Night encounter, HMAS Sydney and HMAT Zealandia

While escorting SS "Zealandia" in the Indian Ocean, opportunity was taken to carry out an exercise using the transport as a suspicious vessel. Leaving her charge and returning at high speed on a new course, the cruiser encountered a "suspicious vessel". With all guns trained on the ship, searchlights were switched on and star shells fired over; then with searchlights off, the descending starshells' flames silhouetting the ship, making it a perfect target for the cruiser's guns, the exercise was completed. The exercise took place during the routine dawn "stand to" and in an area known at that time to be free from enemy vessels, Indian Ocean.