Last week, an Australian Commission of Inquiry released its findings on the sinking of the HMAS Sydney on November 19, 1941. The ship was lost because of the "almost inexplicable" error of the Sydney's captain.
It dismissed all the conspiracy theories such as a Japanese submarine sinking it, but kept secret because Japan had not yet entered the war.
Also dismissed was that the Kormoran tricked the Sydney calling that there was an emergency and machine-gunned the survivors in the water.
What it did find was that Captain Joseph Burnett did not order his crew to battle stations when the German raider Kormoran (disguised as a Dutch freighter) was seen. Burnett knew that a German raider had been seen in the area shortly before the tragic day.
The Kormoran used the surprise to rake the Sydney with more than 80 high explosive shells and a torpedo. The German ship was irreparably damaged with 80 of the 400 crew killed. The ship had explosives set and was then scuttled.
AFP August 14th.
Thus Ends a Sad Part of Australian History. --Cooter
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