They Never Came Home: The Tragedy of HMAS Sydney

[admiraldma]

Of all the mysteries of war at sea, this for me is one of the most interesting and baffling! What the hell happened, why did Sydney let Kormoran get close enough at all. A fast, experienced ship like Sydney should have had no trouble at all dealing with Kormoran. I know the German vessel was armed, but nowhere near as well armed as Sydney. Would love to know what happened in the last hours of Sydney's life. Man, the Germans now how to fight thier ship to the last shell!!

[EssentialPedagogy]

@admiraldma

It's thought that the new Captain of the Sydney let the Kormoran get too close which enabled the Germans to kill the bridge crew and many of the gun crews in their opening salvo.

[MegaGojira3000]

German Engineering. :-)

[cunard61]

I always thought the Kormoran was lying in wait to try to sink the big troopship Aquitania, which did indeed come through those waters the day after the Sydney, and Kormoran both sank. Aquitania was returning from Singapor, I believe, and spies there had told German intelligence about her. Aquitania actually rescued some of the survivors of the Kormoran. It's heartbreaking that there were no survivors from the Sydney to be rescued at that time as well. Such a tragic and horrific loss.

[Bonedigger1015]

All one can wish for after the great journey is to have a beautiful woman sing such a BEAUTIFUL song; lamenting their loss's and the emptyness which follows. This haunting melody captures the feelings for the lovers on the 'Other Side' just waiting until they shall meet again...

Every man aboard deserves no less...

Thank You

[Bonedigger1015]

Tears come to my eyes... Beautifully done.

Ben

[hunterkiller45]

how the hell does a warship end up at the bottom only fighting a lightly armoured comerce raider ,

[WALTERBROADDUS]

@hunterkiller45 Surprise. The Kormoran played dumb merchantman & lured Sydney in to range. She was not at full action stations. The Germans Got first shot, Took out the bridge & fire control. While light on armor, The German had 6 5.9 inch guns 2 37 mm and 5 20mm guns And torpedoes.

From SALVO!, Epic naval gun actions by Bernard Edwards Cassel press 1995.

[clama79]

The wreck of the Sydney and the Komoran is found now!

[bluespartan1991]

another military disaster that could have been avoided.

May the Sailors of the HMAS Sydney Rest in Peace

[Duncos98]

looks like ti flipped over =o

[colindominy]

It's very difficult to entertain the notion that HMAS Sydney would've come in so close to Kormoran .. as she did under the inexperienced capt who had Sydney's conn that day .. & straight into the disguised ruse set by the devious Detmers .. had Sydney instead been under the command of the peerless, battle-proven, magnificent Capt Collins. Collins, Hero of The Med & sinker of the Italian cruiser .. was far too smart to have fallen for the nasty, ill-ethical sucker-trap set by the Nazi Detmers ..

[vnck25]

I simply cant believe that a man of war was sent to the bottom by a merchant raider. My assumption is that the Aussies were deceived by the Germans and as usual Aussies were unprepared and not on alert. They probably assumed that even the Bismarck wouldnt come near their ship.

[dougstiro]

@vnck25 she came in to close, unprepared and got nailed with rapid hits.

[armalite762]

@vnck25 . Believe it mate, remember it was the German Navy.......not the Italians.

[vnck25]

@armalite762

I dont care if its the Germans, Italitans or the Nepalies the Aussies Pussies had it that day!

[colindominy]

@vnck25, now, now mein deutsch herr .. that's not the way to behave. Don't you know already that we Aussies love you Germans .. you folks are the saviour & bulwark of the whole of Europe. What'd the EU be without Germany to keep it all together .. the whole mess'd fall apart if not for you guys. We especially admire & respect your great military-history & record of magnificent military leaders / tacticians / strategists .. men like Rommel, Guderian, Von Manstein. So then .. respect us back !!

[hcstempel]

@colindominy and the other Australian friends,

hopefully there will never be war between our countries again.

We all like Australia very much and are very much aware of the horrible weather conditions you are experiencing these days. Good luck to all of you down under!

@snakes3425, very fitting tribute to a great ship and a brave crew!

[donno54]

awesome story ..been reading some great books onthe subject ,,fascinating

[lancemckellar]

RIP

and lest we forget!

[ForgottenCavalry]

nice art + song

[Caecarulf]

Great video!

Ulf

[ik1124]

not loading

[frankydman]

November 19, 1941 and March 1, 1942

2 of the biggest losses of the Royal Austrailian Navy during WWII

[Bund18]

2:24

are this two torpedos??????

[Joaquin602001]

I wouldn't say that the Sydney is "all but unknown". I can remember it being talked about quite a bit when I was younger.

[templedread]

Thank you for teaching some naval history to the world!

[haihattelenpahanvaan]

One might say that "Kormoran" did a little bit better than her sistership "Stier", that was sunk by SS "Stephen Hopkins" with one single 4 in gun against a broadside of 6 150mm guns. ;-) Well, to be exact the "Stier" was scuttled by her crew, but was going to be lost anyway..

[biukucanoe]

Commerce raider was pretending to be unarmed ship, blasted the Sydney at point blank range. Sydney fired back causing enough damage that German ship also had t to be scuttled. Largest allied ship lost with all hands. I never heard of this story but then I'm an airplane guy and from the USA.

[KarisDorgHistory]

its rilly sad that we have to have wars

this is such a  beutifal video

well done

[twilightlova4eva212]

Amazing video

[thespawnof66]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. "Oh hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea."

[cortieflash]

How sad such a loss of life but war does that