Image Gallery: January 2009
12 January 2009
HMAS SYDNEY Commission of Inquiry
On 19 November 1941, the Royal Australian Navy Modified Leander Class light cruiser HMAS SYDNEY II, en route to Fremantle, intercepted the disguised German raider the HSK KORMORAN about 100 nautical miles west of Steep Point off the coast of Western Australia. In the ensuing battle, HMAS SYDNEY was sunk with the loss of her entire crew of 645 men. The HSK KORMORAN was subsequently scuttled with the loss of 81 lives.
Following the discovery of the wrecks of HMAS SYDNEY and HSK KORMORAN by The Finding Sydney Foundation in March 2008, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal A.G. Houston AC, AFC, established a Commission of Inquiry, charged with the following Terms of Reference:
To inquire into and report upon the circumstances associated with the loss of HMAS SYDNEY in November 1941 and consequent loss of life and related events thereto.
"All underwater photographic images of the wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and HKS KORMORAN were taken by David L. Mearns at the time of location of the wrecks onboard MV Geosounder."
| Sydneyaggregated0200 150 mm shell damage to the port side. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| Scene5NightStillhires0375 Representation of HMAS SYDNEY late in the evening (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| Damage Damage to HMAS SYDNEY on starboard side. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| Port Damage Damage to HMAS SYDNEY on port side (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1832 Damage to A Turret. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1851 Forecastle deck wrapped around A Turret. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1884 Damage to Director Control Tower support located on the Bridge Superstructure. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1905 Shell detonation around the 32’ Cutter support davits. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1907 Port side of Smith’s Shop showing fragment and fire damage. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1924 Damage to port side of Bakery and adjacent boat cradle, debris can be seen in doorway. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1926 Base of crane and opening where forward funnel was sited. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1930 Damage to port side of Bakery, debris can be seen in doorway. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1946 Aft port side 4" Gun. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1957 Open sighting ports on X Turret. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| IMG_1989 Shell detonation on Lower Deck, port side; three circular holes are scuttles. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 084 Ships boat badge on a 35’ Motor Boat. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 091 Damage to a 35’ Motor Boat on the seabed. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 148 A 35’ Motor Boat on the seabed. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 422 An anchor in place in HMAS SYDNEY’s inverted bow. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 441 Break in HMAS SYDNEY’s inverted bow on port side. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 496 Remains of a gas mask on the seabed. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 521 A 36’ Motor Pinnace and a 27’ Whaler on the seabed. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 558 Port torpedo quad tubes containing two torpedoes. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 573 End cap of port torpedo quad tube has the letter E embossed on outer tube. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| SYDNEY DIVE 3 601 A 27’ Whaler on the seabed. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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