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HMAS Sydney (1913-1928)
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In 1909 the Admiralty
proposed the creation of a Pacific fleet consisting of three fleet units
to be operated by Imperial forces in the Pacific region.
Each fleet unit would be built around a
battle-cruiser, supported by several light cruisers. One of these fleet
units would comprise the Royal Australian Navy. |
With Australian Government agreement to
this concept, work was commenced on the ships. The light cruiser HMAS
Sydney was built in the United Kingdom and commissioned in June 1913. On 4
October 1913 she entered Sydney Harbour with other ships of the fleet
unit.
Following the outbreak of war in August
1914, Sydney was engaged in operations against Germany’s Pacific
colonies and destroyed a radio station in the Pelew Islands. Returning to
Australian waters, Sydney joined the escort of the first troop convoy from
Australia to the Middle East, which left Albany on 1 November 1914.
On 9 November, Sydney was detailed to
leave the convoy to investigate reports of an unknown vessel off the Cocos
(Keeling) Islands.
This vessel turned out to be the German cruiser SMS
Emden. In the resulting engagement, Sydney was hit early by the
long-ranging 10.5 mm guns of Emden, which resulted in four dead and twelve
wounded. However, the superior firepower of the Australian cruiser’s
broadside soon told and Emden was left “beached and done for” on North
Keeling Island.
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Captain John Collings
Taswell Glossop, Royal Navy, the Captain of HMAS Sydney during the
First World War. |
Captain Mueller of
the SMS Emden |
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Wreck of the Emden |
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Sydney briefly rejoined the convoy at
Colombo before proceeding to the Atlantic Ocean, via the Mediterranean
Sea. In December 1914, Sydney was deployed to the Caribbean and based at
Bermuda.
<<<
Original hand signed autograph from Julius Lauterbach - Prize
Officer of the SMS Emden.
For the next 18 months, she carried out patrol duties between the
islands of the West Indies and along the east coast of North America, in
concert with HMAS Melbourne. Both ships were also detailed for occasional
special patrols along the north coast of South America.
In September 1916, Sydney and Melbourne
were transferred to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron for duties with the
Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet in the North Sea. In company with HMS
Southampton and Dublin, they undertook patrol, escort and screening
duties. |
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Cocos Islands,
1914-11-09.
The yacht 'Ayesha' belonging to
Clunies-Ross in which the cut-off German landing part from the
S.M.S. Emden made their escape. |
While on patrol on 4 May 1917, Sydney and the other vessels
accompanying her were attacked by the German Zeppelin “L43”. The
“L43” dropped ten to twelve bombs on the Sydney, none of which hit the
ship, which responded with a heavy barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The
“L43” escaped undamaged.
Later in 1917, Sydney was fitted with an
aircraft launching platform and equipped with a Sopwith Ships Pup fighter.
On 1 June 1918, while patrolling in the Heligoland Bight, Sydney and
Melbourne launched their aircraft to engage two German reconnaissance
aircraft. Sydney’s fighter destroyed one of the enemy aircraft.
Sydney was present at the surrender of
the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918. She returned to Australia
on 19 July 1919. After the war, Sydney carried out routine fleet duties
until paid off in 1928. She was broken up the next year.
Battle honours
Casualties
Decorations
- RAN personnel
- RN personnel
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'HMAS
Sydney's fight with a Zeppelin in the North Sea'
portrays an unusual action involving the Australian light cruiser Sydney,
which took place on 4 May 1917. Under Captain John Dumaresq the cruiser
was leading a British ship, Dublin, and four destroyers on a sweep of
channels south east of Rosyth, Scotland, between the Forth and Humber
estuaries, when the force came under attack from the German naval Zeppelin
L43. The five engined airship was first sighted shortly before 10.30am,
approaching the east at about the same time as Dumaresq discovered that
several submarines were in his vicinity.
By charging in the dirigible's direction
and opening fire with anti-aircraft guns at extreme range, the cruisers
forced the airship to rise steeply and veer off. As soon as Dumaresq
ordered his force to resume its original course, the L43 began stalking
the ships. After failing to gain a bomb dropping position on the Dublin,
the Zeppelin targeted one of the destroyers and managed to land three
bombs within ten metres of it. The airship captain then turned his
attention to Sydney which began evasive action. The duel continued for two
hours, drawing to a inconclusive end only after the Zeppelin ran out of
bombs at about 2.30pm.
By then the cruisers had also expended
all ammunition for their high altitude guns. Both sides reportedly parted
on good terms. Sydney had become the
first Royal Australian Navy vessel to be subjected to an air attack. |
| Class: |
Chatham
Class light cruiser |
| Launched: |
29 August
1912 |
| Commissioned: |
26 June
1913 |
| Complement: |
490/450 |
| Length: |
457 feet
[139.29m] |
| Beam: |
50 feet
[15.24m] |
| Draught: |
18 feet
[5.46m] |
| Displacement: |
5400 tons |
| Speed: |
25.5 knots |
| Armament: |
8 x 6-inch
guns
4 x 3-pounder guns
2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
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| Armour: |
3 inch
[7.61cm] side |
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The Mexican Dollar & the letter |
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| HMAS
Sydney & SMS Emden Mexican silver dollar or 8 Reales. Accompanied by
a letter from the Department of the Navy dated 1 August 1918. 6,429
Mexican silver dollars were salvaged from the Emden after she was sunk
by the HMAS Sydney in this historic encounter. 4,433 were melted, 1,000
were mounted into unofficial medals, 653 were distributed by the
Department of Navy and 343 were sold to the public. |
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| Coin
collected by Captain John C T Glossop, captain of HMAS Sydney during the
First World War. 6429 silver Mexican dollars were recovered from the
German cruiser SMS Emden after she was sunk by the Sydney off Cocos
Island on 9 November 1914. In 1918 1000 coins were mounted by the Sydney
jeweller W Kerr and presented by Glossop to the officers and men of the
Sydney who were on board at the time of the engagement. |
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were given to the staff on Cocos Island as well as the Admiralty, the
Australian War Museum and other approved museums. The remainder were
sold to the public. Of the remaining unmounted coins 653 were
distributed by the Department of Navy, 343 were sold to the public and
4433 were melted down and the money used by the RAN Relief fund. |
| Silver;
Fob medallion incorporating a Republica Mexicana silver dollar coin with
a decorative crown and scroll soldered to the top of the coin reading
'Nov 9 / 1914 / HMAS. Sydney. SMS. Emden'. Manufacturer's details are
impressed into the reverse. The top of the medallion has a three-link
fob attachment. |
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HMAS SYDNEY in WW2 |
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