Loss of HMAS Sydney II report released (the final report into Australia's greatest naval disaster)

Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence ^ | 12th August 2009

[naturalman1975]

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC said HMAS Sydney II was lost with all hands on 19 November 1941, following an engagement with the German raider, HSK Kormoran, off the Western Australian coast.

“For a long time our nation has struggled to understand how our greatest maritime disaster occurred,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“The unanswered questions have haunted the families of those brave sailors and airmen that never came home.”

President of the Commission, the Honourable Terence Cole, AO, RFD, QC, said that the Inquiry’s key findings confirm that accounts provided by the HSK Kormoran survivors of Sydney II’s last movements and of the damage she sustained during the engagement with the German raider are correct.

“The Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney II was not expecting to encounter any merchant ship in the location where he encountered Kormoran,” Mr Cole said.

“That knowledge together with his knowledge of the possible presence of a German raider should have caused the sighted vessel to be treated as suspicious.”

Another key finding is that there is now additional compelling evidence to support the conclusion that the body recovered from Christmas Island in 1941 is that of a member of HMAS Sydney II’s ship’s company.

Mr Cole further concluded that each of the many frauds, theories and speculations reported to the Inquiry were thoroughly investigated.

“…none were found to have any substance whatsoever,” Mr Cole said.

Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, AM, CSM, RAN encouraged those with an interest in HMAS Sydney II to read the report and reflected that the loss of HMAS Sydney II needs to be viewed in context of the times.

[naturalman1975]

O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with bounds until the day and night come to an end; Be pleased to receive into thy Almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy servants and the Fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lord, King GEORGE VI and his Dominions and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Island may in peace and quietness serve thee our God and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Offered in memory of the brave men of His Majesty's Australian Ship Sydney and Handelsstörkreuzer Kormoran lost at sea in the service of their countries on or about 19th November 1941.

[Larry381]

HMAS Sydney

[Larry381]

German Auxiliary Cruiser Kormoran

[Americanwolf]

ex navy and growing up on the great lakes... I guess thats why I find this stuff fascinating.

[Rockingham]

I too am fascinated by the tragic loss of HMAS Sydney. The controversy is now definitively resolved, with the Sydney shown to have been lost because it was badly handled and made vulnerable to a well-armed German surface raider.

[fso301]

As the old saying goes, military procedures are written in blood is the case here. In order to follow identification procedure, the HMS Sydney gave up her range advantage by closing to the raider in an attempt to make visual identification