Battle of Sydney

The Battle of Sydney in 1939 was a brief naval attack during World War II, when Japanese submarines targeted the Australian city, seeking to disrupt Allied shipping. Two Japanese submarines entered Sydney Harbour; one launched an attack on the harbor’s ships, sinking a merchant vessel. The event heightened fears of invasion in Australia but was limited in impact, prompting increased coastal defenses. It marked one of the earliest hostile acts on Australian territory in the war and underscored the global reach of WWII conflicts. The attack was quickly contained, and Sydney remained secure despite the disruption.