On November 19, 1941, during World War II, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran fought each other in the Indian Ocean, off Western Australia. The two ships destroyed each other and Sydney was lost with all 645 hands. Most of the crew from Kormoran were rescued and became prisoners of war.
The battle and sinkings remain controversial, as all of the battle accounts are based on reports by Kormoran survivors. Following many years of speculation and searches, on March 16, 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that Kormoran had been found, and on March 17, 2008, he announced that HMAS Sydney had also been found. The wrecks lie 200 kilometres (110 nmi) off Steep Point at depth of approximately 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). The wreckage of the Sydney is approximately 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the Kormoran wreckage.
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