Image Gallery: March 2008
Kormoran-sized clue in the hunt for HMAS SYDNEY II
16 March 2008
There are high hopes that an enduring maritime mystery will soon be laid to rest, following the discovery of the HSK Kormoran off the West Australian coast.
Today the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, along with the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, Chief of Navy congratulated the Finding Sydney Foundation on the discovery.
"HMAS Sydney II was tragically lost in November 1941 in the Indian Ocean with its entire crew of 645, following a furious engagement with the German raider HSK Kormoran," said Mr Snowdon.
"Now that the Kormoran is found, her position can help pin-point the Sydney’s final resting place."
The wreck of the Kormoran was located approximately 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western Australia lying in 2,560 metres of water.
"Apparently the sonar imagery shows two large pieces of the Kormoran hull remaining," said Mr Snowdon.
"And already, less than five nautical miles south of Kormoran’s position the search team have found what they believe is the main battle site."
Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation Mr Ted Graham said it was great to have found the Kormoran so early in the search.
"We now have more time to refine and continue our search for HMAS Sydney II, and we have devised a new search box which will be explored over the next 25-30 days" he said.
Minister Snowdon said that the Federal Republic of Germany had been advised of the discovery of the HSK Kormoran, and the Minister for the Department of Environment, Water Heritage and the Arts is being consulted to ensure the wreck site is being protected.
| 20080313adf0000_004 This final image of Kormoran’s bow (with the stem at the top of the image), collected using the highest resolution of the SM30 sonar (800 metre swathe), shows the crucial detail in the acoustic shadows trailing off to the right that confirmed the wreck as Kormoran’s. Kormoran has a flared bow with a raised foc’sle deck above the main deck. This structural detail, particular to Kormoran and not to Sydney, is evident by way of the acoustic shadow at the top of the image. This long shadow could only be caused by the wreck having the type of flared bow and raised foc’sle deck that Kormoran had. Fortunately, this section of hull is sitting upright on the seabed which allowed such analysis of the acoustic shadowing. The separate acoustic shadow at the bottom of the image is caused by the bridge superstructure of Kormoran, which has been measured to be in the correct position relative to the stem. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080313adf0000_005 Sonar image showing the entire wreckage field of Kormoran when first located on 12th March. The object at the top of the screen with the dark acoustic shadow to its immediate right is Kormoran’s bow broken just aft of the bridge superstructure. The bright mass to the left and below the bow is the main debris field created as a result of the catastrophic explosion suffered by Kormoran when her cache of mines detonated. The object at the bottom of the screen is a large piece of unidentified hull structure measuring 31m x 25m x 12.7m high which gives a good idea of the scale of the wreckage. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_001 The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd briefing the media, with (LtoR) Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation, The Hon Warren Snowdon MP Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Shalders listening on. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_002 Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation briefs the media with the (LtoR) Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd, The Hon Warren Snowdon MP Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Shalders listening on. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_003 Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation briefs the media along with the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_004 Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders briefs the media with Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd in the background. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_005 Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd briefing the media along with Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_006 The Hon Warren Snowdon MP Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Prime Minister of Australia Hon Mr Kevin Rudd briefing the media along with Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation and Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, in the background. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_008 The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd briefs the media with Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation and Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston in the background. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_012 The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Kevin Rudd talk outside the AWM with Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation and The Hon and The Hon Warren Snowdon MP Minister for Defence Science and Personnel. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080316adf8054893_014 (LtoR) Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Mr Ted Graham Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Shalders outside the Australian War Memorial. (Date taken: 16 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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