HMAS Sydney hunt to start next year

Antipodean Andy · 19-11-2007, 03:16 AM

They've raised enough money and a ship is available to conduct the search!!!!

Official hunt for HMAS Sydney next year | NEWS.com.au

AN official search for sunken World War II light cruiser HMAS Sydney will begin early next year, with a world famous shipwreck hunter at the helm.

Sydney was sunk off the West Australian coast 66 years ago today by the disguised German mercantile raider Kormoran, with the loss of all 645 crewmen.

In August, a group of West Australian amateur researchers said they had found the wreckage, but within a day their claim was discredited, with other experts declaring it most unlikely that it really was Sydney.

The HMAS Sydney Search Foundation today announced it would begin looking for the vessel in January or February with $4.2 million in federal funding, $500,000 from the WA Government and $250,000 from the New South Wales Government.

HMAS Sydney Search director Ted Graham said about 1500 sq nautical miles of water off WA's northern coast would be searched, reaching depths of 2500-4500m.

"The scale and complexity involved in such a search is significant, Mr Graham said.

"However, advances in technology, exhaustive archival research and the recent increase in government funding for the search, provide our best chance yet of success in finding HMAS Sydney II."

The search will be coordinated by shipwreck hunter David Mearns, who found two legendary WWII vessels, HMS Hood and the German battleship Bismarck. (Andy edit - Mearns "re-found" the Bismarck)

The Kormoran was also sunk as a result of the battle with the Sydney and the 317 survivors from 397 aboard that ship were picked up over the next few days, giving the only witness accounts of what occurred.

The Aviator · 19-11-2007, 05:50 AM

Recently I visited Carnarvon and was very surprised to find one of the Kormoran's lifeboats in their little unattended museum up there.
I took these pics.

This particular boat came to the Carnarvon jetty full of survivors.
They were all arrested there and sent to Perth by train.

Antipodean Andy · 19-11-2007, 05:52 AM

Great pics, thanks TA!

The Aviator · 19-11-2007, 06:35 AM

As a West Aussie, did you know that lifeboat is at Carnarvon? I sure didn't.
Think it should be bought out of that railway museum at Carvarvon and bought to the Maritime museum at Fremantle. Or put it with the HMAS Sydney carley float at the Canberra War Museum.

Antipodean Andy · 19-11-2007, 08:42 AM

I knew it still existed but thought it was in Geraldton. Would really add to the display with the replica float in Fremantle but Carnarvon paid a big part so they deserve a relic as well. As long as it is properly preserved for future generations.

The Aviator · 19-11-2007, 09:24 AM

Hmmm. You saw the pics I took. It is stashed in a railway museum at the end of the jetty unattended. Isn't suitable for such a valuable piece of military history.

James · 05-01-2008, 09:52 PM

More information is available at sygnuseag@iprimus.com.au - it is a private email address but accesses Association of Family and Friends of HMAS Sydney II - a group of researchers that have been looking at the Sydnye story for many years and have access to naval and government sources (among others) for up to date information. Many relatives are kept informed in this way of recent developments
James Eagles
Townsville

Antipodean Andy · 06-01-2008, 12:10 AM

Thanks James. What is the best way to approach them for up to date info? Is there a regular mail out to members?

Welcome to the forum!

Nostalgair · 09-01-2008, 07:38 AM

It's a very interesting tale. I wonder if they'll ever find the HMAS Sydney(II).

I remember that I used to fly with a Captain whose father, as a youngster, had found the inflatable life raft that was suspected to have come from the Sydney. It had washed up on the western Australian coast. He said that ever since his father had followed the story with tremendous interest.

Time will tell I guess.

Cheers

Owen