HMAS Sydney (1912)

HMAS "Sydney" was a "Chatham" class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy. Her crew made history in 1914, during World War I, when "Sydney" took part in the RAN's first ship against ship battle, the Battle of Cocos.

History

"Sydney" was laid down by the London and Glasgow Engineering Company at Govan, Scotland, in February 1911, launched on 29 August 1912 by Lady Henderson, wife of Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson and commissioned on 26 June 1913 at Portsmouth, England.

On 9 November 1914, "Sydney" was detached from escort duties with the ANZAC convoy, near the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean, to investigate reports of the German light cruiser SMS "Emden" approaching the Cocos Islands WT Station. "Sydney" engaged "Emden" and the action lasted over an hour (possibly over five or six hours), during which time the German vessel was wrecked by "Sydney"’s longer range guns and was run aground on North Keeling Island reef. Four of "Sydney"’s crew were killed in this action, the first Australian naval contribution to World War I.

During the remainder of World War I, "Sydney" served in British waters. In February 1917 Australian-born Captain John Saumarez Dumaresq was appointed her commander. On 4 May 1917 while part of a patrol from Rosyth, the ship took part in a battle with Zeppelin L43. The airship dropped 10 or 12 bombs towards "Sydney" which failed to hit the ship, and more over other ships of the patrol. The ships returned fire with anti-aircraft guns. The engagement ended when both sides exhausted their ammunition. The zeppelin was obliged to remain high to stay out of range of the gunfire, but this meant the bombs were dropped from too great a height to strike the dodging ships.

In 1918 she operated a Sopwith Pup aeroplane, launched from a platform fitted over a gun mounting. After the war "Sydney" continued to serve on the Australian station, including a period spent as flagship.

"Sydney" paid off at Sydney on 8 May 1928 and arrived at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, on 10 January 1929 where she was broken up. The foremast was moved to Bradley's Head, where it was installed as a monument to the engagement against "Emden", and later became a monument for all Australian sailors killed at war. The bow was set into the seawall at Milsons Point, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Both pieces of the ship are still in place as of 2008.

Gallery

References

*cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/HMAS_Sydney_%28I%29 |title=HMAS Sydney (I) |accessdaymonth=23 August |accessyear=2008 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy

*cite web|url=http://www.gwpda.org/naval/sydvszep.htm|title=HMAS Sydney versus a Zeppelin |accessdate=02-09-2008| publisher=GWPDA

External links

* Australian War Memorial (AWM): [http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/cst.acct_master?surl=1226384055ZZVDGDTOXTNL42214&stype=3&simplesearch=&v_umo=&v_product_id=&screen_name=&screen_parms=&screen_type=RIGHT&bvers=5&bplatform=Netscape&bos=Win32 Unofficial "Sydney Emden Medal"]