1 9 3 9

 

September             Deployed with RAN Western Force based at Fremantle for trade defence in Indian Ocean.

 

October                  Deployed on patrol duty off NW Australia for interception of commerce raiders.

to

November

 

December              Escorted troop convoy carrying 2nd Australian Imperial Force on passage to the Middle East

                until relieved by HM Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE on 12/12/39.

                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 12/1/40.

 

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, H M Destroyer JERVIS and HM Destroyer 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 BAHRAM.

                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)