It was possible for Axis disguised ships (raiders, support vessels, blockade runners) to get away from investigation by Allied cruisers.

In January 1941 the British freighter 'Speybank' was captured by the German raider Atlantis and then employed as an auxiliary minelayer named 'Doggerbank'. She was investigated by the British cruiser 'Durban' and later by the British Armed Merchant Cruiser 'Cheshire' and managed to convince the captains of those vessels that she was a harmless British freighter. Of course it helped that she was of a large class of Bank Line cargo vessels that would have been very familiar around the world.

The particular focus on the action between Kormoran and Sydney has been because of the tragic loss of Sydney with all hands meant that nobody really knew what happened in those final minutes. The nearest witnesses were some distance away and probably quite distracted in leaving a badly damaged and burning ship with over 300 mines aboard.

sHIPS THAT WERE LOST WITH ALL HANDS