| Re; the ship; I'm suprised the surface-raider ('Q'-ship ?) 'Kormorant' caused so much damage |
That is still the big mystery of the Sydney. She got in too close but no one is sure why she sank. There is some hope that a study of the wreck will make that clear.
The Sydney closed trying to ID the Kormorant which did a very good job of playing an innocent merchantman. Sydney got within a mile and then the Germans opened fire. The first salvo took out the bridge of the Sydney. The ships then exchanged fire but a good portion of the Sydney's armament was out of action.
The last time the survivors of Kormorant saw her she was on fire. But if the wreck is in one piece then we know she did not suffer a magazine explosion. She was hit by torpedos so perhaps she took on enough water to flounder. If she capsized suddenly it could explain why no one survived her sinking.