Claims sunken WWII RAN ship finally found

news.com.au ^ | 29th May 2007

[naturalman1975]

A BRITISH maritime researcher claims to have solved one of Australia's greatest wartime mysteries by locating the wreck of HMAS Sydney.

Timothy Akers also says he has discovered the whereabouts of the German raider Kormoran that sank the Sydney off the coast of Western Australia in November 1941, killing all 645 men on board.

And the wrecks of a number of Japanese warships and submarines, also believed to have been involved in the battle, are lying on the ocean floor nearby, Mr Akers claims.

However, Mr Akers' claims have been rejected by his former employer – now competitor – and prompted a plea from the Australian Government to reveal the whereabouts of the wrecks.

[naturalman1975]

[txzman]

HMAS Sydney II and the Kormoran
The action between HMAS Sydney and the auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, 19 November 1941
On the afternoon of 19 November 1941 the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran (Commander Theodor Detmers) was steaming on a northeasterly course off the coast of Western Australia, approximately 150 miles south west of Carnarvon. Just before 4.00 pm a warship was sighted and Commander Detmers turned the Kormoran west into the sun, increasing speed to 16.5 knots, the maximum available. A broken piston rod was soon to reduce this to 14 knots.

More here: http://www.awm.gov.au/Encyclopedia/hmas_sydney/action.htm

[iowamark]

And the wrecks of a number of Japanese warships and submarines, also believed to have been involved in the battle, are lying on the ocean floor nearby, Mr Akers claims.

Australia and Japan were not at war in November 1941. It is pretty unlikely that the Japanese were involved in this battle.

[Strategerist]

Australia and Japan were not at war in November 1941. It is pretty unlikely that the Japanese were involved in this battle.

Long been sort of a nutter theory there was. Very dubious.

[Strategerist]

"I have also found a number of Japanese vessels – two submarines and possibly a Japanese aircraft carrier in the general vicinity of HMAS Sydney," Mr Akers said.

Yep, this guy Akers is a complete loon.

There are no prewar Japanese aircraft carriers unaccounted for anywhere near Australia.

Most loony conspiracy stuff has a driver - the driver for this one is an Australian warship was sunk by a armed merchant ship, which is somewhat embarassing, and it's fairly obvious that the commander of the cruiser made a terrible mistake and got far too close to Kormoran (and it was well known there were disguised German merchant raiders all over the world.) So they're trying to explain the loss with all sort of fantasy Japanese subs and ships and aircraft and whatnot sinking the Sydney.

[Rummyfan]

A crew of 645 and not a single survivor? Curious....

[GreyFriar]

Actually the cruiser and its entire crew were beamed off the planet just like Amelia Earhart and the 6 “Bermuda Triangle” Avengers. They are sitting on a distant planet awaiting the starship Voyager to find them.

[Strategerist]

Sydney blew up, apparently.

Only three surivived the HMS Hood blowing up, with a crew over twice the size.

[Vanders9]

Its a curious incident for sure. I heard it was a single ship vs single ship duel, and that they sank each other. I know some of the German crew survived, but they were all below decks during the battle and could shed no light on what actually happened.

Very strange indeed.