HMAS Sydney Shipwreck

The loss of HMAS Sydney in 1941 was almost impossible for many Australians to comprehend, and over the years a number of theories have been put forward as to just what did happen on that fateful day.The Sydney was lost with all hands in November 1941 after a battle with the German raider Kormoran, which was disguised as a merchant ship as it lurked off the West Australian coast.For more than six decades the fate of the Sydney has fascinated Australia and been the subject of television programs, articles and books.In August last year, it seemed the mystery might finally have been solved, when several newspapers reported that the wreck had been located off the coast of Western Australia.Bob Honor's father Charles was one of the 645 crew on board when the Sydney went down:

"In August last year I was there - I was in Geraldton when the front page of the Western Australian paper, right across the front page of the West Australian, said 'found'," he said."I thought what a wonderful birthday present for my 70th because I am actually in Geraldton right now and that's where they have found it - just off the shores at Geraldton."But it soon emerged that the wreck had not in fact been found.Today though Mr Honor says he is convinced the Sydney has now been located."I'm absolutely elated ... elated to think that I possibly won't die now not knowing what's going on, because that's what we all thought," he said.

 It was announced Sunday that the wreckage of the German merchant raider Kormoran -- which is believed to have sunk the Australian warship -- was found in waters about 800 kilometres north of Perth.Rudd said the Sydney was located Sunday, about 22 kilometers from the Kormoran."I'm advised that the HMAS Sydney was found some 12 nautical miles from the Kormoran, some eight nautical miles from the scene of the principal battle site and at a depth of some 2,470 meters," Rudd told reporters in Canberra.

Wes Olsen is a researcher and author of the book Bitter Victory: the Death of HMAS Sydney.He says the loss of the Sydney came at a time when the war was not going well for Australia or Britain."To lose what was then probably the most famous ship in Australian history, the most famous warship - she'd done so much wonderful work in the Mediterranean during 1940, had come back to Australia, and within 10 months the pride of the Australian Navy had been lost with all hands," he said."It was just a huge shock to the Australian nation. And to lose it so close to shore so to speak, 100, 120 miles off shore, and then have no survivors - it was just mind-boggling."The shock sparked theories that there had been a third party involved, that there had been some kind of cover-up, and Mr Olsen says although some questions will remain forever unanswered, today's news should bring closure."We are always going to be in the dark as to what prompted the captain of Sydney to go so close to what must have been clear to him a suspicious vessel [the Kormoran]," he said."We are always going to be in the dark about that."There were procedures and protocols in place that he might have been following but at the end of the day we really don't know what prompted him to go to within a mile, 1,500 metres of the German ship."But we now know where the German ship is, we now know where the Australian ship is, so I really hope that this will provide closure for the families. In fact, today should be their day." Rudd said the federal government hoped the find would bring some closure for the families of the 645 sailors who went down with the ship.He said that on behalf of the government, "I would say to all those members of the families of the brave members of the crew of the HMAS Sydney that the government extends to them our condolences for the loss of these brave young men."He also confirmed Environment Minister Peter Garrett was in the process of issuing an interim protection declaration in relation to both the Sydney and the Kormoran."The environment minister will be issuing a full statement a bit later in the day, but I'm advised it provides immediate and early protection of the sites against any unauthorized intrusion," he said.

Researchers will now be able to pore over the images being collected of the ship's wreck in a quest for certainty on what happened.David Mearns, who has been leading the hunt for the wreck on behalf of the Finding Sydney Foundation, spoke from the survey vessel Geosounder, around 3,000 metres above HMAS Sydney."The latest images collected just hours ago indicate that she's largely intact on the seabed, she's upright on the seabed," he said."This is the actual hull of the ship. She's probably missing about a 25 metres section of her bow and it remains to be seen."But our feeling now is that loss of the bow which had been weakened by that torpedo hit on her port side between the A and B turret is probably what finally broke off and sent Sydney to the seabed."Mr Mearns said he felt a "summit of pure delight and exhilaration" when they realised they had found the ship.

"We know that a lot of lives were lost in Sydney and we are going to pay our proper respects and conduct a ceremony out here before we leave," he said."But for that instance everybody was absolutely thrilled. The entire ship, the energy and the buzz that was going though the ship was immense because this has been a long quest for many of us on board.""It was a great excitement to actually know that, that mystery of where the ship lies was finally solved after 67 years."Meanwhile, the descendants of those lost say today is above all a day of celebration."I could possibly have a beer before the sun goes over the yardarm but I've got two television companies coming down so I better not start celebrating just yet," Mr Honour said.