the loss of hmas sydney 2: medical aspects- westphalen

2010 AMMA Conference2010 AMMA ConferenceThe Loss of HMAS SYDNEY II: The Loss of HMAS SYDNEY II:

Medical AspectsMedical AspectsCMDR Neil WestphalenCMDR Neil Westphalen

MBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEMMBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEM29 October 201029 October 2010

BackgroundBackground•• On 19 Nov 41, SYDNEY returning to Fremantle after On 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 cruiser At 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


AimAimTo describe the medical aspects of SYDNEYTo describe the medical aspects of SYDNEY’’s final s final

action, as an acknowledgement to her medical action, 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


Dental SurgerySickbayWO’s Mess

First Aid Posts

Control Bases Damage Control Central

KORMORANKORMORAN’’s 150mm Gunss 150mm Gunsgh Explosive (HE) shellh Explosive (HE) shellStructural damage radius ~3.2m Structural 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) Shell mour Piercing (AP) Shell Structural damage radius ~1.5m Structural 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)

cm Shell

all Calibre

rpedo

halenhalen

h casualties

dium casualties

w casualties

CasualtiesCasualtiesTO estimate TO 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 sinksualty breakdown:sualty breakdown:225 KIA225 KIA225 WIA 225 WIA Latter includes about 207 P1 and P2 casesLatter includes about 207 P1 and P2 casesOf which >100 would have had severe burnsOf which >100 would have had severe burns

oding

e

avy smoke

dium smoke

ht smoke

rpedo

SYDNEYSYDNEY’’s Boatss Boats

Carley FloatCarley Float

LifebeltsLifebelts

After the SinkingAfter the SinkingUITANIA picked up first KORMORAN pers 23 Nov UITANIA picked up first KORMORAN pers 23 Nov

But had to maintain radio silenceBut had to maintain radio silencest reported ashore when tanker TROCUS picked up st reported ashore when tanker TROCUS picked up re KORMORAN survivors 24 Novre KORMORAN survivors 24 Novsearches commenced later that day searches commenced later that day nitially looking for SYDNEY rather than boats or survivorsnitially looking for SYDNEY rather than boats or survivorsLater sorties flown at lower height looking for her boatsLater sorties flown at lower height looking for her boatsNo No searches flown low enough to spot small debris, searches flown low enough to spot small debris, survivors or bodies in the watersurvivors or bodies in the water

After the SinkingAfter the Sinkingad bodies sink ad bodies sink –– decomposition makes them float 3 decomposition makes them float 3 10 days later10 days laterLonger in cold waterLonger in cold waterPressure at depth prevents gas expansionPressure at depth prevents gas expansionAir search called off 29 NovAir search called off 29 Nov

Surgeon CommanderSurgeon Commander John Reid Hasker RANJohn Reid Hasker RANSurgeonSurgeon Lieutenant Commander Francis Harrison Genge RANRLieutenant Commander Francis Harrison Genge RANR

Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental)Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental) Mervyn Clive Townsend RANMervyn Clive Townsend RAN17877 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 BoydPA1908 Sick Berth Attendant Lindsay James MedlenPA1908 Sick Berth Attendant Lindsay James MedlenPM2984 Sick Berth Attendant Leslie Charles MinnsPM2984 Sick Berth Attendant Leslie Charles Minns

2221322213 Sick Berth Attendant John Robert PayneSick Berth Attendant John Robert PaynePA1946 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?

Lest We ForgetLest We Forget

CMDR John (Jack) Reid Hasker RANCMDR John (Jack) Reid Hasker RAN


Sick Berth Attendant John Robert PayneSick Berth Attendant John Robert Payne


Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental)Surgeon Lieutenant (Dental)Mervyn Clive Townsend RAN (Mervyn Clive Townsend RAN (rightright))

andandPM3095 Sick Berth AttendantPM3095 Sick Berth Attendant 2nd Class2nd Class (Dental)(Dental)

the loss of hmas sydney 2: medical aspects- westphalen

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