Modified LEANDER-Class cruiser ordered under the
1932 Estimates from Swan Hunter at Newcastle
upon
Tyne on 10th February 1933 and laid down on 8th July that
year. Although launched as HMS PHAETON on 9th October 1934, this was changed in 1935 to SYDNEY
after the decision to transfer her to the Royal Australian Navy. Build was completed on 24th September 1935 and she
commissioned that day for RAN service.
1 9 3 9
September
Deployed with
RAN Western Force based at Fremantle for trade defence in Indian Ocean.
October to November
Deployed on
patrol duty off NW Australia for interception of commerce raiders.
December
Escorted troop
convoy carrying 2nd Australian Imperial Force on passage to the Middle East
until relieved by HM Australian
Cruiser ADELAIDE on 12th.
Passage to Sydney for routine docking.
15th - Under
refit in Sydney.
1 9 4 0
January
Resumed
operational duty on completion.
11th - Escorted
military convoy US2 with HM Australian Cruiser AUSTRALIA from
to Jervis Bay arriving on 12th.
February
6th - Relieved
HMAS AUSTRALIA as Western Force cruiser for trade defence duty off
Western Australia.
March
Trade defence
and interception duty in continuation.
April
1st - Transferred
to East Indies Station.
19th - Deployed
with HM Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE and HM Battleship RAMILLIES for
Trade defence and convoy escort
duty.
28th - Detached
to join military convoy US3 for Indian Ocean passage.
May
1st - Detached
from US3 to take passage to Singapore to refuel.
8th - Arrived
at Colombo and Joined Squadron.
12th - Sailed
to rejoin US3 but ordered to return to Colombo prior for transfer to 7th
Cruiser Squadron in
Mediterranean Fleet.
18th - Passage
to Aden.
22nd - Joined
HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER and HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE for passage through
Red Sea.
26th - Joined
Squadron at Alexandria.
June
Carried out
exercises and worked-up with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, ORION, NEPTUNE
and LIVERPOOL of 7th Cruiser
Squadron.. (Note:
CinC Mediterranean had arranged extensive programmes of exercises in
anticipation of the
entry of Italy into hostilities.)
12th - Deployed
for an offensive sweep and reconnaissance off North African coast and in Aegean
Sea.
21st - Bombarded
Bardia with French battleship LORRAINE, HMS NEPTUNE, HMS ORION and
HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, HASTY
and STUART (RAN).
28th - Deployed
with Squadron and joined by HM Cruisers CALEDON and CALCUTTA for the
cover of convoys in Aegean Sea.
Engaged Italian destroyers
attempting to attack a convoy and sank Italian ESPERO.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D.
Macintyre and Naval Staff History (HMSO - 2002).)
July
6th - Deployed
to covered Aegean convoys.
7th - Transferred
to provide cover passage of Convoys MS1 and MF1 from Malta with ships of
Squadron and HM Australian Destroyer
STUART.
8th - Under
Italian air attacks.
9th - Took part
in Battle of Calabria during which Italian Fleet disengaged.
(For details see above references).
18th - Carried
out anti-submarine sweep and shipping search with HM Destroyers ILEX,
HERO and HASTY in Gulf of Athens.
19th - In
action with HM Destroyers HYPERION and HAVOCK against 2 Italian cruisers
on passage between Tripoli and
Leros. Cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI was sunk by the destroyers.
Engaged and hit BANDE NERE which
then withdrew. Return
fire damaged one funnel slightly. (For details see above references).
27th - Joined
HMS NEPTUNE to meet HM Battleships MALAYA, WARSPITE,
RAMILLIES and H M Aircraft Carrier
EAGLE.
Came under air attack.
28th - Intercepted
and sank Greek tanker ERMIONE.
August
Deployed with
7th Cruiser Squadron in eastern Mediterranean.
28th - Covered
Fleet units during bombardments of seaplane base in Gulf of Bomba and
Bardia harbour.
30th - Part of
Force F for cover of passage of HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers
CALCUTTA and COVENTRY from Gibraltar to join Fleet at Alexandria and also passage of convoy
MB to Malta (Operation HATS).
September
1st - Remained
with convoy MB when it was threatened by Italian major warships, which
withdrew when Fleet units responded.
(For details see above references).
3rd - Adopted
disguise of Italian cruiser and bombarded airfield at Scarpanto with
HMS ORION, HM Destroyer DECOY and HM
Destroyer ILEX. In
action with E-Boats sinking one and damaging another.
6th - Routine
docking at Alexandria.
24th - Patrolled
off Cyprus and covered HM Netlayer PROTECTOR near Beirut.
28th - Deployed
with Fleet units to cover passage of HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS LIVERPOOL
taking troops to Malta.
30th - Patrolled
off Malta.
October
1st - Detached
with HMS ORION to bombard airfield at Stampalia in Dodecanese.
9th - Deployed
with Fleet to cover passage of Malta convoy MB6.
25th - Carried
out Aegean sweep including Dardanelles area and supported convoys with
HMS ORION, HM Destroyers JERVIS and
JUNO.
28th - Patrolled
with HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS ORION and HM Cruiser YORK off Crete during
Italian invasion of Greece.
(For details of naval operations in
Greece and Crete see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval
Staff History).
November
5th - Embarked
troops and stores for passage to Suda Bay with HMS AJAX.
7th - Joined
Fleet to cover Malta convoy MW6 and transfer of HM Battleship BARHAM,
HM Cruiser BERWICK, HM Cruiser
GLASGOW and three Fleet destroyers of Force
F from Gibraltar to join Fleet
(Operation COAT).
11th - Detached
with HMS AJAX, HMS NUBIAN and HMS ESKIMO to join HMS AJAX in
offensive sweep in Adriatic and a
bombardment of Valona.
12th - Night
attack on Italian convoy off Brindisi sinking four ships and damaging an
escort.
Rejoined Fleet west of Crete.
15th - Embarked
troops and made fast passage to Piraeus at 30 knots with HM Cruisers BERWICK,
HMS GLASGOW and HMS YORK.
25th - Covered
transit of HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HMS BERWICK and HMS NEWCASTLE
to western Mediterranean and the
transit of HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON with 3 Fleet destroyers in Force F from
Gibraltar to join Fleet. (Operation COLLAR).
26th - Covered
HMS EAGLE during air strike on Tripoli.
December
Based at Suda
Bay for convoy defence and interception of Italian convoys.
17th - Offensive
sweep in Adriatic and covered Convoy MW2 with Fleet units
(Operations MC2 and MC3).
20th - Detached
from covering duty and returned to Suda Bay.
23rd - Under
refit in Malta. (Mileage steamed in 1940 - 60,000).
30th - Relieved
by HM Australian Cruiser PERTH in 7th Cruiser Squadron and released from Mediterranean
Fleet for return to RAN.
1 9 4 1
January
8th - Passage
to Alexandria escorted by HMAS STUART.
12th - Sailed
from Suez for Sydney.
24th - Diverted
at Seychelles to search for the German commerce raiders ATLANTIS and
PINGUIN reported NW of islands.
February
Resumed passage
to Sydney.
March
Under refit in
Sydney.
April
On completion
deployed for Convoy escort in Australian waters.
14th - Embarked
delegation for ABDA conference and took passage to Singapore.
18th - Passage
from Singapore to Australia.
May
Escorted troop
convoy from Fremantle to Sunda Strait and returned with single
empty ship.
June
Escorted convoy
from Sydney to Fremantle.
July
Deployed on
escort of convoys between New Zealand and Australia.
August
Escorted convoy
from Sydney to Auckland and returned to Sydney via Suva.
September
4th - Escorted
Convoy US12A from Australia to Colombo and returned independently.
22nd - Escorted
Convoy US12B from Melbourne to Sunda Strait.
Returned independently.
October
Local convoy
defence in continuation.
November
11th - Escorted
troopship ZEALANDIA from Fremantle on passage to Sunda Strait.
17th - After
relief by HM Cruiser DURBAN returned independently.
18th - Diverted
to search for German raider KORMORAN.
19th - Intercepted
KORMORAN 300 miles off Western Australia and closed when identity given was
known to be incorrect.
(Note: there have been a number of
queries about these last two entries, but it has not been
possible to identify the original
source.)
Soon
after first exchange of fire, shells from the enemy ship hit bridge structure
and damaged the
main armament fire-control director. Fires were started and although guns had to be used in
Local Control obtained several hits on KORMORAN. The raider fired two torpedoes. one of which hit
forward. SYDNEY was disabled and unable
to move or to fight effectively.
Fires became uncontrollable.
Owing to the extent of damage
inflicted by SYDNEY the enemy ship was abandoned after
scuttling charges had been set.
The resultant explosions caused
extensive fires that soon reached magazines.
KORMORAN then disintegrated.
315 survivors were later rescued and
taken to Australia where they became POW.
HMAS SYDNEY was last seen ablaze and
it is assumed she sank with no survivors. Some wrecked life rafts were found a
few days later. (Casualty List
-
note on
casualties)
