captcav
03-16-08, 05:58 PM
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this morning confirmed the discovery of the HMAS Sydney, describing it as "a historic day for all Australians, and a sad day for all Australians".
He said the Government hoped the discovery brought "some closure to the families of the 645 defence force personnel who lost their lives bravely in this naval action in World War II".
The Sydney's entire crew went down with the ship in the Indian Ocean in November 1941.
The wreckage of the German raider Kormoran, which is believed to have sunk the Australian warship, was found yesterday off the West Australian coast.
Mr Rudd said the Sydney was located yesterday, about 22 kilometres 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 2470 metres," Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra.
Mr Rudd said the Government had sought many confirmations from the navy before proceeding with this morning's announcement.
"It's very important that these things are got right," he said.
Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Shalders said high resolution sonar images had confirmed the wreck as the HMAS Sydney.
"(Search leader) David Mearns has indicated that there is no doubt that this contact is the Sydney," he told reporters.
The search vessel was fitted with high resolution imaging sonars.
"These are sonars which are towed in a sled behind the ship and obviously at a great tow length because of the depth of the water," he said.
"By looking at the images that are transmitted back from the sonar you can ascertain the length and the height and the width of any contacts that you might have.
"By comparing those dimensions with the designs and the drawings that we had we were able to firstly confirm that the Kormoran was the Kormoran."
Because the bow of the German ship was quite distinct it was easy to identify, but it took a bit longer to positively identify the Sydney, he said.
"During the course of yesterday afternoon and last evening we were able to confirm the second contact was in fact the Sydney.
"For 66 years, this nation has wondered where the Sydney was and what occurred to her. We've uncovered the first part of that mystery ... the next part of the mystery, of course, is what happened."
That part of the mystery would take some time to uncover, he said.
"It will take some time to try to ascertain exactly what happened that day over 66 years ago."
Mr Rudd said the hull was found largely intact.
He 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 the Australian Defence Force would be communicating with family members.
"They will be using their own communications systems to make sure that the surviving family members of the crew of HMAS Sydney are informed of this discovery as soon as is practically possible," the prime minister said.
Asked whether the wreck would be disturbed now that it had been discovered, Mr Rudd said: "It's very important to understand that this is a tomb and there are 645 Australian sailors entombed there.
"The good thing about Australians is we treat our war dead with respect and these war dead will be treated with complete respect."
Earlier this morning, federal opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott said: "I instinctively wouldn't want the site disturbed but it's good to know we have the final resting place, it seems."
Mr Rudd said the the Government would consider this week "how best the brave crew of the Sydney could best be further commemorated".
Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation, Ted Graham, said there were no plans to raise the ships.
"For a start they're in very deep water, and secondly, from my point of view, and from the foundation's point of view they contain the remains of many people, and our view is firmly that they should be left alone," he said.
- with AAP
He said the Government hoped the discovery brought "some closure to the families of the 645 defence force personnel who lost their lives bravely in this naval action in World War II".
The Sydney's entire crew went down with the ship in the Indian Ocean in November 1941.
The wreckage of the German raider Kormoran, which is believed to have sunk the Australian warship, was found yesterday off the West Australian coast.
Mr Rudd said the Sydney was located yesterday, about 22 kilometres 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 2470 metres," Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra.
Mr Rudd said the Government had sought many confirmations from the navy before proceeding with this morning's announcement.
"It's very important that these things are got right," he said.
Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Shalders said high resolution sonar images had confirmed the wreck as the HMAS Sydney.
"(Search leader) David Mearns has indicated that there is no doubt that this contact is the Sydney," he told reporters.
The search vessel was fitted with high resolution imaging sonars.
"These are sonars which are towed in a sled behind the ship and obviously at a great tow length because of the depth of the water," he said.
"By looking at the images that are transmitted back from the sonar you can ascertain the length and the height and the width of any contacts that you might have.
"By comparing those dimensions with the designs and the drawings that we had we were able to firstly confirm that the Kormoran was the Kormoran."
Because the bow of the German ship was quite distinct it was easy to identify, but it took a bit longer to positively identify the Sydney, he said.
"During the course of yesterday afternoon and last evening we were able to confirm the second contact was in fact the Sydney.
"For 66 years, this nation has wondered where the Sydney was and what occurred to her. We've uncovered the first part of that mystery ... the next part of the mystery, of course, is what happened."
That part of the mystery would take some time to uncover, he said.
"It will take some time to try to ascertain exactly what happened that day over 66 years ago."
Mr Rudd said the hull was found largely intact.
He 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 the Australian Defence Force would be communicating with family members.
"They will be using their own communications systems to make sure that the surviving family members of the crew of HMAS Sydney are informed of this discovery as soon as is practically possible," the prime minister said.
Asked whether the wreck would be disturbed now that it had been discovered, Mr Rudd said: "It's very important to understand that this is a tomb and there are 645 Australian sailors entombed there.
"The good thing about Australians is we treat our war dead with respect and these war dead will be treated with complete respect."
Earlier this morning, federal opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott said: "I instinctively wouldn't want the site disturbed but it's good to know we have the final resting place, it seems."
Mr Rudd said the the Government would consider this week "how best the brave crew of the Sydney could best be further commemorated".
Chairman of the Finding Sydney Foundation, Ted Graham, said there were no plans to raise the ships.
"For a start they're in very deep water, and secondly, from my point of view, and from the foundation's point of view they contain the remains of many people, and our view is firmly that they should be left alone," he said.
- with AAP