Matt-

I would agree with you that according to the battle reports, there should have been ample time for the sailors aboard the Sydney to abandon ship in some fashion. Weather was evidently not a major factor, given that the Germans survived for 4 days or more in their boats and rafts. There was a massive fire reported aboard the Sydney which may have done in much of the crew but there still should have been some survivors.

There was an extensive air and sea search conducted a week or so after the battle but that evidently didn't turn up much.

Charley Noble