The ABC interview that I heard basically covered (almost verbatim, as I recall) the SMH material down to the line All of that made his decision to move in so close to the Kormoran ''almost inexplicable'', Cole said. The speculation about the Kormoran being a supply vessel came after all the discussion on the Cole findings and right at the close of the interview.

Charley's probably right about it being the first time such a notion has been canvassed; as an interested observer, I'd never heard such a speculation before either. It might have been offered by someone who wanted to show exculpating sympathy with Burnett's background as "a fine officer".

Cheers, Rowan