TimelineArticle | Updated 7 years ago Launch of HMAS Sydney (II), 22 September 1934 1933 July 8 Construction of HMAS Sydney (II) begins in Newcastle England 1934 September 22 HMAS Sydney (II) launched 1935 September 24 HMAS Sydney 1936 August 2 HMAS Sydney (II) arrived in Australia 1940 April-May HMAS Sydney (II) sailed to Colombo and on to the Mediterranean Sea 1940 May Bombardment of Bardia: HMAS Sydney (II) effectively sinks the enemy destroyer Bartolomeo Colleoni and severly damages Giovanni delle Bande Nere 1940 July 7 Battle of Calabria: HMAS Sydney (II) fought 1940 July 18 Battle of Cape Spada: HMAS Sydney (II) destroyed two enemy cruisers 1941 February HMAS Sydney (II) returned to Australia and a heroes' welcome* 1941 November 11 HMAS Sydney (II) sailed from Fremantle escorting Zealandia to the Sunda Strait 1941 November 17 HMAS Sydney (II) turned Zealandia over to Durban for further escort to Singapore 1941 November 19 5.00pm HMAS Sydney (II) encountered unknown ship in the Indian Ocean, 120 nautical miles west of Shark Bay 6.00pm Unknown ship sends a message using alias Straat Malakka 6.15pm HMAS Sydney (II) less than a mile distant from unknown ship 6.30pm Unknown ship revealed to be German HSK Kormoran, opened fire with all armaments hitting Sydney 6.45pm HMAS Sydney (II) fired torpedoes, which missed 7.00pm HSK Kormoran fired torpedo, missing the Sydney 7.25pm HSK Kormoran fired last shot at range 11,000 metres 11.00pm Distant glare and flickerings as HMAS Sydney (II) disappeared 1941 November 20 12.35am HSK Kormoran exploded and sank 1941 November 23-25 HSK Kormoran survivors picked up in life boats by various ships and on land. Royal Australian Navy alerted to Sydney's disappearance. Search commenced 1942 The 'Unknown Sailor' found in a liferaft and Christmas Island 2001-2006 The Finding Sydney Foundation commenced work in 2001 to find the HMAS Sydney (II). In 2003/4 David Mearns was approached. The Western Australian Museum and Royal Australian Navy were also involved in the search for HMAS Sydney (II). 2008 March 12 5.30pm Wreck of the HSK Kormoran found 2008 March 16 11.03am Wreck of HMAS Sydney found 2015 May New images and footage shed light on the final moments of the Sydney Image Caption Copyright Owner 1933 Launch of HMAS Sydney (II), 22 September 1934 Image courtesy of HJ Watson Collection Western Australian Museum 1934 Launch of HMAS Sydney (II), 22 September 1934 Image courtesy of HJ Watson Collection Western Australian Museum 1935 HMAS Sydney (II) Bow on view Image courtesy of Sea Power Centre – Australia 1936 HMAS Sydney (II) starboard side view Image courtesy of Sea Power Centre – Australia 1940 (i) Port side view of white Sydney Image courtesy of Sea Power Centre – Australia 1940 (ii) Smoke billows from a ship Image courtesy of Sea Power Centre – Australia 1940 (iii) HMAS Sydney (II) crew attend to the torpedo deck Copyright the West Australian (newspaper), No Survivors publication 1940 (iv) The crew of HMAS Sydney (II) posing through the damaged forward funnel Copyright the West Australian (newspaper), No Survivors publication 1941 (i) HMAS Sydney (II) crew march through Perth, Western Australia in 1936 * Copyright the West Australian (newspaper), No Survivors publication 1941 (ii) HMAS Sydney (II) in Perth, Western Australia Image courtesy of Sea Power Centre – Australia 1941 (iii) HMAS Sydney (II) port side with Walrus overhead Image courtesy of Sea Power Centre – Australia 1941 (vi) Lifeboat containing German survivors Image courtesy of Battye Library 1942 Christmas Island Copyright the Western Australian Museum 2002 David Mearns and the FSF would lead the search Sunday Times: November 12 2006 2008 (i) 5.9 inch gun situated in No. 2 hold, trained 135deg to starboard Photographed by David Mearns, Copyright of Finding Sydney Foundation Ltd 2008 (ii) Shell exit hole in mild steel plate. Possibly wreckage from A turret Photographed by David Mearns, Copyright of Finding Sydney Foundation Ltd ‹ Documents Vessels ›