Ga this article has been rated as gaclass on the projects quality scale. Hmas sydney d48 is within the scope of wikiproject australia, which aims to improve wikipedia s coverage of australia and australiarelated topics. Hmas sydney, named after the australian city of sydney, was one of three modified leanderclass light cruisers operated by the royal australian navy ran. The material including photographs available in the press room section of this website may be usedreproduced unaltered by your organisation unless stated otherwise within the content description subject to the terms and conditions set out in the legal. The light cruiser hmas sydney was built in the united kingdom and commissioned in june 19. Following the outbreak of war in august 1914, sydney was engaged in operations against germanys pacific colonies and destroyed a radio station in the pelew islands. She gained fame early in the war for her exploits while operating as part of the royal navys mediterranean fleet. Hmas sydney ii found hmas sydney ii memorial geraldton. Both david mearns and the finding sydney foundation fsf methodology converged on the need to find hsk kormoran and then establish the approximate location of hmas sydney ii relative to this site. Numerous attempts were made to find the australian cruiser hmas sydney and the german. Battle between hmas sydney and german auxiliary cruiser.
Harbour, sydney 16th march 2018 to mark the 10th anniversary of finding hmas sydney, the museum will present a symposium telling the story of sydney ii from its short honourable service to the historical day her location was discovered, on to recent years when the wrecks were revisited by. Hmas sydney was one of three modified leander or perth class light cruisers of the ran. Here, for the first time, david tells the full, dramatic story of his search for two ships, sydney and kormoran, whose paths crossed. Hmas sydney search pty ltd sydney search is a nonprofit organisation formed to find the royal australian navy light cruiser hmas sydney. The sinking of hmas sydney by david l mearns overdrive. Hmas sydney, australias greatest naval tragedy by tom. The complete and authoritative account of the sinking of the hmas sydney, and the recent finding of her wreck. In february 2003 it was appointed trustee for the finding sydney foundation. Although hmas sydney iii served with distinction in the korean and vietnam wars, her exploits are not as widely known as her predecessors hmas sydney i and hmas sydney ii.
The finding sydney foundation was formed to find the royal australian navy light cruiser hmas sydney ii, lost in action with all hands during november 1941. Finding hmas sydney ii article updated 3 years ago. Book the sinking of hmas sydney victorian collections. Laid down and launched in 1980, sydney was named for the capital city of new south wales, and commissioned into the ran in. On 19 november 1941, the pride of the australian navy, the light cruiser sydney, fought a closequarters battle with the german. The search for hmas sydney is a beautifully presented book that is much more than a coffeetable book. On 4 october 19 she entered sydney harbour with other ships of the fleet unit. Hmas sydney search pty ltd acn 096 017 275 was formed as a notforprofi t company in february 2001. Related video for 66 years, the location of sydney remained shrouded in mystery, with the relatives and descendants of those who had perished left wondering. In late 2005, university of western australia press published glenys mcdonalds book, seeking the sydney.
Hmas sydney ii found the wreck of the hmas sydney ii was found by the finding sydney foundation on 16th march 2008 approximately 207km 128 miles from the west coast steep point of western australia at a depth of approximately 2,468 metres. Search for hmas sydney and german auxiliary cruiser kormoran. Books of interest for exnavy personnel hmas sydney. Although hmas sydney iii served with distinction in the korean and vietnam wars, her. To find hmas sydney ii, the pride of the royal australian navy, that disappeared with her entire crew off the western coast of australia in 1941. The search for hmas sydney pieces together the incredible story of sydney, its crew, and the families left behind. This is because her operations, especially in vietnam, were so successful, as this book points out. The battle between the australian light cruiser hmas sydney and the german auxiliary cruiser kormoran was a singleship action that occurred on 19 november 1941, off the coast of western australia. The search for hmas sydney by ted graham overdrive. Sydney search found the wreckage of hmas sydney on the 16th march 2008, allowing closure to the families of those lost. Where can i find information on the sinking of hmas sydney. Finding sydney foundation submission summary of pre search. Sydney cipher and search solving the last great naval mystery of the second world war.
Sydney, with captain joseph burnett commanding, and kormoran, under fregattenkapitan theodor detmers, encountered each other approximately 106 nautical miles 196 km. High this article has been rated as highimportance on the projects importance scale. The sinking of hmas sydney how australias greatest maritime mystery was solved by david l. Ted graham, bob king, bob trotter and kim kirsner, eds. The ultimate book about the search for hmas sydney military. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. Mearns 9781460756379 from boomerang books, australias online independent bookstore.
An australian story edited by ted graham, bob king, bob trotter, kim kirsner. It details the innovative and powerful research procedures implemented by the finding sydney foundation to locate the wrecks of sydney and kormoran, their discovery, and the detailed forensic analyses and commemorations that followed. The frigate was one of six modified oliver hazard perryclass frigates ordered from 1977 onwards, and the third of four to be constructed in the united states of america. Both ships sank and not one of the 645 men on board the sydney survived. Books out of sight, out of mind the royal australian navy in vietnam by dr john r. The search for hmas sydney pieces together the incredible story of sydney, its crew and the families left behind. All royalties go to the teddy whitten foundation for prostate cancer. Hmas sydney ii was one of three modified british leander class light cruisers purchased by the royal australian navy ran in the years immediately prior to world war ii. All that was known was sydney had come under fire from the german raider hsk kormoran, which also sank. We soon concluded that the modified leander class cruiser, hmas sydney ii, sunk with all hands on 19 november 1941, had been found in 2,468 metres of water. The ultimate book about the search for hmas sydney. Hmas sydney ffg 03 was an adelaideclass guidedmissile frigate of the royal australian navy ran.
The sinking of hmas sydney, how australias greatest maritime. The complete and authoritative account of the sinking of the hmas sydney, and the finding of her wreck in 2008. The recent reported discoveries of the wrecks of hmas sydney and the german raider kormoran off the coast of western australia have fulfilled the hopes of many people who for years have grieved, waited and wondered about exactly what happened to these two illfated naval ships the sinking of the sydney is the most terrible loss ever suffered by the royal. Please take the time to view the start here topics below.
For a comprehensive guide to government records, see the following book in the librarys collection. Picture of hmas sydney on front cover together withminute dated 25 november 1941. Hmas sydney the mystery of australias greatest naval disaster. Thanks for supporting an australian owned and operated business. Hmas sydney iii naval historical society of australia. After numerous unsuccessful searches from the mid 1970s onwards, the finding sydney foundation was set up and in march 2008 one of australias greatest maritime mysteries was solved when both wrecks were finally discovered. The loss of hmas sydney ii hmas sydney ii commission of inquiry. Its objectives were to fi nd the wrecks of hmas sydney ii and the german raider hsk kormoran off the western australian coast, and to commemorate the crew members. Booktopia has the sinking of hmas sydney, how australias greatest. On 19 november 1941, the pride of the australian navy, the light cruiser sydney, fought a closequarters battle with the german armed raider hsk kormoran off carnarvon on the west australian coast. Ordered for the royal navy as hms phaeton, the cruiser was purchased by the australian government and renamed prior to her 1934 launch during the early part of her operational history, sydney helped enforce sanctions during the abyssinian. The finding of the hmas sydney ii the wreck of the hmas sydney ii was found by the finding sydney foundation on 16th march 2008 at 26 14 37 s 111 03 e, approximately 207km 128 miles from the west coast steep point of western australia at a depth of approximately 2,468 metres.