19 November 1941
On 19 November 1941, HMAS Sydney (II) was in pursuit of an unknown vessel off the north-west coast of Western Australia. Sydney was suspicious of the ship. This was due to German raiders who were believed to be disguising themselves as merchant vessels to operate in Australian waters.
Late in the afternoon Sydney signalled the vessel. They requested identification, but received no response. The unknown vessel hoisted a flag indicating that it was a Dutch-registered merchant vessel. It then sent a radio signal claiming to be under attack from an unknown vessel.
Sydney requested a secret flag identification that would be known only to the Dutch owners. The vessel did not respond. There was a lull for 15 minutes. By that time, Sydney had moved so close that it was only around 1,500 metres from the unknown vessel.
At 1730, Sydney signalled ‘Show your secret sign’, at which point the unknown vessel hoisted its true colours. The vessel revealed itself to be the German raider HSK Kormoran and immediately opened fire.
Kormoran’s quick and accurate gunfire had a devastating impact on Sydney. It destroyed her bridge and knocked out her forward turrets. A torpedo hit under Sydney’s forward turrets caused further damage. Sydney’s aft gun turrets came into action with quick and accurate fire, starting fires in Kormoran’s engine room. In a fierce action lasting only half an hour, both ships were severely damaged and sank that night.
The Naval Board sent RAN vessels to search for Sydney in the following days, after a British tanker reported rescuing 25 German sailors. They found more members of Kormoran’s crew, but no trace of Sydney or its 645 crew. It remains the largest loss of life in the Australian Navy’s history.
The sinking of HMAS Sydney was a major blow to the RAN, and had a profound impact on the home front. Just a few days later, on 27 November 1941, HMAS Parramatta was sunk near Tobruk, torpedoed by a German U-boat.
Prime Minister Curtin addressed the nation in sombre tones: ‘Following so closely on the loss of ship and men in the case of the H.M.A.S. “SYDNEY” … the loss of H.M.A.S. “PARRAMATTA” and so many of her gallant complement, is a heavy blow.’
The sinking of Sydney subsequently generated great controversy and was the subject of many books and a Royal Commission. More information is at the Sea Power Centre website.