HMAS Sydney

Originally named Phaeton, but renamed prior to launch.

Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited launched this modified Leander class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy at Wallsend-on-Tyne on 22 September 1934, although when laid down it was intended to complete her as a Royal Navy ship, HMS PHAETON. She entered service in the Royal Australian Navy on 24 September 1935. She operated in Australian waters and the Indian Ocean until May 1940 when she joined the Mediterranean Fleet.

SYDNEY sank the Italian destroyer ESPERO on 28 June and shared honours in the sinking of the destroyer ZEFFIRO during the Battle of Calabria the following month. On 19 July 1940, in the Battle of Cape Spada in the Greek Islands, with a British destroyer squadron in company, she engaged the high-speed Italian light cruisers BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI and GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE. In the running battle which followed she hit and wrecked the BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI. The destroyers later sank COLLEONI with torpedoes. During the rest of the year, SYDNEY took part in various operations, including bombardments of Italian positions, ferrying troops and stores to Crete, attacking an Italian convoy and escort duty.

SYDNEY left the Mediterranean for Australia to refit in January 1941, performing escort duties en route. From April 1942, the ship carried out patrol and escort duties in the Indian Ocean, occasionally venturing into Asian and Pacific waters.

After an escort mission, SYDNEY left Sumatra to return voyage to Fremantle on November 17. At about 4pm on November 19, west of Shark Bay, Western Australia, SYDNEY sighted a merchant ship about 20 kilometres away and challenged her. The other ship, the German auxiliary cruiser KORMORAN, identified herself as the Dutch ship STRAAT MALAKKA. SYDNEY closed to within 1,000 metres, when the crew of KORMORAN opened fire with concealed artillery and torpedoes, catching SYDNEY unawares. Both ships inflicted heavy damage on the other in the ensuing battle; KORMORAN had to be abandoned. SYDNEY made off to the swest, heavily on fire and down by the bow. No-one saw the ship or her 645 crew members again. In 2008 the wrecks of SYDNEY and KORMORAN were found on the seabed by deep-water exploration vehicles.

HMAS Sydney Photos for Sale
Click on the images below to see purchasing options for these photos!
To view an enlarged image click the +Enlarge Image button (where available)