The document summarizes the medical aspects of the sinking of HMAS SYDNEY II after encountering the German raider KORMORAN in 1941. It describes that SYDNEY had 10 medical staff including 2 doctors and was likely hit by over 200,000 shell fragments, resulting in over 70% casualties of the 645 crew including 225 killed in action and 225 wounded in action. The document pays tribute to the medical personnel who all perished when the ship sank with no survivors.

1. 2010 AMMA Conference2010 AMMA Conference
The Loss of HMAS SYDNEY II:The Loss of HMAS SYDNEY II:
Medical AspectsMedical Aspects
CMDR Neil WestphalenCMDR Neil Westphalen
MBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEMMBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEM
29 October 201029 October 2010

2. BackgroundBackground
•• On 19 Nov 41, SYDNEY returning to Fremantle afterOn 19 Nov 41, SYDNEY returning to Fremantle after
escorting troopship ZEALANDIA to Sunda Straitescorting troopship ZEALANDIA to Sunda Strait
•• At 1600 she encountered German auxiliary cruiserAt 1600 she encountered German auxiliary cruiser
KORMORAN, 100nm west of Shark BayKORMORAN, 100nm west of Shark Bay
•• Battle began 1730 and ended 1825Battle began 1730 and ended 1825
•• SYDNEY last seen on fire ~2300SYDNEY last seen on fire ~2300
•• KORMORAN sank ~0035KORMORAN sank ~0035
•• No SYDNEY survivorsNo SYDNEY survivors
•• Both wrecks found Mar 2008Both wrecks found Mar 2008
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 22

3. Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 33
AimAim
To describe the medical aspects of SYDNEYTo describe the medical aspects of SYDNEY’’s finals final
action, as an acknowledgement to her medicalaction, as an acknowledgement to her medical
departmentdepartment
•• Two medical officersTwo medical officers
•• One dental officerOne dental officer
•• One senior sailor medicOne senior sailor medic
•• Five junior sailor medicsFive junior sailor medics
•• One junior sailor dental assistantOne junior sailor dental assistant
•• About 20 first aidersAbout 20 first aiders

4. Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 44
Dental SurgerySickbayWO’s
Mess
First Aid Posts

5. Control Bases Damage Control
Central

8. KORMORANKORMORAN’’s 150mm Gunss 150mm Guns
gh Explosive (HE) shellh Explosive (HE) shell
Structural damage radius ~3.2mStructural damage radius ~3.2m
Casualty radius ~5.0mCasualty radius ~5.0m
~4000 frags per shell (ie multiple, small)~4000 frags per shell (ie multiple, small)
mour Piercing (AP) Shellmour Piercing (AP) Shell
Structural damage radius ~1.5mStructural damage radius ~1.5m
Casualty radius ~4.0mCasualty radius ~4.0m
~2000 frags per shell (ie fewer, larger)~2000 frags per shell (ie fewer, larger)
east 87 hits = 200,000 frags (310 per crew member)east 87 hits = 200,000 frags (310 per crew member)

13. cm Shell
all Calibre
rpedo
halenhalen

14. h casualties
dium casualties
w casualties

15. CasualtiesCasualties
TO estimateTO estimate minimumminimum 70% casualties (> 450 pers)70% casualties (> 450 pers)
>20% usually means ship hit badly enough to sink>20% usually means ship hit badly enough to sink
sualty breakdown:sualty breakdown:
225 KIA225 KIA
225 WIA225 WIA
Latter includes about 207 P1 and P2 casesLatter includes about 207 P1 and P2 cases
Of which >100 would have had severe burnsOf which >100 would have had severe burns

16. oding
e
avy smoke
dium smoke
ht smoke
rpedo

18. SYDNEYSYDNEY’’s Boatss Boats

19. Carley FloatCarley Float

20. LifebeltsLifebelts

21. After the SinkingAfter the Sinking
UITANIA picked up first KORMORAN pers 23 NovUITANIA picked up first KORMORAN pers 23 Nov
But had to maintain radio silenceBut had to maintain radio silence
st reported ashore when tanker TROCUS picked upst reported ashore when tanker TROCUS picked up
re KORMORAN survivors 24 Novre KORMORAN survivors 24 Nov
searches commenced later that daysearches commenced later that day
nitially looking for SYDNEY rather than boats or survivorsnitially looking for SYDNEY rather than boats or survivors
Later sorties flown at lower height looking for her boatsLater sorties flown at lower height looking for her boats
NoNo searches flown low enough to spot small debris,searches flown low enough to spot small debris,

22. After the SinkingAfter the Sinking
ad bodies sinkad bodies sink –– decomposition makes them float 3decomposition makes them float 3
10 days later10 days later
Longer in cold waterLonger in cold water
Pressure at depth prevents gas expansionPressure at depth prevents gas expansion
Air search called off 29 NovAir search called off 29 Nov

23. Surgeon CommanderSurgeon Commander John Reid Hasker RANJohn Reid Hasker RAN
SurgeonSurgeon Lieutenant Commander Francis Harrison Genge RANRLieutenant Commander Francis Harrison Genge RANR
Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental)Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental) Mervyn Clive Townsend RANMervyn Clive Townsend RAN
17877 Sick Bay Petty Officer17877 Sick Bay Petty Officer Eric Ralph BarhamEric Ralph Barham
2255622556 Acting Leading Sick Berth AttendantActing Leading Sick Berth Attendant David William BoydDavid William Boyd
PA1908 Sick Berth Attendant Lindsay James MedlenPA1908 Sick Berth Attendant Lindsay James Medlen
PM2984 Sick Berth Attendant Leslie Charles MinnsPM2984 Sick Berth Attendant Leslie Charles Minns
2221322213 Sick Berth Attendant John Robert PayneSick Berth Attendant John Robert Payne
PA1946 Sick Berth AttendantPA1946 Sick Berth Attendant Roderick Richard WilsonRoderick Richard Wilson
095 Sick Berth Attendant095 Sick Berth Attendant 2nd Class2nd Class (Dental) Stewart Thomas Laxton(Dental) Stewart Thomas Laxton
Questions?Questions?

24. Lest We ForgetLest We Forget
CMDR John (Jack) Reid Hasker RANCMDR John (Jack) Reid Hasker RAN

25. Lest We ForgetLest We Forget
Sick Berth Attendant John Robert PayneSick Berth Attendant John Robert Payne

26. Lest We ForgetLest We Forget
Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental)Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental)
Mervyn Clive Townsend RAN (Mervyn Clive Townsend RAN (rightright))
andand
PM3095 Sick Berth AttendantPM3095 Sick Berth Attendant 2nd Class2nd Class (Dental)(Dental)