German Raider HSK Kormoran

As a converted merchant ship HSK Kormoran was responsible for attacking eleven Allied vessels from January to September 1941 in both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In mid 1941 it was repainted to resemble the Dutch ship Strat Malakka, and later that year travelled towards Shark Bay on the northern section of the Western Australian coast.

On the 19 November 1941 HSK Kormoran was off Carnarvon heading south to lay a minefield when, late in the afternoon, its lookouts noticed a Perth-class cruiser, HMAS Sydney (II), approaching from astern. In a battle which lasted little more than 30 minutes Kormoran subjected Sydney to a hail of gunfire which totally wrecked the once proud vessel. However, as Sydney turned toward Kormoran, the rear guns came into action destroying the German vessel’s engine room and setting the ship on fire.

The Germans continued to fire at Sydney as it sailed slowly southward. That night they could see flames flickering in the distance until just after midnight then, nothing. With his ship dead in the water and fires spreading to the mine deck, Kormoran captain Theodor Detmers first ordered scuttling charges to be set and then, abandon ship. Kormoran blew up in a huge explosion.