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14 March 2008
David Mearns - Search Director, The Finding
Sydney Foundation
We ran our first "higher-resolution" line late last evening past
some suspicious looking sonar targets at the southern extremity of
our search box. By high-resolution, I mean that the SM30 sonar was
operated at a narrower swathe setting than the normal 6 km swathe we
have used since the start of the search. In simple terms the
objective of a high-resolution sonar pass is to magnify the targets
in question so more detail is revealed in the sonar image making it
easier to identify the objects. In this case the swathe was reduced
to 3 km, which can only be considered "higher-resolution" in
relation to the SM30 sonar because most other high-resolution
side-scan sonars have a maximum swathe of only 150 metres.
The other benefit of a second sonar line is that the targets are
seen from a different angle, which often reveals details unseen in
the original sonar images. The targets in question turned out to be
a field of outcropping rocks that were similar in ways to a wreckage
debris field and thus needed to be double-checked. With these
targets ruled out we turned our attention north to the primary
search box.
When either the wreck of Kormoran of Sydney is found we have far
more scope for collecting higher resolution sonar imagery to help
confirm their identity and condition. The SM30 sonar can be operated
at swathes as narrow as 750 metres and the high frequency AMS60
sonar as narrow as 125 metres. We therefore have almost an infinite
ability to collect progressively higher magnified sonar images of
the wrecks. I think I speak for everyone on board the vessel that we
are all looking forward to the opportunity to image the wrecks this
way.
Glenys McDonald - Director, The Finding Sydney Foundation
(Observer) Today I have been thinking a lot about the 645 men who were lost on
HMAS Sydney. As secretary of the Geraldton HMAS Sydney Memorial
Steering Committee and during my research, I came into contact with
a large number of the relatives of the crew. I was honoured when
they shared stories, letters and photographs of their loved ones
with me.
What becomes immediately apparent when I go through my collection of
photographs is the collective youth that we lost on the 19 November
1941. One crewmember, eighteen year old Stoker 2nd Class Jack Crowle
had the foresight to think how devastated his mother would be if he
was lost at sea. So he wrote a letter to be given to her if such an
event transpired. In that letter of comfort, Jack told his mother to
'remember that I lived and died an Australian and I don't think
there is any greater honour'. Jack also said that he was not afraid
of death and would prefer to die in no other way than doing his
duty.
Keith Shegog did a remarkable job of collating many stories and
photographs for posterity for the 60th Anniversary of the battle.
The Finding Sydney Foundation would like to build on his work to
provide an online virtual memorial to the men of HMAS Sydney on our
website. Our aim is to have a photograph and story for each of the
men. If any relative would like to be part of this concept I
encourage them to contact FSF via the address on the Contact page of
this website.
John Perryman - Senior Navy Historian (Observer)
Later yesterday we investigated a promising contact to the south,
which had been detected a few days ago during our approach run into
line number 8. While
it displayed some characteristics commensurate with being a man made
object it was later dismissed as being a geological feature amidst a
field of other vexing geological anomalies. Today we are slowly
making our way north once again as we continue to gradually reduce
the size of the main search box.
Historical anecdote
The most significant piece of wreckage attributed to HMAS Sydney
(II) was a life raft known as a pattern No 20 Carley float. This was
recovered by HMAS Heros during the search for survivors on 28
November 1941 in position 24 degrees 07 minutes South 110 degrees 58
minutes East.
This type of floatation device was designed to provide life support
for up to twenty men, twelve of whom could be accommodated within
the float, while eight more could cling to lifelines attached to its
outer shell. The Carley float was reported at the time to have been
badly damaged by gunfire. This float was offered to the Australian
War Memorial for preservation by the Naval Board in July 1942 and
has been on display since that time as a tribute to Sydney's crew.
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