HMAS Sydney
An item dated London, England 19th referred to an announcement of the British Admiralty reporting that according to the supreme commanding officer of the British fleet in the Mediterranean the 6.800 tons Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney (1) accompanied by some destroyers battled that morning with 2 Italian cruisers north west of Crete, Greece. The Italian 5.000 tons light cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni (2) was sunk, the other cruiser (3) fled, pursued by the British ships. One British destroyer saved 250 of the 500 men on board of the Bartolomeo Colleoni. Her armament of 8-15cm guns, 6-10cm guns and 16 anti aircraft guns was comparable with that of the Sydney.
Notes
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. The Giovanni delle Bande Nere of the Guissano-class light cruisers, consisting of the Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto da Giussano, Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere. Laid down by R.C. di Castellammare di Stabia on 31 October 1928, launched in 27 April 1930, commissioned on 1 January 1931 and sunk by the British submarine HMS Urge on 1 April 1942.
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