Sydney H.M.A.S. (1934)

[john sefton]

HMAS Sydney (I48/D48), named for the Australian city of Sydney, was one of three Modified Leander class light cruisers operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Ordered for the Royal Navy as HMS Phaeton, the cruiser was purchased by the Australian government and renamed prior to her 1934 launch.
During the early part of her operational history, Sydney helped enforce sanctions during the Abyssinian crisis, and at the start of World War II was assigned to convoy escort and patrol duties in Australian waters. In May 1940, Sydney joined the British Mediterranean Fleet for an eight-month deployment, during which she sank two Italian warships, participated in multiple shore bombardments, and provided support to the Malta Convoys, while receiving minimal damage and no casualties. On her return to Australia in February 1941, Sydney resumed convoy escort and patrol duties in home waters.
On 19 November 1941, Sydney was involved in a mutually destructive engagement with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, and was lost with all 645 aboard. The wrecks of both ships were lost until 2008; Sydney was found on 17 March, five days after her adversary. Sydney's defeat is commonly attributed to the proximity of the two ships during the engagement, and Kormoran's advantages of surprise and rapid, accurate fire. However, the cruiser's loss with all hands compared to the survival of most of the German crew have resulted in a controversy, with some alleging that the German commander used illegal ruses to lure Sydney into range, that a Japanese submarine was involved, and that the true events of the battle are concealed behind a wide-ranging cover up.
A lot more information is on this site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(D48)
Australia SG1397

[aukepalmhof]

Mozambique 2011 16.00MT sg?, Scott?

Built as a light cruiser under yard No 1487 by Swan, Hunter & W. Richardson, Wallsend for the Royal Navy.
08 July 1933 laid down.
22 September 1934 launched as the HMS PHAETON.
Bought by the Australian Government and renamed in HMAS SYDNEY (D-48)
Displacement 6,701 ton light, 8,815-ton full load, dim. 171.40 x 17.28 x 5.26m. (draught), length bpp 160.0m.
Powered by a Parsons steam turbine, 72,000 hp, four shafts, speed 32.5 knots. Range 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).
Armament: 8 × 6-inch (150 mm) breech-loading Mk XXIII guns (4 × Mk XXI twin turrets). 4 × 4-inch (100 mm) quick-firing Mk V guns (4 × Mk IV single high-angle mountings). 12 × 0.5-inch (13 mm) Vickers Mk III machine guns (3 × Mk II quadruple mountings). 14 × 0.303-inch (7.7 mm) Lewis machine guns (reduced to 9 before 1939). 2 × 0.303-inch (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns (removed before 1939). 8 × 21 inch (533 mm) deck-mounted torpedo tubes (2 × QR Mk VII quadruple mountings, 8 × Mk 9 torpedoes). 4 × 3-pounder (47-mm, 1.9-in) Hotchkiss quick-firing saluting guns (removed in 1940).
Complement: 33 officers, 557 sailors, 4 RAAF (at commissioning). 41 officers, 594 sailors, 6 RAAF, 4 civilian canteen staff (at loss).
24 September 1935 commissioned.