Sydney search finds Kormoran

An Australian team searching for a lost World War II cruiser have located the wreck of the German merchant raider that sank it. . .

The Sydney was sailing back to Australia from Sumatra on 19 November 1941 when the Kormoran - disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel - launched its attack.

Both ships sank as a result of the battle.

All 645 of those on board the Sydney were lost, but 317 of the Kormoran's 397-strong crew managed to escape by rowing to the Australian coast, where they became prisoners-of-war.

The loss of the Sydney was described by Australian Navy chief Vice-Adm Russ Shalders as "Australia's major maritime mystery".

Posted by David on March 16, 2008 4:01 PM