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As all of "Kormoran's" fire fighting equipment had been destroyed, there was little that could be done to quell the formidible fires still raging, Detmers ordered his guns crews to remam, and everyone else to leave the ship Some boats had been destroyed in the action, rafts, and rubber dinghies were utilised.

Two steel lifeboats stowed in Number 1 hold were normally launched via auxiliary equipment- but, this was damaged, and these boats had to be manhandled with a great deal of difficulty.

The Sinking of "Kormoran."

The German Armed Merchant Raider "Kormoran" sunk in the battle with H.M.A.S. Sydney.

Twenty had been killed in the fight with "Sydney," and 60 others drowned when a large rubber dinghie sank when the Raider was abandoned. At 0100 (lAM,) in the early hours of the 20th. of November, Detmers hauled down both his Pennant and the Flag, and embarked in the last boat to leave 20 minutes later, mines on board blew up, and, down went "Kormoran" stern first.

The weather worsened, men in boats, dinghies and rafts could not all stay together as a group, one boatload was recovered by a coastal steamer, who broke the news of this engagement to the world.

Both the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force set out to find the survivors from both sides, all the Germans were found, although some took 6 days to reach the Western Auatralian coast line.

Not a soul from "Sydney" has ever been found - it appears that Captain Burnett took his Cruiser too close to an apparently harmless Merchant Ship, to be totally suprised, and paid the price.

Captain J. Burnett R.A.N. - Lost with his entire crew when sunk by the "Kormoran.

In the intervening 56 years, many theories have been advanced on the loss of this ship, and many calls have been made to convene an enquiry into the sinking of "Sydney" and the total loss of her crew, all fell on deaf ears until:

Enquiry into the circumstances of the sinking of H.M.A.S. "Sydney" announced.

On the 26th. of August the Hon. Ian McLachlan A.O. M.P. referred to the members of the Defence Sub-Committee the following brief;-

To investigate and report on:

The circumstances of the sinking of H.M.A.5 "Sydney" off the West Australian coast on the 19th of November, 1941, with particular reference to:-

(I) the extent to which all available archival material has been fully investigated aiid whether any relevant material has been missplaced or destroyed;

(2) all relevant and archival material available from Allied and former enemy sources;

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