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HMAS ''Sydney'', named after the Australian city of Sydney, was one of three modified ''Leander''-class light cruisers operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Ordered for the Royal Navy as HMS ''Phaeton'', the cruiser was purchased by the Australian government and renamed prior to her 1934 launch. During the early part of her operational history, ''Sydney'' helped enforce sanctions during the Abyssinian crisis, and at the start of World War II was assigned to convoy escort and patrol duties in Australian waters. In May 1940, ''Sydney'' joined the British Mediterranean Fleet for an eight-month deployment, during which she sank two Italian warships, participated in multiple shore bombardments, and provided support to the Malta Convoys, while receiving minimal damage and no casualties. On her return to Australia in February 1941, ''Sydney'' resumed convoy escort and patrol duties in home waters. On 19 November 1941, ''Sydney'' was involved in a mutually destructive engagement with the , and was lost with all 645 aboard. The wrecks of both ships were lost until 2008; ''Sydney'' was found on 17 March, five days after her adversary. ''Sydney''s defeat is commonly attributed to the proximity of the two ships during the engagement, and ''Kormoran''s advantages of surprise and rapid, accurate fire. However, the cruiser's loss with all hands compared to the survival of most of the Germans have resulted in controversy, with some alleging that the German commander used illegal ruses to lure ''Sydney'' into range, that a Japanese submarine was involved, and that the true events of the battle are concealed behind a wide-ranging cover up. ==Construction and acquisition== The ship was laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend-on-Tyne, England, on 8 July 1933 for the Royal Navy as HMS ''Phaeton'', named after the Greek mythological figure.〔Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 148–9〕 However, in 1934, the Australian government was seeking a replacement for the light cruiser , and negotiated to purchase ''Phaeton'' while she was still under construction.〔Hore, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy in World War II'', p. 65〕 The cruiser was renamed after the capital city of New South Wales, and was launched on 22 September 1934 by the wife of Stanley Bruce, former Prime Minister of Australia and the serving Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.〔Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 149〕 ''Sydney'' was commissioned into the RAN on 24 September 1935, drawing her ship's company from ''Brisbane'', which had been decommissioned earlier that day.〔Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pgs. 36, 149〕 Following the announcement that Australia was purchasing a British-built cruiser, there was criticism, primarily from the Opposition of the day, stating that such a warship should be built using Australian resources and labour.〔Frame, ''HMAS Sydney'', p. 16〕 Several reasons were given in reply for acquiring British-built cruisers instead of Australian-made: the ship was already close to completion, the pending threat of war meant that there was not enough time to train Australians in the necessary shipbuilding skills, and that of the two cruisers built in Australian shipyards, one () had taken seven years to complete.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMAS Sydney (D48)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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