HMAS Sydney (II) Mid Section Model

The term ‘pride of the fleet’ has a tendency to be overused, but, early in WWII, the second HMAS Sydney could be genuinely given such a title. Early in the war Sydney (II) served in the Mediterranean and was involved in several major battles intercepting and sinking Italian warships and merchant vessels. Thus, it seemed strange that in November 1941 this gallant vessel and the entire crew should have fallen victim to a German auxiliary cruiser, right on Australia’s doorstep off the coast of Shark Bay.

On 19 November 1941 HSK Kormoran was off Carnarvon heading south to lay a minefield when, late in the afternoon, its lookouts noticed a Perth-class cruiser approaching from astern. In a battle which lasted little more than 30 minutes Kormoran subjected Sydney to a hail of gunfire which totally wrecked the once proud vessel. However, as Sydney turned toward Kormoran, the rear guns came into action destroying the German vessel’s engine room and setting the ship on fire.

The Germans continued to fire at Sydney as it sailed slowly southward. That night they could see flames flickering in the distance until just after midnight then, nothing. With his ship dead in the water and fires spreading to the mine deck, Detmers first ordered scuttling charges to be set and then, abandon ship. Kormoran blew up in a huge explosion.