The RAN played a vital role in a service to remember the 138 men who lost their lives when HMAS Parramatta 11 was hit by a German torpedo and sank off Libya on November 27, 1941.

The service was held on Sunday, November 25 at the Parramatta Naval Memorial in the Queens Wharf Reserve at Parramatta.

The Sydney Standing Guard provided a catafalque party while the RAN Reserve Band provided the appropriate music.

A large number of ex RAN personnel and family members attended.

The service, organised by the local branch of the Naval Association of Australia, marked the 60th anniversary of the sinking.

The 1060 tonne Sydney-built sloop was commissioned in 1940.

The following year she was doing escort duties off the Libyan coast when she was hit by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U 599.

Only those on deck escaped when the ship rolled suddenly to starboard and sank.

Some clung to wreckage and were rescued by the destroyer HMS Avon Vale.

Two of the rescued swam three quarters of a mile to reach safety.

Another three swam ashore and were rescued by advancing British troops.

Only 24 sailors survived.