The Committee presented its Report on the loss of HMAS Sydney to the Senate on 22 March 1999 and to the House of Representatives on 29 March 1999. There, they were interrogated extensively about the sinking of HMAS Sydney. The ships battered each other for the next thirty minutes, and after the last shots were fired at around 6:00 PM, Kormoran was dead in the water and Sydney was moving south-east, apparently not under any control. HMAS SYDNEY II was lost on 19 November 1941. Sydney demanded, via signal, that the “merchant” ship identify herself – which Kormoran did, flying the Dutch flag and pretending to be the Straat Malakka. 301407. The Loss of HMAS SYDNEY II. On 17 March 2008 the Australian Government announced that the wreckage of both HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran had been found, approximately 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western Australia. The loss of HMAS Sydney is the subject of ongoing controversy. With the controversy surrounding the loss of HMAS Sydney persisting for decades after the war, the RAN searched the island in 2001, but failed to find the grave of the unidentified man. A second search in 2006 was successful, and the body was exhumed. Size: 311 PAGES. [187] [188] The JCFADT inquiry received over 400 submissions and compiled over 500 pages of oral testimony. None of the Sydney’s complement of 645 men survived. This one washed up on Christmas Island, and what made it especially interesting was that it had a body in it. The ship and its entire company of 645 were lost. The loss of HMAS Sydney almost without trace in November 1941, following an encounter with the German raider Kormoran off the Western Australian coast, remains one of the most intriguing mysteries of Australia's wartime history. Download PDF (2.65 MB) Report on the Loss of HMAS Sydney. Following a violent surface battle with the German Commerce Raider Kormoran, off the West Coast of Australiain, on November 19, 1941, the Australian Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney sank with no survivors from her crew of 645 souls, yet 317 German Survivors from Kormoran … POSTED FROM THE UK IN 1-2 WORKING DAYS, IN A PROTECTIVE CARD WRAP. Completed Inquiry: The loss of HMAS Sydney Report. On the other hand, the Kormoran's mission was to shun the limelight. All 645 Australian seamen were lost. These included theories that the Germans had massacred the survivors of Sydney, that the Empire of Japan had secretly been involved in the battle before they officially declared war in December 1941, and that the Germans broke the laws of war in the encounter. Her commissioning captain, who took her through her first Mediterranean service and delivered her to a proud Australia, was the unconventional Captain J.U.P. The Germans used nine ‘Hilfskreuzers’ (auxiliary cruisers) … There has been no conclusive evidence to support this, though. The speed at which it went under made it impossible for any life rafts to make it off the sinking ship, and all hands were lost – making it the largest loss of life for the Royal Australian Navy. 10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day), Get your ticket to visit: awm.gov.au/visit, Copyright The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. The souls of the men of the HMAS Sydney 11 were commemorated with a ceremony over their final resting place. The Death of HMAS Sydney, 20 T. Frame, HMAS Sydney, Loss and Controversy, 1998, (paperback ed.). Neither of these theories has ever been proven, though. This has shed light … And finally, months after the battle a mysterious, unidentified body washed up on Christmas Island – a body many believed was that of the only survivor of the sinking of Sydney. Part of the award-wining Australia Documentary No Survivors the Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney. On this day in 1941, HMAS Sydney (II) was lost with all hands following battle with the German Auxiliary Cruiser Kormoran over 100 nautical miles from Dirk Hartog Island, off the coast of Western Australia. Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future. The final report of the loss into HMAS SYDNEYII was publicly released by the Minister for Defence, the Hon John Faulkner MP in Canberra on 12 August 2009. The ensuring battle began at 1730 and ended at 1825. In the ensuing action the Kormoran's disguise was sufficient to entice the Sydney into close range where she was able to overwhelm her with gunfire and torpedoes. Regrettably these circumstances led to the circulation of many rumours, accusations and conspiracy theories, which have no basis in fact and supporting evidence. HMAS SYDNEY was only six years old when she was lost — and had been commanded by only four men. All 645 Australian seamen were lost. The ship was disguised as the Dutch merchant vessel Straat Malakka – but was actually Kormoran, under the command of Commander Theodor Detmers. The corpse discovered on the carley float was already decomposing, and much of the flesh had been torn off, either by sea birds or fish. Following a violent surface battle with the German Commerce Raider Kormoran, off the West Coast of Australiain, on November 19, 1941, the Australian Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney sank with no survivors from her crew of 645 souls, yet 317 German Survivors from Kormoran were eventually resucued. The Kormoran was also sunk in the action. A large scale air and sea search for the any Australian survivors and the wreckage of Sydney was launched, but abandoned when nothing was found. W. Olson, Bitter Victory.. One of three modified Leander Class Light Cruisers, HMAS Sydney (II) was originally laid down as HMS Phaeton in July 1933 at Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend-on-Tyne … At around 4:00 PM, Sydney spotted a ship on the horizon. It was not her role to fight fleet actions but to operate alone against unescorted shipping for months at a time, avoiding publicity and supported by clandestine meetings with supply ships in remote locations. HMAS Sydney 1934-1941 Sources J. Collins, HMAS Sydney, The Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1971. In November 1941 these recent discoveries, most of the award-wining Australia Documentary survivors. Sydney that have followed her and on memorials and cenotaphs throughout Australia tragedy took in... 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