HMAS SYDNEY II 1934-1941

HMAS Sydney in camouflage Paint

Description:

Naval Light Cruiser

Owner:

Royal Australian Navy Master: Captain Collins

Construction:

Steel

Sunk:

1941/11/19

Size:

6830 tons length 171m beam 20m draft 5m

Underwater:

At 2500m, the 2015 WA Museum and Curtin University survey expedition, costing $2.4m, has produced thousands of images and video.

Built:

1934 Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd UK

Location:

207 Km West of Steep Point

Sinking:

Following a battle with the German raider Kormoran in the Indian Ocean off the Western Australian coast.On 19 November, Sydney sighted the Kormoran, disguised as a Dutch merchant ship, and both ships altered course. When the Kormoran was asked to identify itself, and as the distance between the two ships narrowed, they hoisted the German colours and, already at action stations, fired at the ill-prepared Australian cruiser. The Sydney’s bridge and tower were hit within seconds and for 30 minutes they fired guns and torpedoes at each other. The loss of the Sydney with its full war complement of 645 crew remains the worst Australian naval disaster.

Longitude:

111.2175

Latitude:

-26.243611112

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