wildWolverine
L'Etat, c'est moi
HMAS Sydney & HSK Kormoran (Steiermark)
3rd Cumulative WW2 History Quiz
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classical_hero
In whom I trust
That does sound very familar those two ship, so I think you are correct.
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
It is the German auxiliar cruiser Kormoran (HSK 8). It signaled the Australian CL HMAS Sydney she was the Dutch freighter Straat Malakka. The feint worked, so that the CL went too near. Even the plane ordered to scout the German ship was brought from a launch to a normal position. Commander Detmers wanted to keep up the position he had and try to go away, when the Australians demanded the secret signals. Detmers had no other choice to reveal the true nature of the ship and to open fire on 1500 m. The first shot was too low, but the next salvo of the other guns destroyed the B turret and appearently disabled also the A turret. It seemed unable to move on the enemy. In the same moment the Kormoran launched a torpedo hitting the CL near the bridge. In the next moment the Sydney hit the German ship with her 2nd salvo (the first was also too low) from X and Y turret destroying the engine room and killing all of the 21 people there with one exception, who could escape. The fire was no able to be put out later.
However Sydney tried to turn away but was hit multiple times. Since her crew was in no way on battle station the small guns of the Kormoran shot on everything moving on deck especially on the torpedo tubes. Finally the Australian ship was listing and burning and drifting away. Later the crew saw in the night a ship burning at the horizon but suddenly the fire went out.
In the meantime Cdr. Detmers had to abandon the ship. The fire was out of control and could not be put out. During the evacuation a rescue boat capsized and drowned 60 crew members.
All other Germans survived as they were pciked up by planes, ships or arrived finally the Australian coast.
The HMAS Sydney was never seen again. She was lost with all of her 645 souls. No debries could be found either.
The Kormoran was in the meantime missed by the OKM. But the fate was unclear. It was not before an Australian newspaper asked for what ship the survivors came from that the OKM got news about the fate. The whole story was first told when the medic of the Kormoran sent a letter home. He told the ship was lost due a an Australian CL, which also was lost.
To this day it is remarkeable that an auxiliar cruiser could sink a modern CL. This lead to many mysteries and some strange theories, since no Australian survived, but 340 Germans. One was the German machine gunned the survivors or the Japanese, although not in war, sank the ship finally after the fight. But the most likely theory is that the fire amidships of HMAS Sydney hit the magazines blowing the ship to pieces.
However no sign was found yet with a possible exception of a corpse washed ashore on a Pacific island in 1942. Since a few days later the Japanese took the island the corpse did vanish. So no parts are found yet.
This was the greatest Australian defeat of ww2 on the seas. It remains mysterious, since also some files are still classified.
This is the story of the sea battle between both ships. I PMed this meisen and he asked me to publish it here. I hope, it is interesting.
Adler
However Sydney tried to turn away but was hit multiple times. Since her crew was in no way on battle station the small guns of the Kormoran shot on everything moving on deck especially on the torpedo tubes. Finally the Australian ship was listing and burning and drifting away. Later the crew saw in the night a ship burning at the horizon but suddenly the fire went out.
In the meantime Cdr. Detmers had to abandon the ship. The fire was out of control and could not be put out. During the evacuation a rescue boat capsized and drowned 60 crew members.
All other Germans survived as they were pciked up by planes, ships or arrived finally the Australian coast.
The HMAS Sydney was never seen again. She was lost with all of her 645 souls. No debries could be found either.
The Kormoran was in the meantime missed by the OKM. But the fate was unclear. It was not before an Australian newspaper asked for what ship the survivors came from that the OKM got news about the fate. The whole story was first told when the medic of the Kormoran sent a letter home. He told the ship was lost due a an Australian CL, which also was lost.
To this day it is remarkeable that an auxiliar cruiser could sink a modern CL. This lead to many mysteries and some strange theories, since no Australian survived, but 340 Germans. One was the German machine gunned the survivors or the Japanese, although not in war, sank the ship finally after the fight. But the most likely theory is that the fire amidships of HMAS Sydney hit the magazines blowing the ship to pieces.
However no sign was found yet with a possible exception of a corpse washed ashore on a Pacific island in 1942. Since a few days later the Japanese took the island the corpse did vanish. So no parts are found yet.
This was the greatest Australian defeat of ww2 on the seas. It remains mysterious, since also some files are still classified.
This is the story of the sea battle between both ships. I PMed this meisen and he asked me to publish it here. I hope, it is interesting.
Adler
FriendlyFire
Codex WMDicanious
Adler17 said:
The Australian government has investest some 3 Milion in trying to locate its lost ship. HMAS Sydney it is believed the crew having fought off the raider. Was still in salvageable condition. The captain no doubt was turning the Sydeny back to port. Sighting by fishermen of an explosion from close to the shore shows possibility that Her captain and crew managed to almost bring the Sydney to port.
IRRC the salavge and locating attempt is to be this year for a period of 4months.
The other theories are she was "finnished" off by a japanses sub. Or having survived the encounter driftet off course and layed to rest far out into the indian ocean.
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
Friendly Fire, I think the Sydney is most likely sunk due to a magazine explosion like HMS Hood. However the place where would be interesting. From the German crew of HSK 8 Kormoran we only know that she was seen drifting and burning and disappeared suddenly. Also the distance from the fighting place to the shore must have been farer away since one life boat was on her way for 6 days and then finally reached the beach. So I don´t think she was near to the coast. However we´ll see, when and if the wreck is found.
Adler
Adler
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