HISTORY OF HMAS SYDNEY II

• HMS Sydney was built at Newcastle-on-Tyne, the keel being laid down In 1933 as HMS Phaeton. She was one of three light cruisers of the British Modified Leander class, but was subsequently purchased by the Commonwealth of Australia and renamed HMAS Sydney. She was launched on 22 September 1934 and taken over from the builders on 24 September 1935.
  
  

• HMAS Sydney was ordered to the Mediterranean when the Second World War broke out. Her First action was to bombard the Libyan port of Bardia on the 21st of June 1940.
  

• On the 27th June 1940 she went to sea in company with a cruiser squadron to provide convoy cover. On the 28th June 1940 HMAS Sydney sank the Italian Destroyer Espero.

• HMAS Sydney again came under fire on the 9th July -1940, but it was the events of the 19th July 1940, which added to her fame. in a tactical battle HMAS Sydney engaged and disabled the extremely fast Italian Cruiser, Bartolomeo Colleoni. Following this HMAS Sydney set off in pursuit of another Italian Cruiser Giovanni Delle Bande Nere but was forced to give up the chase when the faster ship was out of range and HMAS Sydney was nearly out of ammunition.

• HMAS Sydney returned home to Australia in triumph. She saw further action escorting convoys overseas and also participated in convoy escort duties in Western, Australia. Geraldton was privileged to host three visits of HMAS Sydney, the last being from 18th - 20th October 1941.
  
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