Sunday, March 16, 2008

Raider Found

For more than sixty years the resting place of two ships remained a mystery. Now, part of that mystery has been solved with the discovery of one of the ships.

On 17 November 1941, HMAS Sydney, a light cruiser, headed north up the coast of Western Australia on escort duty and was supposed to return. She was never heard from again.

The German armed raider, Kormoran was also in area, though her profile had been changed to look like a freighter and flew a Dutch flag.

As the Sydney approached - on or about the 19th of November - she asked for identification which the Germans deliberately muddled. As the range finders zeroed in on the light cruiser, the Captain ordered the German flag raised and all guns to fire.

Devastating fire poured into the Sydney, but the rear turret managed to fire back, hitting the Kormoran before veering away.

That shot went through Kormoran's funnel and poured ignited diesel into the engine room.

HMAS Sydney turned south while the Kormoran still fired at her until out of range.

Hours later, Kormoran's electrical system went out and they could no longer fight the fire. The Captain ordered the ship abandoned. The last life boat left before midnight and just over an hour later, the armed merchant cruiser, Kormoran blew up and sank with the help of scuttling charges.

Of HMAS Sydney and her crew, nothing was ever heard.

Three hundred survivors from the Kormoran were picked up several days later and, without any problem, told the story to their captors.

Well, today, it's been announced that the wreck of the Kormoran has been found. It's hoped that finding HMAS Sydney will now be an easier task.

For sixty years, various groups have searched for the ship and what happened to her. It is one of our great naval mysteries. Now, the search can narrow and one day soon, we may know the light cruiser's final resting place.

Both ships, once found, will be treated with the utmost respect and protected as War Graves.

The story of that day can be found here.

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