List of shipwrecks in 1944
Encyclopedia
The list of shipwrecks in 1944 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1944.
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3 January
- : The suffered a series of onboard explosion, capsized and sank off the Ambrose LightAmbrose LightAmbrose Light, often called Ambrose Tower, was a light station at the convergence of several major shipping lanes in Lower New York Bay, including Ambrose Channel, the primary passage for ships entering and departing the Port of New York and New Jersey....
with the loss of 138 of her 256 crew. - (
Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk in the South Atlantic by .
4 January
- ( Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled by her crew in the South Atlantic. Her demise was hastened by and (both ).
5 January
- ( Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled by her crew in the South Atlantic. Her demise was hastened by and (both ).
7 January
- Bernhard von Tschirschky : World War II: The was sunk in a Royal Air Force air raid on Kiel.
- Krischan : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The was sunk in a Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
air raid on KielKielKiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
. - : The gunboatGunboatA gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
collied with (
United States) off Cape MayCape MayCape May is a peninsula and island ; the southern tip of the island is the southernmost point of the state of New Jersey, United States. It runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and sank with the loss of 115 of her 145 crew.
16 January
- : World War II: The troop ship was sunk in OslofjordOslofjordThe Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
, Norway by limpet mines placed by the Norwegian resistance.
23 January
- : World War II: The J-classJ, K and N class destroyerThe J, K and N class was a class of 24 destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1938. They were a return to a smaller vessel, with a heavier torpedo armament, after the Tribal class that emphasised guns over torpedoes. The ships were built in three flotillas or groups, eight each of ships with...
destroyerDestroyerIn naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
was sunk off Anzio, Italy by a Fritz XFritz XFritz X was the most common name for a German guided anti-ship glide bomb used during World War II. Fritz X was a nickname used both by Allied and Luftwaffe personnel. Alternate names include Ruhrstahl SD 1400 X, Kramer X-1, PC 1400X or FX 1400...
glide bomb.
24 January
- (
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The hospital shipHospital shipA hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
was bombed and sunk off AnzioAnzioAnzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
, Italy.
26 January
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The cargo shipCargo shipA cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
was torpedoed and sunk at 13°00′N 55°15′E by .
31 January
- : World War II: The Type VIICGerman Type VII submarineType VII U-boats were the most common type of German World War II U-boat. The Type VII was based on earlier German submarine designs going back to the World War I Type UB III, designed through the Dutch dummy company Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw den Haag which was set up by Germany after...
submarineSubmarineA submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
was sunk in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
southwest of Ireland by , and (all ).
2 February
- (
Japan): World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk at 33°32′N 135°58′E by .
8 February
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Ireland by and (both ).
9 February
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Ireland by , and (all )
9 February
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Ireland by and (both ).
11 February
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Ireland by and (both ).
13 February
- (
Norway): World War II: The cargo shipCargo shipA cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
was sunk at HustadvikaHustadvikaHustadvika is a long section of coastline outside the municipality of Fræna in Romsdal, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the shipping route between Molde and Kristiansund. The area is shallow and is full of little islands and reefs...
, off KristiansundKristiansundKristiansund is a city and municipality on the western coast of Norway, in the Nordmøre district of Møre og Romsdal county. It was officially awarded township status in 1742, and it is still the major town for the region. The administrative center of the municipality is the city of Kristiansund...
by Royal Norwegian NavyRoyal Norwegian NavyThe Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
motor torpedo boats. - ( Norway): World War II: The passenger shipPassenger shipA passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freighters once common on the seas in which the transport of passengers is...
was sunk at Hustadvika, off Kristiansund by Royal Norwegian Navy motor torpedo boats.
14 February
- : The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in a collision off Gotenhafen, Poland with ( Germany. Twenty-two crew were lost.
17 February
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Barents SeaBarents SeaThe Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
by and (both ).
18 February
- : The Type IIBGerman Type II submarineThe Type II U-boat was designed by Germany as a coastal U-boat, modeled after the CV-707 submarine, which was designed by the Dutch dummy company NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw den Haag and built in 1933 by the...
submarine sank near Pillau in a diving accident with the loss of all 29 crew.
19 February
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by and (both ).
20 February
- ( Norway): World War II: The train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
was sunk in Lake Tinnsjø near RjukanRjukanRjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
by Norwegian saboteursNorwegian heavy water sabotageThe Norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions undertaken by Norwegian saboteurs during World War II to prevent the German nuclear energy project from acquiring heavy water , which could be used to produce nuclear weapons...
whilst carrying heavy waterHeavy waterHeavy water is water highly enriched in the hydrogen isotope deuterium; e.g., heavy water used in CANDU reactors is 99.75% enriched by hydrogen atom-fraction...
for the German nuclear programmeGerman nuclear energy projectThe German nuclear energy project, , was an attempted clandestine scientific effort led by Germany to develop and produce the atomic weapons during the events involving the World War II...
. - : World War II: The Type VIIC/41 was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of WaterfordWaterfordWaterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Ireland by .
25 February
- HMS MahrattaHMS Mahratta (G23)HMS Mahratta was an M-class destroyer of the Royal Navy which served during World War II. Begun as Marksman, she was damaged while under construction, and dismantled to be rebuilt on a new slipway. She was launched as Mahratta in 1942, completed in 1943, and quickly pressed into service...
: World War II: Convoy JW 57Convoy JW 57Convoy JW 57 was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in February 1944, reaching the Soviet northern ports at the end of the month...
: The M-classL and M class destroyerThe L and M class was a class of sixteen destroyers which served in the British Royal Navy during World War II. The ships of the class were launched between 1939 and 1942.-Design details:...
destroyerDestroyerIn naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
was sunk in the Arctic OceanArctic OceanThe Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
off NordkappNorth Cape, NorwayNorth Cape is a cape on the island of Magerøya in Northern Norway, in the municipality of Nordkapp. Its 307 m high, steep cliff is often referred to as the northernmost point of Europe, located at , 2102.3 km from the North Pole. However, the neighbouring point Knivskjellodden is actually...
, Norway by .
27 February
- HMS Woodpecker : World War II: The was sunk by .
29 February
- ( Japan): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk at 08°57′N 132°52′E by .
1 March
- : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The was torpedoed and sunk off Portugal by .
12 March
- ( Germany): World War II: The tankerTank shipA tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
was bombed, torpedoed and sunk by British aircraft off the mouth of the EbroEbroThe Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
.
13 March
- (
Greece): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the South Atlantic by . The crew was massacred by the Germans to hide the traces of the attack.
15 March
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The tugTugboatA tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
was sunk at Malta in an air raid. Salvaged on 10 May, repaired and returned to service. - : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was torpedoed and sunk by a Fairey SwordfishFairey SwordfishThe Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
of and gunfire from and (all ). - : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland by .
30 March
- (
Turkey): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean SeaAegean SeaThe Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
.
8 April
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The cargo ship was sunk at 11°55′S 19°52′W by (. - : The Type IIA submarine collied with the trawler Helmi Söhle in the Baltic SeaBaltic SeaThe Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
near Pillau and sank with the loss of seventeen of her 35 crew. - : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
by and (both ).
13 April
- IkazuchiJapanese destroyer Ikazuchiwas the twenty-third destroyer, or the third , built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
: World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Central PacificPacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
by . - : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Central Pacific by .
20 April
- Voorbode : The ammunition transport was sunk off BergenBergenBergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway by an accidental explosion.
6 May
- : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: Sunk in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
south-west of Ireland by , and (all ).
7 May
- : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by .
8 May
- (
Nazi Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk off the Corbière Lighthouse, JerseyJerseyJersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
by MTBsMotor Torpedo BoatMotor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
91, 92, 227 and 229 .
10 May
- (
Sweden): World War II: The schoonerSchoonerA schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
struck a mine and sank off MønMøn-Location:Møn is located just off the south-eastern tip of Zealand from which it is separated by the waters of the Hølen strait between Kalvehave and the island of Nyord, at the northern end of Møn. Further south is Stege Bugt...
, Denmark.
22 May
- : The cargo ship sank off Secche di Vada. Cause unknown.
29 May
- : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean near the Canary IslandsCanary IslandsThe Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
by .
30 May
- ( Japan): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk off Mutoro Zaki by .
5 June
- CHANT 63CHANT (ship type)A CHANT was a type of prefabricated coastal tanker which was built in the United Kingdom during the Second World War due to a perceived need for coastal tankers after the invasion of France. Some CHANTs were adapted to carry dry cargos...
( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland):The Channel TankerTank shipA tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
capsized and sank off Flamborough HeadFlamborough HeadFlamborough Head is a promontory of on the Yorkshire coast of England, between the Filey and Bridlington bays of the North Sea. It is a chalk headland, and the resistance it offers to coastal erosion may be contrasted with the low coast of Holderness to the south...
, YorkshireNorth Riding of YorkshireThe North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
.
6 June
- : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: Operation NeptuneOperation NeptuneThe Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 , beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time...
: The was sunk as a breakwater in the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
off NormandyNormandyNormandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France. - ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: Operation Neptune: The Design 1105 cargo ship was sunk as a breakwater at Juno BeachJuno BeachJuno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
, Normandy. The wreck was raised in 1947 and scrapped. - : World War II: The S-classS and T class destroyerThe S and T class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1942–1943. They were built as two flotillas, known as the 5th and 6th Emergency Flotilla respectively and they served as fleet and convoy escorts in World War II.-Design features:The S class, introduced the CP ...
destroyerDestroyerIn naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
was torpedoed and sunk in the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
off Normandy.
7 June
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: Operation Neptune: The cargo ship was sunk as a breakwater at Sword BeachSword BeachSword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord; the Allied invasion of German-occupied France that commenced on 6 June 1944...
, Normandy. The wreck was raised in 1951 and scrapped. - ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: Operation Neptune: The cargo ship was sunk as a breakwater, Normandy.
8 June
- CHANT 61CHANT (ship type)A CHANT was a type of prefabricated coastal tanker which was built in the United Kingdom during the Second World War due to a perceived need for coastal tankers after the invasion of France. Some CHANTs were adapted to carry dry cargos...
( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): The Channel Tanker capsized and sank in the English Channel off Normandy.
12 June
- : World War II: The S-classBritish S class submarine (1931)The S-class submarines of the Royal Navy were originally designed and built during the modernisation of the submarine force in the early 1930s to meet the need for smaller boats to patrol the restricted waters of the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea replacing the British H class submarines...
submarineSubmarineA submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
struck a mine and sank off KythiraKythiraCythera is an island in Greece, once part of the Ionian Islands. It lies opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is administratively part of the Islands regional unit, which is part of the Attica region , Greece.For many centuries, while naval travel was the only means...
, Greece.
16 June
- CHANT 69CHANT (ship type)A CHANT was a type of prefabricated coastal tanker which was built in the United Kingdom during the Second World War due to a perceived need for coastal tankers after the invasion of France. Some CHANTs were adapted to carry dry cargos...
( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): The Channel Tanker capsized in the English Channel off Normandy. She was later sunk by gunfire from a Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ship.
19 June
- CHANT 7CHANT (ship type)A CHANT was a type of prefabricated coastal tanker which was built in the United Kingdom during the Second World War due to a perceived need for coastal tankers after the invasion of France. Some CHANTs were adapted to carry dry cargos...
( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): The Channel Tanker capsized and was driven ashore in Normandy.
21 June
- : World War II: The was sunk at La SpeziaLa SpeziaLa Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
by Italian commando frogmenItalian commando frogmenCOMSUBIN is the elite combat frogman force and one of the Italian special forces....
. Refloated post-war and scrapped in 1947.
Unknown date
- ( Nazi Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled at Le HavreLe HavreLe Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France. She was later raised, repaired and returned to service.
2 July
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The Infantry landing shipLanding Ship, InfantryLanding Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War...
struck a mine and sank off Normandy, France.
8 July
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged. She was beached on Juno BeachJuno BeachJuno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
off ArromanchesArromanches-les-BainsArromanches-les-Bains is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France....
, Normandy. Later refloated and towed to MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
YorkshireNorth Riding of YorkshireThe North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
for repairs.
20 July
- : World War II: the was scuttled as a breakwater at Courseulles, France.
23 July
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed by E-boats and beached at Dungeness, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She was later repaired and returned to service with a new stern section. - ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: Operation OverlordOperation OverlordOperation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
: The ocean linerOcean linerAn ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
was sunk as a blockshipBlockshipA blockship is a ship deliberately sunk to prevent a river, channel, or canal from being used.It may either be sunk by a navy defending the waterway to prevent the ingress of attacking enemy forces, as in the case of HMS Hood at Portland Harbour; or it may be brought by enemy raiders and used to...
off Normandy.
26 July
- (
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: Operation Overlord: The cargo ship was sunk as a blockship off Normandy.
31 July
- : The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
west of the Scilly IslesIsles of ScillyThe Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
by and (both ).
2 August
- ( Japan): World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk south west of Nagoya (33°37′N 136°20′E) by .
6 August
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mozambique ChannelMozambique ChannelThe Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean located between the island nation of Madagascar and southeast Africa, primarily the country of Mozambique. It was a World War II clashpoint during the Battle of Madagascar...
by . - Schnelles Geleitboot 3 : World War II: The was sunk by Allied aircraft.
7 August
- (
Brazil): The cargo ship collided with cargo ship (
Belgium) off Santa CatarinaSanta Catarina (island)Florianópolis Island is an island in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. It is located on the south coast of Brazil between the south 27° latitude and west 48° longitude...
, Brazil (28°05′S 48°30′W). Both ships sank. - ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk off Dar es SalaamDar es SalaamDar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, TanganyikaTanganyikaTanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
(7°06′S 42°00′E) by . - ( Turkey): World War II: The schoonerSchoonerA schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
was torpedoed and sunk in the Black SeaBlack SeaThe Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
with the loss of nearly 300 lives.
10 August
- : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Bay of BiscayBay of BiscayThe Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by a Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft and . - Lindau : World War II: The accommodation ship was set on fire in the Loire RiverLoire (river)The Loire is the longest river in France. With a length of , it drains an area of , which represents more than a fifth of France's land area. It is the 170th longest river in the world...
(47°13′N 01°34′W) by German Forces and sunk by the explosion of mines being stored on the ship. She was raised in 1946 and towed to Antwerp, Belgium for scrapping.
11 August
- ( Norway): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine in the KattegatKattegatThe Kattegat , or Kattegatt is a sea area bounded by the Jutland peninsula and the Straits islands of Denmark on the west and south, and the provinces of Västergötland, Scania, Halland and Bohuslän in Sweden on the east. The Baltic Sea drains into the Kattegat through the Øresund and the Danish...
and sank with the loss of nineteen of the 25 crew. - U-385 : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Bay of Biscay by a Short SunderlandShort SunderlandThe Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
and .
12 August
- U-198German submarine U-198German submarine U-198, was a Type IXD2 U-boat which fought in World War II.She was built by the Deschimag AG Weser in Bremen. The boat was sunk on 12 August 1944 near the Seychelles, in position , by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Findhorn and the Indian Black Swan class sloop HMIS...
: World War II: The Type IXD2German Type IX submarineThe Type IX U-boat was designed by Germany in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. Type IX boats were briefly used for patrols off the eastern United States in an attempt to disrupt the stream of troops and supplies bound for...
submarine was sunk in the Indian OceanIndian OceanThe Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
near the SeychellesSeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
by and . - ( Japan): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk off SakhalinSakhalinSakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
by .
15 August
- Richtofen : The sank at KönigsbergKönigsbergKönigsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
during fitting out.
19 August
- U-466German submarine U-466German submarine U-466 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.She was scuttled at sea on 19 August 1944....
: World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was scuttled at ToulonToulonToulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, France.
20 August
- U-9 : World War II: The Type IIBGerman Type II submarineThe Type II U-boat was designed by Germany as a coastal U-boat, modeled after the CV-707 submarine, which was designed by the Dutch dummy company NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw den Haag and built in 1933 by the...
submarine was sunk in the Black SeaBlack SeaThe Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
at Konstanza by SovietSoviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
aircraft.
21 August
- : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
(50°18′N 0°51′W) by with the loss of 59 of her 90 crew. - : World War II: The supply ship was scuttled as a blockship at BayonneBayonneBayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, France. She was raised in 1945, repaired and returned to her original Belgian owners. - : World War II: The was sunk by .
24 August
- U-354 : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Barents SeaBarents SeaThe Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
by , , and (all ).
25 August
- U-18 : World War II: The Type IIB submarine was scuttled at Konstanza, Romania.
- U-24 : World War II: The Type IIB submarine was scuttled at Konstanza.
27 August
- : World War II: The was bombed and sunk at Brest, FranceBrest, FranceBrest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
by an United States Army Air Force air raid. The wreck was scrapped post-war.
Unknown date
- Marechal PetainBianca C.The Bianca C was a passenger ship that sank on two occasions, the first time in France before being completed, and the second time after an explosion and fire off the island of Grenada.-History:...
(
Early Modern France): World War II: The passenger shipPassenger shipA passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freighters once common on the seas in which the transport of passengers is...
was torpedoed and sunk at Port du Bouc, near MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
2 September
- ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): The cargo ship was driven ashore in the Seine Bay in gales. She struck the wreck of ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland). She was later refloated and towed to the United Kingdom. Declared a constructive total loss, she was laid up until December 1945 and then scrapped.
- U-394 : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The Type VIIC submarine was sunk in the Norwegian SeaNorwegian SeaThe Norwegian Sea is a marginal sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Norway. It is located between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea and adjoins the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a...
by a Fairey SwordfishFairey SwordfishThe Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
aircraft from and gunfire from , , and (all ).
4 September
- ( Belgium): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled in the ScheldtScheldtThe Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
by German Forces. She was raised on 19 February 1945 and completed as Armand Grisar. - ( Belgium): World War II: The uncompleted tanker was scuttled in the Scheldt at Antwerp by German Forces. She was raised on 13 April 1945 and completed in 1949 as Gouvernor Galpin.
- Yard No 694, John CockerillJohn Cockerill (company)The John Cockerill Company was a Belgian iron, steel and manufacturing company based in Seraing in the region of Liege, founded by the British industrialist family fathered by William Cockerill....
SA ( Belgium): World War II: The uncompleted tanker was scuttled at Hoboken, Antwerp by German Forces. She was raised on 6 December 1945 and completed in 1949 as . - Yard No 695, John Cockerill SA ( Belgium): World War II: The uncompleted tanker was scuttled at Hoboken, Antwerp by German Forces. She was raised on 27 December 1944 and completed in April 1946 as .
- Yard No 696, John Cockerill SA ( Belgium): World War II: The uncompleted cargo ship was scuttled at Hoboken, Antwerp by German Forces. She was raised on 12 November 1944 and completed in 1946 as .
7 September
- : World War II: The ship sank off MarstrandMarstrandMarstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The...
, Sweden. Probable cause of loss was a mine.
10 September
- U-19 : World War II: The Type IIB submarine was scuttled in the Black SeaBlack SeaThe Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
off Turkey.
14 September
- ( Nazi Germany): World War II: The uncompleted cargo ship was sunk at CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark by saboteurs. She was later repaired, completed and entered service. - : 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane1944 Great Atlantic HurricaneThe Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944 was an intense Atlantic hurricane sometimes compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938.-Meteorological history:...
: The foundered in Oregon InletOregon InletOregon Inlet is an inlet along North Carolina's Outer Banks. It joins the Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean and separates Bodie Island from Pea Island, which are connected by a 2.5 mile bridge that spans the inlet...
North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. - : 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane1944 Great Atlantic HurricaneThe Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944 was an intense Atlantic hurricane sometimes compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938.-Meteorological history:...
: The foundered in Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. - ( United States): 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane1944 Great Atlantic HurricaneThe Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944 was an intense Atlantic hurricane sometimes compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938.-Meteorological history:...
: The Liberty shipLiberty shipLiberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
was driven ashore at Rehoboth Beach, DelawareRehoboth Beach, DelawareRehoboth Beach is a city in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population is 1,327, a decrease of 11.2% from 2000... - : 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane1944 Great Atlantic HurricaneThe Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944 was an intense Atlantic hurricane sometimes compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938.-Meteorological history:...
: The foundered 450 nautical miles (833.4 km) off Vero Beach, FloridaVero Beach, FloridaVero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
with the loss of 248 of her 321 crew. - : 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane1944 Great Atlantic HurricaneThe Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944 was an intense Atlantic hurricane sometimes compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938.-Meteorological history:...
: The lightshipLightshipLightship may refer to:* Lightvessel, a permanently moored ship that has light beacons mounted as navigational aids* Light displacement, a displacement figure that measures a ship complete in all respects, but without consumables, stores, cargo, crew, and effects*Lightship, a type of blimp operated...
foundered with the loss of all twelve crew. - : 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane1944 Great Atlantic HurricaneThe Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944 was an intense Atlantic hurricane sometimes compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938.-Meteorological history:...
: The minesweeperMinesweeper (ship)A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
foundered with the loss of all 33 crew.
18 September
- ( Belgium): The tanker collided with ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) in the Caribbean SeaCaribbean SeaThe Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
(12°15′15"N 70°04′30"W). Punta Gorda exploded and sank, setting Ampteco on fire. Ampetco was declared a constructive total loss. She was later sunk as target off ArubaArubaAruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
.
20 September
- U-20 : World War II: The Type IIB submarine was scuttled in the Black Sea off Turkey.
- U-23 : World War II: The Type IIB submarine was scuttled in the Black Sea off Turkey.
22 September
- : World War II: The passenger shipPassenger shipA passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freighters once common on the seas in which the transport of passengers is...
was torpedoed and sunk off RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia by Soviet aircraft. There were around 700 casualties of 1,200 on board.
28 September
- DragonerHNoMS KjellHNoMS Kjell was the final ship of twenty-seven 2nd class torpedo boats built for the Royal Norwegian Navy, launched at the Royal Norwegian Navy's shipyard in Horten on 12 March 1912 with build number 106...
: World War II: The minesweeperMinesweeper (ship)A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
was sunk off Mandal, Norwayby British aircraft.
Unknown date
- ( Nazi Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled at Bayonne, France by German Forces.
- Karl Meyer : World War II: The was sunk by British aircraft.
19 October
- (
Mexico): The tanker sank in a gale 90 nautical miles (166.7 km) off Savannah.
23 October
- : World War II: Battle of the Palawan Passage: The was torpedoed and sunk at 9°28′N 117°17′E by .
- Zick : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The vorpostenbootVorpostenbootVorpostenboots were German patrol boats which served during both World Wars...
was sunk near BergenBergenBergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway by Royal Air Force aircraft.
24 October
- : World War II: The ran aground in the Palawan Strait, Phillipines and was scuttled to prevent capture by the Japanese.
- PrincetonUSS Princeton (CVL-23)The fourth USS Princeton was a United States Navy lost at the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.-Construction and deployment:The ship was laid down as the Tallahassee by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, 2 June 1941...
: World War II: Battle of Leyte GulfBattle of Leyte GulfThe Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
: The was sunk by Japanese aircraft.
25 October
- : World War II: Battle of Surigao Strait. The was torpedoed and sunk by .
- Gambier BayUSS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)USS Gambier Bay was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was sunk in the Battle off Samar after helping to turn back a much larger attacking Japanese surface force....
: World War II: Battle of Leyte GulfBattle of Leyte GulfThe Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
: The was sunk in the Pacific OceanPacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
near SamarSamarSamar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, Philippines by Imperial Japanese NavyImperial Japanese NavyThe Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
gunfire. - St. LoUSS St. Lo (CVE-63)USS St. Lo was a of the United States Navy during World War II. On 25 October 1944, St. Lo became the first major warship to sink as the result of a kamikaze attack. The attack occurred during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.St...
: World War II: Battle of Leyte GulfBattle of Leyte GulfThe Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
: The was sunk in the Pacific Ocean near LeyteLeyteLeyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, Philippines by Japanese KamikazeKamikazeThe were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
aircraft. - : World War II: Battle of Surigao Strait: The was sunk by gunfire from with the loss of all bar ten of her 1,400 crew.
Unknown date
- Hans Rolshoven : World War II: The struck a mine and sank.
November
1 November
- ( Germany): World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The cargo ship was sunk at CalaisCalaisCalais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, France, by Allied aircraft bombing. She was refloated in November 1945 and scrapped at Hendrik-Ido-AmbachtHendrik-Ido-AmbachtHendrik-Ido-Ambacht is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands. It is located in the Dutch province of South Holland, on the island of IJsselmonde, and borders with Zwijndrecht, Ridderkerk, and the Noord River. The jurisdiction of the municipality covers an area of 11.99 km² of...
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in April 1946.
10 November
- (
Iceland): World War II: The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk off Iceland by with the loss of 24 of the 43 people on board.
11 November
- ( Japan): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk off Leyte IslandLeyte IslandLeyte is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.The island measures about 180 km north-south and about 65 km at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km in some places...
, Philippines by United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
aircraft bombing.
12 November
- ( Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk south east of EgersundEgersundThe town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
, Norway by shellfire from and (both). - TirpitzGerman battleship TirpitzTirpitz was the second of two s built for the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Imperial Navy, the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and launched two and a half years later in April...
: World War II: Operation CatechismOperation CatechismOperation Catechism was the last of nine attempts to sink or sabotage the Kriegsmarine battleship Tirpitz during World War II. On November 12, 1944, the RAF Bomber Command dispatched 30 Avro Lancaster heavy bombers from No. 9 Squadron RAF and No. 617 Squadron RAF Operation Catechism was the last of...
: The was capsized at TromsøTromsøTromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, Norway, by bombing from Avro LancasterAvro LancasterThe Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
s of 9 and 617 SquadronsNo. 617 Squadron RAFNo. 617 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. It currently operates the Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role...
, Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
14 November
- ( Japan): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the East China SeaEast China SeaThe East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
(31°04′N 123°56′E) by . - ' ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): The cargo ship foundered off the coast of ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(56°18′00"N 2°09′12"W) after springing a leak.
18 November
- : World War II: The hospital shipHospital shipA hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
was bombed and sunk by the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
off CreteCreteCrete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
20 November
- : World War II: The troopshipTroopshipA troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
was sunk at Polangen, Lithuania (55°54′N 20°54′E) by Soviet artillery. - : World War II: The Cimmaron-class oilerTanker- Transportation :* Tanker , a ship designed to carry bulk liquids** Chemical tanker, a type of tanker designed to transport chemicals in bulk** Oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker...
was sunk at 10°06′00"N 139°42′58"E by a KaitenKaitenThe Kaiten were manned torpedos and suicide craft, they were used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of World War II.-History:...
manned torpedo .
24 November
- Hansa ( Sweden): World War II: The passenger shipPassenger shipA passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freighters once common on the seas in which the transport of passengers is...
was torpedoed and sunk in the by Baltic SeaBaltic SeaThe Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
near GotlandGotlandGotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
by with the loss of all but two of her 86 crew.
27 November
- Rigel : World War II: The passenger ship was sunk by British aircraft off SandnessjøenSandnessjøenSandnessjøen is the centre of the municipality of Alstahaug in the county of Nordland, Norway, with a population of over 9,000. It was made a township in 1788....
, Norway.
1 December
- : World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: The ferryFerryA ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
struck a mine and sank off Missolonghi, Greece. A total of 45 passengers and crew were killed.
18 December
- ( Nazi Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk by a Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
air raid on Gotenhafen, German-occupied Poland. She was later repaired and returned to service. - U-1209 : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine hit the Wolf RockWolf Rock, CornwallWolf Rock is a treacherous rock located east of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and southwest of Land's End, in Cornwall, United Kingdom. A lighthouse, known as the Wolf Rock Lighthouse, was built on the rock by James Walker from 1861 to 1869; it entered service in January 1870.The lighthouse is in...
between the Isles of ScillyIsles of ScillyThe Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
and CornwallCornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom. The survivors were picked up by Royal Navy vessels.
24 December
- Alan A. DaleAlan A. DaleThe Alan A. Dale was originally a Danish cargo ship named Norvest, long, wide and 4,700 tons. After the outbreak of World War II she remained in port in the United States. She was one of 84 foreign ships seized by the United States under the Ship Requisition Act, signed on June 6, 1941...
(
Panama): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk at Antwerp, Belgium by a German Biber midget submarineMidget submarineA midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
.
29 December
- ( Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the Utklippan Lighthouse with the loss of nineteen of her twenty crew.
Unknown date
- ( United States): The Liberty shipLiberty shipLiberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
was involved in a collision off WalmerWalmerWalmer is a town in the district of Dover, Kent in England: located on the coast, the parish of Walmer is six miles north-east of Dover. Largely residential, its coastline and castle attract many visitors...
, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She caught fire and was then beached.
Unknown date
- Nki-01 : The floating anti-aircraft battery was scuttled at KirkenesKirkenesis a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
, Norway.