The March 25th Canberra Times had a story about Ted Brand, 86, who remembers the name (but won't tell it) of a friend who took his place on the Sydney. He swapped drafts (orders) so he wouldn't have to serve on a smaller corvette (a small mine-sweeping vessel). His friend was afraid he'd get sick at sea, and wanted to go on the bigger Sydney.
The April 9th Perth Now and other Australia news sources are showing pictures taken of the Kormoran. The photos in the Perth Now showed the Kormoran's underwater torpedo tubes which are believed to be very responsible for the sinking of the Sydney. A torpedo from the Kormoran hit the Sydney's bow in the opening part of the battle and destroyed it.
A few Sydney shells hit the Kormoran and caused a fire in the engine room that could not be controlled. The captain, fearing the destruction that would occur once the fire hit the mines the ship carried ordered the crew to abandon and scuttle the ship. A huge explosion destroyed the rear half of the ship. Much damage can be seen in the photographs.
Other photos show two of the Kormoran's 5.9 inch guns still intact with concealment flaps in the upright position. The Germans claimed that they could de-camouflage the guns in a matter of seconds, another thing that led to the Sudney's destruction.
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