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)