Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 8, 2008 5:17:14 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

WWII Ship Found After 66 Years

Posted Mar 17, 08 11:53 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – A legendary Australian war ship sunk in the Indian Ocean by a German raider during World War II has been found nearly intact after 66 years, the Australian PM confirmed today. The HMAS Sydney sank after a 30-minute battle with the Kormoran in Australia's greatest tragedy at sea. The wreckage won't be disturbed, out of respect for the 645 Australian sailors who went down with the ship.

"It's very important to understand that this is a tomb," said Kevin Rudd. Sonar technology helped locate the Sydney and the Kormoran; an unmanned vehicle will soon take photographs to "ascertain exactly what happened that day," said Rudd. The discovery was tough for the sailors' relatives: "Closure is always a difficult thing," one man told the Sydney Herald.

Source Sydney Morning Herald

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Germans Find Hidden Nazi Gold

    Feb 20, 08 7:44 AM CST
    Germans Find Hidden Nazi Gold Treasure hunters in Germany have announced they've found a secret stash of Nazi gold in an underground cavern and they believe it could be from the looted Amber Room of the Russian czars, Der Speigel reports. Instruments have detected what could be 2 tons of gold in the cavern near a town on the Czech border. The site was pinpointed using coordinates found among the belongings of a former Luftwaffe staffer who died recently. More »

  • Turks Find Hitler's 'Lost Fleet'

    Feb 4, 08 2:25 PM CST
    Turks Find Hitler's 'Lost Fleet' Three World War II U-boats, known as "Hitler's lost fleet," have been discovered off the Turkish coast, the Telegraph reports. A Turkish team combined archival research with sailor interviews and sonar technology to find the wreckage, part of the six-boat fleet that dogged Russian ships in the Black Sea under notorious commander "Silent Otto" Kretschmer. More »

In this image provided by HMAS Sydney II Search, a sonar image shows the German raider DKM Kormoran, Saturday, March 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/HMAS Sydney II Search, HO)
HMAS Sydney in 1940.   (Public Domain)
In this image provided by HMAS Sydney II Search, a sonar image shows the Australian ship HMAS Sydney.   (AP Photo/HMAS Sydney II Search, HO)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Western Australia Geraldton H.M.A.S. Sydney Memorial   (Ashleyak47 (YouTube))

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

Germany  • Australia  • World War II  • history  • discovery  • Kevin Rudd  • Indian Ocean  • sailor  • shipwreck  • sonar


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »