Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney hailed for destroying Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni according to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 23 July 1940

British Leander-class cruisers

An item dated Sydney, Australia 22nd reported that the town hoisted all flags to celebrate the sinking of the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni (1) by the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney (2), which latter proved to be a worthy successor of the cruiser Sydney (3) which sunk in the First World War the German cruiser SMS Emden (4) off the Cocos Islands. The newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 23rd July referred to an official statement at London that her commanding officer captain John A. Collins was decorated with the Order of the Bath while lieutenant Hugh St. Nicholson commanding officer of the destroyer Force with the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Notes

1. The Bartolomeo Colleoni of the Guissano-class light cruisers, consisting of the Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto da Giussano, Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere. Building ordered in 1926, laid down by Ansaldo, Genoa, Italy on 21 June 1928, launched 21 December 1930, commissioned on 10 February 1932 and sunk on 19 July 1940 in the Battle of Cape Spada. of the Guissano-class light cruisers, consisting of the Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto da Giussano, Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere. Building ordered in 1926, laid down by Ansaldo, Genoa, Italy on 21 June 1928, launched 21 December 1930, commissioned on 10 February 1932 and sunk on 19 July 1940 in the Battle of Cape Spada.

2. Modified Leander-class cruiser. Laid down by Swan, Hunter&Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England as Phaeton on 8 July 1933, purchased by Australia still under construction, launched on 22 September 1934, commissioned on 24 September 1935 and sunk in a battle with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran on 19 November 1941.

3. Chatham-sub class Town-class light cruiser, laid down by London and Glasgow Engineering and Iron Shipbuilding Company, Glasgow, Scotland on 11 February 1911, launched on 29 August 1912, commissioned on 26 June 1913, laid up in reserve on 13 April 1923 and decommissioned 8 May 1928 and broken up in 1929 at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard.

4. Dresden-class light cruiser, laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig on 1 November 1906, launched on 26 May 1908, commissioned on 10 July 1909 and after disabled by the Sydney grounded off the Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands) on 9 November 1914.