[Ronin]

Well, that’s what commerce raiders are supposed to do. Since the allies used Q-ships during the war I don’t suppose we have any call to complain.

[PeteB570]

I would guess the inquirery would be more in line with “why did the Sydney get so close while being so unprepared”.

The only survivors were from the Kormoran and they stated they pumped a great number of shells into the Sydney before she started fighting back.

The inspection of the Sydney will show the shell damage.

naturalman1975 - you got some better intell?

[naturalman1975]

All available evidence is that Kormoran broke out German colours just before it opened fire, and so acted entirely appropriately within the rules and conventions of war. Nobody can criticise the Germans on those grounds in this case. They were sailing under Dutch colours until the battle began, but they broke out their true colours as battle was joined.