HMAS Sydney

History of the Sydney

Named for the Australian city of Sydney, Sydney is one of three improved Leander-class light cruisers operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The cruiser HMS Phaeton ordered for the Royal Navy was purchased by the Australian government and renamed before being launched in 1934.

Early in its operational history, Sydney helped impose sanctions during the Abyssinian crisis and was responsible for escort and patrol duties in Australian waters at the start of World War II. In May 1940, Sydney joined the British Mediterranean Fleet for an eight-month engagement, during which she sank two Italian warships, participated in several coastal bombings, and suffered minimal damage and no casualties.

Supported the Maltese fleet. After returning to Australia in February 1941, Sydney resumed escort and patrol duties in its waters.

On 19 November 1941, Sydney engaged in a sabotage engagement with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, all lost (645 on board). By 2008, the wrecks of both ships were lost; Sydney was found on March 17, five days after her rivals.

Sydney's defeat has been widely attributed to the close proximity of the two ships during the engagement, as well as the advantage of the Cormoran's surprise and quick and accurate fire. However, compared to the survival of most Germans, the loss of the cruiser has led to conspiracy theories claiming that German commanders used illegal means to lure Sydney into range, involving a Japanese submarine and the actual events of the battle despite the lack of evidence to support it These claims, but they are widely covered up.

Specification

Basic

Year of Service

1913

Origins

Australia

supplement

375

staff

Class information

Class

city class

Class Size

21

ships

Class

HMS Bristol; Glasgow; HMS Gloucester; Liverpool; HMS Newcastle; Weymouth; HMS Yarmouth; Falmouth; HMS Dartmouth; HMS Cha HMS Tam; HMS Dublin; HMS Southampton; HMS Melbourne; HMS Sydney; HMAS Brisbane; HMS Birmingham; HMS Nottingham; HMS Lowestoft; HMAS Adelaide; Antinavarchus Kountouriotis (HMS Birkenhead); Lambros Katsonis (HMS Chester)

Operator

Australia

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

456. 9 feet

139.26m

Ray

49.9 feet

15.21m

Draft

19.6 feet

5.97m

Shift

5,400 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

12 x Yarrow boilers power 2 x Parsons gear steam turbines and power 4 x shafts.

Surface Velocity

section 25.5

(29.3 km/h)

Area

4,779nm

(5,500 miles | 8,851 kilometers)

Weapons

8 x 6 inch (152 mm) BL Mk XI guns 1 x 3 inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns (AA) 1 x 12 pounder (76 mm) 8 CWT field guns 2 x 21" (530 mm) torpedo tubes 2 x depth charge dispensers 10 x .30 caliber machine guns 4 x 3 lb (47 mm) salutes

Aircraft

1 x Sopwith Pup Biplane (reusable).