If the Captain of the Sydney had of survived he would have faced a court martial. He should have stood-off until the Kormoran was properly identified, instead he kept closing the range to the point where he placed his ship in jeopardy. Over-confidence, arrogance (?) cost him his ship and crew. With his superior armament and fire-control ( of the guns ) a properly conducted engagement would have seen the sinking of the Kormoran as a fairly simple task.
And these captains are still around, at least during the Viet Nam schemozzle when I was in the navy.

JG/FME