Wreck of HMAS Sydney found

March 17, 2008 11:50am

Kevin Rudd confirms HMAS Sydney has been found
Site where 645 died now protected from intruders
Let her rest in peace, say MPs

THE wreckage of HMAS Sydney, sunk off the West Australian coast during World War II, has been found, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced today.

Sonar images of the ship were published online by the Finding Sydney Foundation, confirming a major step in solving Australia's biggest naval mystery.

Google map: Location of HMAS Sydney from Finding Sydney Foundation

Senior navy officers said today the next step would be to establish how exactly the Sydney met her end.

The ship's entire crew of 645 went down with the ship in the Indian Ocean. Its location has been a mystery for 66 years. It was one of many Australian naval losses during WWII.

The wreckage of the German merchant raider Kormoran - the whip believed to have sunk the Sydney - was found at the weekend in waters about 800km north of Perth.

In pictures: The Sydney, the Kormoran and their crew

Both sites are likely to be protected as war graves.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he had placed a provisional declaration over both wrecks under the 1976 Historic Shipwrecks Act to enure they are not damaged or disturbed.

"Under the declaration, unauthorised intrusion into the sites of these final resting places is prohibited," Mr Garrett said.

"This action will ensure respect for the war dead of both our nations."

Mr Rudd said the Sydney was found yesterday, about 22km from the Kormoran.

"I'm advised that the HMAS Sydney was found some 12 nautical miles from the Kormoran, some eight nautical miles from the scene of the principal battle site and at a depth of some 2470 metres," Mr Rudd said.

Hull intact

Mr Rudd said the hull has been found largely intact. But Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation, Ted Graham, said there were no plans to raise the ships.

"For a start they're in very deep water, and secondly, from my point of view, and from the foundation's point of view they contain the remains of many people, and our view is firmly that they should be left alone," he said.

Mr Rudd said it was important to understand that the Sydney was the tomb of 645 Australian sailors and air force members.

"The good thing about Australians is we treat our war dead with respect and these war dead will be treated with complete respect.'

Closure

The Prime Minister said the Federal Government hoped the find would bring some closure for the families of the 645 sailors who went down with the ship.

He said the Australian Defence Force would be contacting family members.

"They will be using their own communications systems to make sure that the surviving family members of the crew of HMAS Sydney are informed of this discovery as soon as is practically possible."

Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, said it was a very historic day.

Mystery

"For 66 years, this nation has wondered where the Sydney was and what occurred to her, we've uncovered the first part of that mystery ... the next part of the mystery, of course, is what happened.

"It will take some time to try to ascertain exactly what happened that day over 66 years ago."

Admiral Shalders said there had always been an HMAS Sydney in the Australian navy.

"It's an historic name and we've added to the history of that name over the weekend."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23387660-2,00.htm