A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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I once doubted the stature of these important elements but these doubts are no longer
necessary. The international reputation of the Royal Australian Navy Band is one for us all
to enjoy, and it’s one to be completely proud of.
HMAS SYDNEY II
The Pride of the Australian Fleet
Article by Leading Seaman Esa Douglas
The legend of the HMAS Sydney II continues another chapter in both Australian and Military
history books with its discovery off the Western Australian coast on March 16 2008 by the
‘Finding Sydney Foundation’. Its infamous battle with the German ship HSK Kormoran, of
which the Sydney successfully sank before succumbing to its own watery demise, became
Australia’s largest loss of life in a naval battle with all of its 645 crew going down with the
ship 67 years ago.
The HMAS Sydney II, a 6,830 ton modified Leander class cruiser, had been considered a
superior battle ship and the pride of the Australian Fleet. The ship was commissioned at
Portsmouth on 24 September 1935, and arrived in Australia on 2 August 1936 where she
remained in home waters until the outbreak of World War II. The Sydney II, under the
command of Captain John Collins, sailed to the Mediterranean, where she was involved in a
number of battles with victorious results and came out mostly unscathed. Sydney returned
to her namesake city on 10 February where a public holiday had been granted to the people
so all could come to see her and the brave crew parade through the city.
Sydney returned to home waters in Western Australia, and on 11 November 1941 now under
the command of Captain Joseph Burnett, she sailed from Fremantle to escort the troopship
Zealandia to the Sunda Strait. Sydney was due to return on the afternoon of 20 November
1941, and although her absence of return was noted, at that stage there was no immediate
concern. It was on her return home, on 19 November 1941, Sydney sighted what appeared
to be a merchant vessel approximately 130 miles west of Shark Bay. Signals were exchanged
between the two ships to establish who the mystery ship in fact was. The mystery ship
identified itself as the Straat Malakka a Dutch merchantman, but on enquiring through flag
signals what the secret identification was of the ship, the vessels true identity could no
longer be concealed.
HSK Kormoran, under the command of Commander Theodor Detmers, ordered the Dutch
colours to be struck, and hoisted the German Naval Ensign. They opened fire at
approximately 1730 when the two ships were no more than a mile apart from each other.
One of the first blows hit the bridge of Sydney, where all communications were cut off and
would explain why they were unable to get any messages out. Sydney returned fire
simultaneously, although were unable to meet their mark straight away. Kormoran
concentrated all their fire power on hitting the bridge, torpedo tubes and anti aircraft
batteries. With two of Sydney’s turrets out of action, a third turret opened quickly and
accurately hit Kormoran in the funnel and engine room. The fierce exchange of gunfire and
torpedoes continued at close range, and at one stage the Sydney appeared to turn quickly
as if in an attempt to ram the Kormoran. Sydney, crippled and on fire, steamed slowly to
the south at approximately 1825. At around 2000, Detmers gave the order to abandon ship,
and set up charges to scuttle the Kormoran. At 0035, the mines exploded and the Kormoran
sank rapidly stern first.
All accounts from the battle were gathered from the surviving German crewman. 317 of the
380 crewman survived and were rescued from life rafts by passing ships or the rafts washing
up along the coast of Western Australia. Their stories and accounts report that the fatal
battle lasted no more than half an hour and Sydney was last seen in the distant glare with
occasional flickering lights until 2200 when she seemingly disappeared. The success of
destroying the Kormoran meant that Sydney had stopped the raider’s plan to lay up to 360
mines across vital shipping lanes. For 66 years, controversy surrounded the Sydney on how
and why it sank, and where it was that she lay to rest.
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage