Several books have been published on the subject of the mysterious disappearance of HMAS Sydney. Some writers have recorded the events from an historical perspective, based purely on the official documents available, some have based their trust in the evidence given by the German survivors, some have conveyed conspiracy and cover up theories and others have developed indirect and interesting sideline stories. The Australian Government’s attitude remains unshaken, preferring to maintain that the findings of over 60 years have stood the test of time. When HMAS Sydney was sunk with all hands after engaging the disguised German raider HSK Kormoran on the night of November 19, 1941, 645 families were affected by the disaster. Today there are thousands of relatives who have been wondering all these years of the true events and circumstances which caused Sydney’s demise and of the location of the grave site. More importantly, finding Sydney will allow a detailed examination of the vessel and make possible a determination of the cause of the disaster as well as testing the veracity of the German account of the action. Unless HMAS Sydney is located, the plethora of opinions and theories that abound, will continue to remain unsubstantiated and her disappearance, an ongoing mystery. This book constructively examines Sydney’s final resting place and that of Kormoran in a systematic and analytical approach. It makes independent adjudications on all relevant information and seeks to justify the outcomes and conclusions. Finally, the method of approach has been an exercise in objectivism and perception, supplemented by numerous confirmatory maps and diagrams. That the information contained herein will contribute to or assist in the endeavors of those seeking to search for HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran, may bring some comfort to those relatives who covet so much, that finding the grave sites may also result in the closure of sixty six years of disquiet and uncertainty.
