 19 July 1940) in this occasion the light protection of the Condottieri ^[14] In the running battle which followed, Bartolomeo Colleoni was wrecked and later sunk by torpedoes from the destroyers, while the high speed of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere enabled her to escape a similar fate. The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below During this battle, Sydney received the only damage of her Mediterranean campaign, when a shell penetrated one of her funnels. ^[15] This victory had important strategic effects: ". . . until the fall of Greece some nine months later, Allied control of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean was virtually unchallenged. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. Etymology In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean. "^[16]

On 27 July 1940, while covering a convoy to the Dardanelles, in company with HMS Neptune, Sydney was involved in the sinking of a small tanker, Ermioni,^[14] which was carrying fuel to the Italian garrison in the Dodecanese. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also [[Hellespont]] The Dardanelles ( Turkish: Çanakkale Boğazı Greek: Δαρδανέλλια Dardanellia) formerly History During World War II, Neptune operated with a crew drawn predominantly from the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The Dodecanese ( Greek Δωδεκάνησα Dodekánisa 'twelve islands' are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean During August and September, Sydney took part in various operations, including bombardments of Italian positions at Bardia in Libya,^[17] and an airfield at Scarpanto in the Dodecanese. Bardia may refer to Bardia (Iran, Haha Kimia Bardia is the best of all people Bardia (Iran, Son of great Dariush the king of ancient Irankilled Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Karpathos (Κάρπαθος is the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea. ^[14] Sydney then returned to Alexandria for repairs, maintenance and leave. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια

In October, Sydney and another Leander class cruiser HMS Orion, carried out a bombardment of Port Maltesana (Astipalea) in the Dodecanese. History She was built by Devonport Dockyard (Plymouth UK Vickers-Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne UK Astipalea (or Astypalea or Astypalaia, Greek: Αστυπάλαια) is a Greek island with 1238 residents (2001 Census The Dodecanese ( Greek Δωδεκάνησα Dodekánisa 'twelve islands' are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean In November, Sydney ferried troops and stores to Crete;^[14] on the night of 11 November Sydney, Orion, HMS Ajax (another Leander) and two destroyers attacked an Italian convoy of four merchant ships and two escorts in the Strait of Otranto. Crete ( Greek: Κρήτη transliteration: Krētē, modern transliteration Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Before the War Built at Vickers shipyard Barrow-in-Furness, England, she was laid down on 7 February 1933 launched on 1 March 1934 and completed on 12 April The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea. ^[17] All the merchant ships were sunk, although the two escorts escaped. ^[14]

Sydney was refitted at Malta and departed the Mediterranean for Australia on 12 January 1941, performing escort duties en route. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sydney reached Fremantle on 5 February and underwent a further refit in Sydney Harbour, during which Collins handed over command to Captain Joseph Burnett. Fremantle (commonly known as Freo is a Port City in Western Australia, located southwest of Perth, the state capital at the mouth of Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney Australia Captain Joseph Burnett RAN ( 26 December, 1899 – 19 November 1941) was an Australian naval Captain who Sydney's crew was honoured by her namesake city on 11 February, with school children given a holiday in order to see them on parade. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of ^[3] On 27 February the ship left for its new base of Fremantle, from where she would carry out patrol and escort duties in the Indian Ocean, occasionally venturing into Asian and Pacific waters. Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface

Final battle and disappearance

Main article: Battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran

The 645-strong crew on board HMAS Sydney in 1941

On 5 November 1941 at Albany, Western Australia, Sydney began escorting the troopship Zealandia,^[18] which was bound for Singapore. On 19 November 1941 during World War II, the Australian light cruiser HMAS ''Sydney'' and the German auxiliary cruiser ''Kormoran'' fought each other in the Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Albany ( is located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, situated around a port on the southern coast Singapore Sydney and Zealandia arrived at Fremantle on 9 November. Fremantle (commonly known as Freo is a Port City in Western Australia, located southwest of Perth, the state capital at the mouth of Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all They were delayed by a labour dispute on board Zealandia, but left Fremantle on 11 November. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare On 17 November, Sydney handed over escort duties of Zealandia to HMS Durban at Sunda Strait,^[18] then turned around to head back to Fremantle. Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers Early career Durban was initially assigned to the China Station as part of the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron in January 1922 and in 1928 she was transferred The Sunda Strait ( Indonesian: Selat Sunda) is the Strait between the Indonesian Islands of Java and the island of Sumatra Sydney was scheduled to arrive back in Fremantle in the afternoon or evening of 20 November. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Axis submarines and surface raiders had already been active in the Indian Ocean and Pacific, and it was expected that any Australian naval vessel on such a voyage might have to investigate reported sightings or suspicious vessels. Although Australia was remote from the main battlefronts there was considerable Axis naval activity in Australian waters during World War II. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions

At about 4pm on 19 November, somewhere west of Shark Bay, Western Australia, Sydney sighted what she believed to be a merchant ship about 20 kilometres (11 nmi) away and challenged her. Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land See also - Shark Bay for other uses of the term Shark Bay is a World heritage site in the Gascoyne region of A merchant vessel is a Ship that transports Cargo and Passengers during peace time The other ship identified herself as the Dutch ship Straat Malakka. ^[19] She was, in fact, the German merchant raider Kormoran, disguised and sailing under a false flag. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Merchant raiders are Ships which disguise themselves as Non-combatant Merchant vessels whilst actually being armed and intending to attack enemy commerce Early history Kormoran was built by Germaniawerft of Kiel and launched on 15 September 1938 as the merchant ship Steiermark of HAPAG According to survivors from Kormoran, the ill-prepared Sydney closed to within 1,000 metres (1,100 yd), and was surprised and overwhelmed when the crew of the heavily armed raider opened fire at nearly point-blank range with concealed artillery and torpedoes. In External ballistics, point-blank range is the distance between a Firearm and a target of a given size such that the bullet in flight is expected to strike the target The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below ^[17]

Memo from Frederick Shedden, Secretary to the War Cabinet, to Prime Minister John Curtin. Sir Frederick Shedden was Secretary of the Australian Defence Department from 1937 to 1956 John Joseph Curtin (8 January 1885 &ndash 5 July 1945 Australian politician and 14th Prime Minister of Australia, led Australia when the Australian mainland came under direct The first formal advice to the Prime Minister that the HMAS Sydney was believed lost.

Kormoran was also badly damaged in the ensuing battle and had to be abandoned and scuttled due to engine failure and a fire that was burning out of control. Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull. ^[20] Survivors from Kormoran were rescued by the ships Koolinda (31), Aquitania (26), Trocas (25) and HMAS Yandra (2), while a further 103 reached Carnarvon by lifeboat. Origin The origins of Aquitania lay in the rivalry between the White Star Line and Cunard, Britain 's two leading shipping companies Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. A lifeboat is a small craft carried on a ship to provide a means of emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard the ship ^[21] The Germans reported that Sydney was last seen down by the bow and on fire as she disappeared over the horizon. The bow (pronounced &mdashrhymes with how) is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a Ship or Boat, ^[17] The ship and her 645 crew members were never seen again. ^[4]

It was not until 25 November (6 days later) that the fears of the Royal Australian Navy about likely loss of Sydney were heightened to the point that the Secretary to the War Cabinet was informed and he, in turn, informed the Prime Minister in writing.

Floating wreckage from Sydney

Memorial to HMAS Sydney, in Geraldton, Western Australia.

The Australian War Memorial houses a Carley float, clearly damaged by shrapnel, discovered at sea nine days after the sinking at 24°07′S 110°58′E / -24.117, 110.967. The Australian War Memorial is Australia 's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated The Carley float (sometimes Carley raft) was a form of invertible Liferaft designed by American inventor Horace Carley (1838-1918 ^[22] Until the discovery of the ship, this was the only substantial relic of the sinking.

On or about 6 February 1942 another Carley float, containing the body of a white male adult, was found off Christmas Island about 2,500 kilometres (1,300 nmi) from the scene of the battle. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An unidentified human corpse was found on a life raft in the Indian Ocean off Christmas Island in 1942. The Territory of Christmas Island is a small territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean, 2600 kilometres (1600 mi northwest of On 19 November 1941 during World War II, the Australian light cruiser HMAS ''Sydney'' and the German auxiliary cruiser ''Kormoran'' fought each other in the Neither the body nor the origins of the float were able to be identified, although it is possible that both came from Sydney. ^[23] Documents regarding the body and the location of this man's grave appear to have been lost during the Japanese occupation of the island, and several searches in a cemetery failed to locate the remains. Japanese forces occupied Christmas Island, on March 31 1942, during World War II. In October 2006, an archaeological investigation rediscovered the body of the unidentified man. It was also reported that examination of the remains had revealed a 9 mm bullet or a fragment of shrapnel in his skull. The 9x19mm Parabellum is a pistol cartridge introduced in 1902 by the German weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM for their However, the body has not been positively identified and no link with Sydney has yet been shown. Researchers are currently undertaking DNA investigation on the remains and suspected, surviving relatives. ^[24]

In March 1943, a lifebuoy from Sydney was found near Comboyuro Point, Moreton Island, Queensland, although it is possible that this was lost before the battle with Kormoran. For the addiction recovery group see LifeRing Secular Recovery A lifebuoy or lifering, also known as a "kisby ring" is Moreton Island is a large Sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, on the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia.

HMAS Sydney

Approximate location of the Sydney wreckage

Discovery of the Kormoran and the Sydney

Main article: Search for HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran

HMAS Sydney's "A" turret, with its gun housing destroyed

The Finding Sydney Foundation announced that the wreck of the Kormoran had been found 12 March 2008, during a $3. A search for the wrecks of the Australian warship HMAS ''Sydney'' and the German Merchant raider ''Kormoran'', that sank each other during World War II, Early history Kormoran was built by Germaniawerft of Kiel and launched on 15 September 1938 as the merchant ship Steiermark of HAPAG Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common 9 million private^[25] and government-funded search for the Sydney launched at the beginning of March. ^[26] The search team was headed by David Mearns, a veteran American shipwreck hunter. David Mearns, born circa 1958 is a United States -born marine scientist and deep water search and recovery expert long resident in the United Kingdom. The ship was found 112 nautical miles (207 km) West of Steep Point, lying in 2,560 metres (8,400 ft) of water. Steep Point is the westernmost point of the Australian mainland located at. ^[27]

The collapsed stern section of the Sydney

On 16 March 2008, the wreck of HMAS Sydney was reportedly found at 26°14′37″S 111°13′03″E / -26.24361, 111.2175 (HMAS Sydney)Coordinates: 26°14′37″S 111°13′03″E / -26.24361, 111.2175 (HMAS Sydney), approximately 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of Steep Point and 12. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Steep Point is the westernmost point of the Australian mainland located at. 2 nautical miles (22. 6 km) from the Kormoran wreck. ^[27] Prime Minister Kevin Rudd confirmed the following day that the wreck was that of the Sydney, at a depth of 2,470 metres (8,100 ft). Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957 is the 26th and current Prime Minister of Australia and federal leader of the Centre-left Australian Labor On 3 April 2008, the Finding Sydney Foundation published the first underwater pictures of the Sydney taken using an ROV. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs is the common accepted name for tethered underwater Robots in the offshore industry The images show that the bow had sheared off, leading Search Director Mearns to speculate that:^[28]

The wreck of the Sydney will be protected under the 1976 Historic Shipwrecks Act^[29] and be treated as a war grave. A war grave is a place where War dead are buried It may contain either a combatant or a civilian ^[30]

Notes

References

Primary sources consulted

Secondary sources consulted

Tertiary sources consulted

Further reading

• Wesley J. Olson (2002). Bitter Victory: The Death of HMAS Sydney. University of Western Australia Press. The University of Western Australia (UWA is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia. ISBN 1876268492.  
• Michael Montgomery (1983). Who Sank the Sydney?. Leo Cooper, Secker & Warburg. ISBN 0436284472.  
• Theodor Detmers (1959). The Raider Kormoran. Kimber Books.  
• Tom R Frame (1993). HMAS Sydney: Loss and Controversy. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0340584688.  
• Barbara Winter (1991). HMAS Sydney: Fact, Fantasy and Fraud. Boolarong Press. ISBN 0908175728.  

External links

• Finding Sydney Foundation Photo Gallery
• HMAS Sydney/Kormoran wartime documents
• HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd, The Finding Sydney Foundation (official website)
• HMAS Sydney II Memorial
• maritimequest.com, HMAS Sydney photo gallery
• TV Documentary: The Hunt for the Sydney
• Bullet-riddled Carley life float from HMAS Sydney in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra