HSK Kormaran Found of Western Australian Coast

[Emac44]

Yes Wild a bloody great day

[Erich]

this is some of the conspiracy that has been led to believe for so many years of the fateful battle for both ships on the SAME day

POST Newspapers Online: Headline News

well studying the KM for the past 30 years mid way down this bogus article it mentions a small J boot with two torpedo tubes..............

the boot was actually the LS-2 equipped with three mine chutes from the rear, the torpedo carrying small Schnellboot did not become operational so this story is just plain bunk. proof that the Kormoran herself had two separate racks for firing torpedoes. silly too that the fight occurred at night which is also untrue.

as for the previous article I put up about the cracked hull, that seems clear enough in reading that the Sydney lost this and as result sunk.

myth will become ever more prevalent in the days ahead, but truth enough this has to be a super day for Australia

[Emac44]

Putting a google map onto website to show approximately what area of the Western Australian Coast we are referring to Erich. Now you can see the territory the Sydney and Kormoran had been in 1941 before both ships disappeared

[Kiwikid]

Hard to imagine that the HMAS Sydney is intact. Surely to be lost with all hands suggests a hit on her magazines ?

EMAC44 the battle occured some 400 miles from shore so wouldn't he spot be to the very left of your map ?

[Emac44]

But as for speculation Erich. That is all and good. In time when the dust has settled. Exploration of both Syndey and Kormoran will be conducted along with research as to determine damage and possible cause to the sinking of both vessels. But of course it will be conducted within mind that any exploration done will be conducted properly as both ships are War Graves. And the site exploration will be done with utmost dignity baring in mind the area of Sydney and Kormoran are War Graves and treated with respect.

Speculation may well continue Erich but for now Australians are pleased that Sydney has been found

[Graeme]

Originally Posted by Emac44

Speculation may well continue Erich but for now Australians are pleased that Sydney has been found

Absolutely! Wasn't in the most auspicious place (Red Rooster!) to learn the news, but it was very moving to see the relatives on the TV news bulletin react to the discovery.

[Emac44]

Originally Posted by Kiwikid

Hard to imagine that the HMAS Sydney is intact. Surely to be lost with all hands suggests a hit on her magazines ?

EMAC44 the battle occured some 400 miles from shore so wouldn't he spot be to the very left of your map ?

Possibley Kiwi but what I was showing the map I posted was to let people know who are unfamiliar with the Australian Coastline how extensive the area is. Not directly pinpointing the search area of the Western Australian Coast. But giving forum users an idea approximately

[ccheese]

I was not aware of this epic battle. Wiki has quite a write up on it. I am
glad that both vessels have been found, and there will be some closure to
the families. It appears the Aussies are really elated.....

Charles

[Watanbe]

Originally Posted by Emac44

Possibley Kiwi but what I was showing the map I posted was to let people know who are unfamiliar with the Australian Coastline how extensive the area is. Not directly pinpointing the search area of the Western Australian Coast. But giving forum users an idea approximately

I believe that the first German rounds destroyed the bridge and put the officers out of action the rounds from the Kormaron also separated the bow of the ship and it flipped and sunk rapidly. The crew didnt really a chance to abandon the ship!

[timshatz]

Originally Posted by Watanbe

The crew didnt really a chance to abandon the ship!

Even if they did, what were the chances they were going to be picked up? Probably not very good. I gotta believe some guys made it into the water, they just didn't survive.

Look at the USS Juneau. She went down with 600 some guys on board and about 150 or so made it into the water. A week or two later 14 or so were picked up (by pure accident).

[Erich]

the story continues.....several rafts were found from the Sydney. I can only guess as well all as the Sydneys two remaining active gun turrets did the Kormoran in that when she sailed off burning the internal explosions and finally the ship cracking and dissolving killed the remaining Allied crewmen. Well even with all the high tech of our age I still do not think over 60 plus years they will put all the pieces together of the action

but in any case in a long weekends time to finally find the two ships is just incredible

[Emac44]

I don't know Erich. Even though I have no personal tie up in HMAS Sydney. And being an Australian. I still bare a grudge that no Australians survived the sinking of the Sydney. So many men lost in one action by being lured to their deaths by deceit or Burnett making an assumptions of safety even during a War Time Patrol. I see the old photos and films of the Crew of Sydney and realise each and every one of those men on film and photos are dead. They never were abled to return to their families. Unlike the majority of the Crew from Kormoran. I suppose its just a natural reaction to a tragic event Erich. And I am being some what bitter about the loss of life to so many of my own country men

[Erich]

very understandable, I can think of other ships of both sides........the Hood, Tirpitz and others that were pounded and the loss of life was unbearable and still is with no closure for Familie and friends.

In this case it is almost impossible to understand what was going through Burnetts mind........why did he get so close, had he been that deceived by Detmers camo on the ship as a Dutch freighter ? things like this are so puzzling and we will never know the answers

[Emac44]

Erich I am grateful that you understand. Its just something I can't help feeling. I don't bare grudges against the nation of Germany or its people or its military during WW2 and there after. What I do bare resentment to was and is the National Socialists of Germany from World War 2. These murdering butchers to liberty and justice

[Erich]

well you're not alone, I lost too many relatives fighting for Germany, and for what ....... ?