signal flags for that vessel (the letters IK) he was unable to reply. At 1730, Detmers finally ordered removal of their disguise. Within seconds, the Dutch flag was struck, the German colours hoisted, and firing had commenced at a – distance estimated to be no more than one nautical mile. (2000 yards) scored vital hits on bridge and control position, followed by Kormoran Sydney’s repeated hits amidships. in reply registered hits on the Sydney enemy’s funnel and her engine room, before being struck by a torpedo forward of and ‘A’ ‘B’ turrets. Approximately five minutes after the action had begun turned Sydney sharply towards as if about to ram her, but - ablaze from her bridge Kormoran to her after funnel - passed astern of the raider. At 1745, fired four Sydney torpedoes - her last hostile action - however these all missed their target. By 1830, had disappeared over the horizon, although glare from the still Sydney burning cruiser could still be seen from until well after 2200. Kormoran Meanwhile, in they had their Kormoran, own problems. The surviving ship’s company were unable to extinguish the fires in her engine room, and were preparing to scuttle their ship, with the last boat casting off at midnight. Half an hour later, blew up and sank stern first. Of her complement of 36 Kormoran officers and 361 sailors, 6 officers and 76 sailors had lost their lives. The remainder reached Australia safely, and were interned until after the war ended. Meanwhile with a company of 645, was lost with no survivors. Sydney, ship’s With the complete loss of and that of her company, the only Sydney, ship’s available accounts of the action were from survivors. Kormoran’s On 17 March 2008, the Australian Government announced that the wreckage of both HMAS and HSK had been found approximately 112 Sydney Kormoran nautical miles off Western Australia. is lying at a depth Steep Point, Kormoran of 2,560 metres. - approximately 12 nautical miles away - is at a depth Sydney of 2,470 metres. The relatives of those who served - whose overriding interests have always been about the memory of men and their sacrifice - will now be relieved Sydney’s and forever thankful by finally knowing where and their loved ones are Sydney now at last been solved. May located. Australia’s greatest maritime disaster has they rest in eternal peace.
signal flags for that vessel (the letters IK) he was unable to reply. At 1730, Detmers finally ordered removal of their disguise. Within seconds, the Dutch flag was struck, the German colours hoisted, and firing had commenced – at a distance estimated to be no more than one nautical mile. (2000 yards) Kormoran scored vital hits on Sydney’s bridge and control position, followed by repeated hits amidships. Sydney in reply registered hits on the enemy’s funnel and her engine room, before being struck by a torpedo forward of ‘A’ and ‘B’ turrets. Approximately five minutes after the action had begun Sydney turned sharply towards Kormoran as if about to ram her, but - ablaze from her bridge to her after funnel - passed astern of the raider. At 1745, Sydney fired four torpedoes - her last hostile action - however these all missed their target. By 1830, Sydney had disappeared over the horizon, although glare from the still burning cruiser could still be seen from Kormoran until well after 2200. Meanwhile, in Kormoran, they had their own problems. The surviving ship’s company were unable to extinguish the fires in her engine room, and were preparing to scuttle their ship, with the last boat casting off at midnight. Half an hour later, Kormoran blew up and sank stern first. Of her complement of 36 officers and 361 sailors, 6 officers and 76 sailors had lost their lives. The remainder reached Australia safely, and were interned until after the war ended. Meanwhile Sydney, with a ship’s company of 645, was lost with no survivors. With the complete loss of Sydney, and that of her ship’s company, the only available accounts of the action were from Kormoran’s survivors. On 17 March 2008, the Australian Government announced that the wreckage of both HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran had been found approximately 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western Australia. Kormoran is lying at a depth of 2,560 metres. Sydney - approximately 12 nautical miles away - is at a depth of 2,470 metres. The relatives of those who served - whose overriding interests have always been about the memory of Sydney’s men and their sacrifice - will now be relieved and forever thankful by finally knowing where Sydney and their loved ones are now located. Australia’s greatest maritime disaster has at last been solved. May they rest in eternal peace.
Sydney-Kormoran%2019%20November%202014.docx