HMAS SYDNEY II - 1941
Illustration by Michael C Brady, 2021
AUSTRALIA’S PRIDE
HMAS Sydney was one of three modified Leander-class light cruisers acquired by the Royal Australian Navy in the mid 1930s. This class was some of the most beautiful warship put to sea but their combination of firepower, speed and size made them a deadly and potent cruiser. Sydney was a favourite for the Australian people and she won glory for herself after playing a leading role in the sinking of the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni in 1941; she returned home to a hero’s welcome. Just a few short months later in November 1941 the vessel encountered a suspicious freighter off Western Australia which turned out to be the German raider Kormoran. After a brief but violent exchange of gunfire and torpedoes, both ships were made lame and Sydney sank some hours later with all hands. This stands as the largest loss of life in Australian naval history and brought much grief to the nation’s people.
‘Perth-class’ light cruiser
Length: 562’4”
Beam: 56’8.5”
Draught: 15’3” - 17’3”
displacement: 7,198t
Max Speed: 32.5 KTS
the details
Sydney’s elegant bow. During her sinking the bow section detached entirely and rocketed to the ocean floor due to the weight of the ship’s anchors.
Sydney’s bridge and forward turrets were knocked out very early into the engagement rendering the ship largely uncontrollable and halving her firepower. Visible just forward of the bridge superstructure are two paravanes, deployed for minesweeping duties.
Sydney’s forward funnel and array of boats, including 35’ motor boats at left and a 32’ cutter at right.
‘X’ Turret proved a standout of the engagement with Kormoran, firing a few deadly accurate shots that rendered the German ship unsalvageable.
Sydney’s stern and propellers; at extreme left can be seen smoke generators, depth charge rack and Carley floats.
