Monday, December 15, 2008

HMAS Sydney

The Nov. 19th West of West Australia.

Families traveled to the ceremonies to mark the 67 anniversary Nov. 19, 1941, sinking of the HMAS Sydney made all the more poignant this year by the discovery of the ship's wreck this past spring.

The Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Sydney, the fourth vessel to carry that name, will guide the HMAS Manoora to the site of the wreck 207 kilometers northwest of Geraldton.

Famous shipwreck hunter David Mearms and his team were commissioned by the Finding Sydney Foundation and found the wreck back in March, sitting upright 2500 meters down. Underwater shots indicate that "B" turret was hit by large calibre shells and taken out. Shells from the German raider Kormoran struck the Sydney every 4-6 seconds after the ship decamouflaged.

German accounts said that 50% of the Sydney's firepower was knocked out in the first minute or two of the battle.

The remains of one Sydney sailor whose body was recovered from Christmas Island, will be buried tomorrow.

There will be a RAAF fly past and a sunset memorial for the 645 crew members who lost their lives.

A Really Great Story.

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