HMAS Sydney II: Crows nest on foremast.Copyright: Australian War Memorial

The Ships

2

Sydney was armed and equipped for long range combat but with little or no advantage over Kormoran at the range at which the battle unfolded.

Sydney was en route from Sunda Strait to Fremantle when contact was made with Kormoran. Sydney followed and gradually closed in on Kormoran until, at a range of less than one nautical mile, Kormoran opened fire and both vessels were destroyed.

HMAS Sydney II

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HSK Kormoran

HSK Kormoran: Anchor..Copyright: Australian War Memorial

Kormoran was a German raider, heavily armed for close range combat with lightly armed merchant vessels but disguised as an allied merchant ship.

Kormoran left Germany on December 23rd 1940, and sank eleven merchant ships prior to her engagement with Sydney. Kormoran was steaming north along the coast of Western Australia when she sighted Sydney, and turned west toward the open ocean to avoid combat.

HSK Kormoran

www.ozebook.com/ww2/documents/25.html