Search Leads to German War Ship Sunk in 1941

[ToughOmbre]

Sunday, March 16, 2008

CANBERRA, Australia — A search for an Australian navy battle cruiser lost in 1941 has led to the wreck of the German raider that sank it, the prime minister said Sunday.

Both the HMAS Sydney and the German vessel, the DKM Kormoran, sank after a battle off Australia's western coast on Nov. 19, 1941 during World War II.

None of the 645 men aboard the Sydney survived. But 317 of the Kormoran's 397 crew rowed to the Australian coast in life boats and were taken prisoner. The 9,500 ton Kormoran had been disguised as a Dutch merchant ship when it opened fire on the Sydney.

"Finding the Kormoran is one big step forward (to finding the Sydney)," said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The wreck was found Saturday about 500 miles north of the Western Australia state capital Perth, he said.

The government-funded US$3.9 million search for the Sydney began two weeks ago and is headed by U.S. shipwreck hunter David Mearns.

Mearns was involved in finding the wrecks of the British battle cruiser the HMS Hood and the DKM Bismarck, the German battle ship that sank her in the North Atlantic in 1941.

The Sydney weighed in at 7,300 tons, making it the largest vessel from any country to be lost with no survivors during the war.

The fate of the ship and its crew has remained an enduring mystery, though a parliament inquiry into the tragedy in 1999 accepted accounts by Kormoran survivors that they last saw the ship in flames and heading toward Perth.

There are no current plans to raise the Sydney if it is found.

TO

[wilbur1]

Great news, TO hopefully they will find the other boys

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Very interesting.

To the sailors of both ships.

[evangilder]

This is also being discussed in another thread..
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2...ast-12350.html (HSK Kormaran Found of Western Australian Coast)

[Lucky13]

[Emac44]

Yes Tough. We are all praying the Sydney is found here in Australia. We need to bring those men home mate in a spiritual sense of course. They need to know we as Australians and as a Navy Tradition we never leave a mate behind. To long those Australian Sailors have been missing. We have never forgotten the men of HMAS Sydney we just don't know where they are as yet

[Erich]

in time, in time ............. the news is changing daily on this particular event.

Latest Search Reports

my question which will always remain unanswered is what was Burnett thinking getting in that close with the Kormoran. All we really have is still the reports of the living KM vets, which at times do not agree with one another

[Erich]

you may find this of interest on the KM Hilfkreuzers, click the link HK Kormoron, though on the front page scroll downward and you will find the KM CO's bio, T. Detmers

Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser / Raider) - Introduction

[Emac44]

Originally Posted by Erich

in time, in time ............. the news is changing daily on this particular event.

Latest Search Reports

my question which will always remain unanswered is what was Burnett thinking getting in that close with the Kormoran. All we really have is still the reports of the living KM vets, which at times do not agree with one another

Erich you know as well as I do that any events witnessed by more than one witness will not jell. As people under extreme pressure and during battle stations will view events differently and will conflict. As for Burnett I suppose being so closed to Australian Territorial Waters he relaxed his guard. But yes you are right its something we will never have answers for. But for us Aussies its exciting to know that the Sydney maybe found at long last.

[Erich]

my point is that we have only the KM German side, heck I am so excited for you folk this is tremendous news in regards to possible closure for so many years.

there is so much speculation now as to what happened, time for another book........which am sure will happen due to the recent state of events

[Emac44]

Originally Posted by Erich

my point is that we have only the KM German side, heck I am so excited for you folk this is tremendous news in regards to possible closure for so many years.

there is so much speculation now as to what happened, time for another book........which am sure will happen due to the recent state of events

Yes I know Erich we have only Kriegsmarine information But also reports from Kormoran Crew Members over the years. Which added to the speculation and the theories of what happened to Sydney. Some of the speculation involved a Japanese Submarie was involved to but this was ruled out over the years.

Yes another book will most likely appear. Probarly 2 or 3 Erich. If Sydney is found possibley a Television Documentary or even something equaly mind boggling, like a Documentary-Movie etc. But we will have to wait. First find Sydney then determine how and why she sustained damage so badly etc. It is all speculation as yet Erich. We have to locate Sydney first. But one thing she will always be a War Grave and treated with the respect her and her men demand. And yes it is exciting

[renrich]

Not to be a nit picker but Sydney was a light cruiser not a battle cruiser as was claimed in the story. About 20000 tons difference.

[Thorlifter]

Why would a raider attack a battlecruiser? Are raiders that well armed? Obviously I don't know anything about raiders and marine armament. Is it surprise that give a raider it's advantage?

[renrich]

Sydney had 6 inch guns. Kormoran had 5.9s and also torpedoes. Sydney was looking for the German raider and theoretically would be more than a match for Komoran.

[ToughOmbre]

Originally Posted by renrich

Not to be a nit picker but Sydney was a light cruiser not a battle cruiser as was claimed in the story. About 20000 tons difference.

Good observation ren, didn't notice that in the article. Big difference!

TO