List of shipwrecks in 1940

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The list of shipwrecks in 1940 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1940.
Most of the ships listed here were lost in connection with World War II.

Operator Ship Class Cause Location
January 3 Naval flag of Soviet Union Soviet Navy S-2 S class submarine Sunk by Finnish mine Märket narrows,
Baltic Sea
January 7 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Seahorse S class submarine Depthcharged and sunk by ships of the German 1st Minesweeping Flotilla North-west of Heligoland
January 7 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Undine U class submarine Sunk by German A/S trawlers South west of Heligoland
January 9 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Starfish S class submarine Depthcharged and sunk by German minesweeper M-7 Heligoland Bight
January 13 Naval flag of Finland Finnish Navy Aura II Escort vessel and former presidential yacht Sunk by one of her own depth charges as it exploded in its thrower while she was attacking the Soviet submarine ShCh-324 Märket narrows,
Baltic Sea
January 19 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Grenville G class destroyer Sunk by mine North Sea
January 21 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Exmouth E class destroyer Torpedoed and sunk by U-22 In the Moray Firth,
off Inverness
January 30 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 15 Submarine Collision with torpedo boat Iltis North Sea, near Hoofden
January 30 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 55 Submarine Sunk by RN destroyer HMS Whitshed, RN sloop HMS Fowey, French destroyers Valmy. Guepard and a Short Sunderland from No. 228 Squadron RAF North Sea near the Shetland Islands
February 5 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 41 Submarine Sunk by HMS Antelope South of Ireland
February 12 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 33 Submarine Sunk by the minesweeper
HMS Gleaner
Firth of Clyde
February 18 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Daring D class destroyer Torpedoed and sunk by U-23 East of Pentland Firth, Scotland
February 20 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 54 Submarine Disappeared, probably lost to mine field North Sea
February 22 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Leberecht Maass Zerstörer 1934 class destroyer Attacked and hit by a Luftwaffe bomber, lost steering and strayed into a British minefield Dogger Bank
February 22 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Max Schultz Zerstörer 1934 class destroyer Hit mine during rescue efforts for
Leberecht Maass
Dogger Bank
February 23 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 53 Submarine Depth charged and sunk by RN destroyer
HMS Gurkha
North Sea, near Orkney
February 25 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 63 Submarine Sunk by the destroyers HMS Escort,
HMS Inglefield, and HMS Imogen
North Sea near the Shetland Islands
March 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 44 Submarine Lost in mine field North Sea
March 24 Naval flag of France French Navy La Railleuse L'Adroit class destroyer Sunk by accidental explosion of its own torpedoes Casablanca, Marocco
March 27 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 22 Submarine Went missing North Sea
April 6 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 1 Submarine Sunk by mine North Sea
April 6 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 50 Submarine Sunk by mine North Sea north of Terschelling
April 8 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Glowworm G class destroyer Sunk by the
German cruiser Admiral Hipper
at the beginning of the
German invasion of Norway
North-west of Trondheim
April 9 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Gurkha Tribal class destroyer Sunk by Luftwaffe bombers in the initial phase of Operation Weserübung North Sea south-east of Bergen
April 9 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS A-2 A class submarine Attacked and totally wrecked by German Raum-boats R-22 and R-23 Off Tønsberg, Oslofjord
April 9 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Æger Sleipner class destroyer Sunk by Luftwaffe bombers

during the invasion of Norway

Near Stavanger
April 9 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Blücher Admiral Hipper class heavy cruiser Sunk by Norwegian coastal artillery and shore-based torpedoes during Operation Weserübung Oslofjord
April 9 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Eidsvold Eidsvold class coastal battleship Torpedoed by the German destroyer Wilhelm Heidkamp

during the battle of Narvik

Narvik
April 9 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Norge Eidsvold class coastal battleship Torpedoed by the German destroyer Bernd von Arnim

during the battle of Narvik

Narvik
April 9 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Karlsruhe K class light cruiser Torpedoed and crippled by British submarine HMS Truant off Kristiansand while on her way back to Germany after taking part in Operation Weserübung, then scuttled by German torpedoboat Greif Skagerrak near Kristiansand
April 9 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine R 17 Räumboot minesweeper Sunk in battle with HNoMS Olav Tryggvason and HNoMS Rauma Horten, Norway
April 10 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Albatros 1923 Raubvogel class torpedoboat Accidentally grounded and wrecked during battle with Oslofjord Fortress Oslofjord
April 10 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Wilhelm Heidkamp Zerstörer 1936 class destroyer Torpedoed by the British destroyer HMS Hardy during first battle of Narvik Narvik
April 10 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Anton Schmitt Zerstörer 1936 class destroyer Torpedoed by the British destroyer HMS Hunter during first battle of Narvik Narvik
April 10 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Hardy H class destroyer Sunk by German destroyers during first battle of Narvik Ofotfjord near Narvik
April 10 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Hunter H class destroyer Sunk by German destroyers during first battle of Narvik Ofotfjord near Narvik
April 10 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Königsberg K class
light cruiser
Bombed and sunk by Fleet Air Arm Blackburn Skua dive bombers while in port in Bergen on the second day of Operation Weserübung Bergen
April 10 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Tarpon T class submarine Probably sunk by the German 'Q-ship'
Schiff 40 / Schürbek and
the minesweeper M6
Skagerak
April 10 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Thistle T class submarine Torpedoed and sunk by U-4 during
the Operation Weserübung
North Sea off Norway
April 13 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Frøya Minelayer Scuttled by own crew during the Norwegian Campaign,
then torpedoed and destroyed by U-34
Trondheimsfjord
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 64 Submarine Sunk by Fairey Swordfish from HMS Warspite
during the Second Battle of Narvik
Near Bjerkvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Erich Koellner Zerstörer 1934A class destroyer Sunk by HMS Warspite and RN destroyers during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Hermann Künne Zerstörer 1936 class destroyer Sunk by HMS Eskimo during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Diether von Roeder Zerstörer 1936 class destroyer Sunk by HMS Warspite and RN destroyers during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Erich Giese Zerstörer 1934A class destroyer Sunk by HMS Warspite and RN destroyers during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Bernd von Arnim Zerstörer 1934A class destroyer Scuttled by own crew during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Georg Thiele Zerstörer 1934 class destroyer Scuttled by own crew during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Hans Lüdemann Zerstörer 1936 class destroyer Scuttled by own crew during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 13 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Wolfgang Zenker Zerstörer 1934A class destroyer Scuttled by own crew during the Second Battle of Narvik Narvik
April 15 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Brummer Auxiliary gunnery training ship Torpedoed by RN submarine HMS Sterlet April 14, sinking early the next morning Kattegat
April 15 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 49 Submarine Sunk by British destroyers HMS Fearless and HMS Brazen Near Harstad
April 16 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS A-3 A class submarine Scuttled by own crew to prevent capture by the Germans Verkbukta, Tønsberg
April 16 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS A-4 A class submarine Scuttled by own crew to prevent capture by the Germans Verkbukta, Tønsberg
April 18 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Sæl 1. class torpedo boat Sunk in battle with three German E-boats during the Norwegian Campaign Hardangerfjord
April 18 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Sterlet S class submarine Sunk either by German anti submarine trawlers UJ-125, UJ-126 and UJ-128 or mined on her way home to base Skagerrak south of Larvik
April 20 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Stegg Trygg class torpedo boat Sunk in battle with Kriegsmarine warships during the Norwegian Campaign Hardangerfjord
April 25 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Trygg Trygg class torpedo boat Sunk by Luftwaffe bombers during the Battle of Åndalsnes in the Norwegian Campaign Åndalsnes
April 26 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Garm Draug class destroyer Sunk by Luftwaffe bombers during the Norwegian Campaign Sognefjord
April 29 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Unity U class submarine Sunk following accidental collision with Norwegian Steamer Atle Jarl Off the Tyne
April 30 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Bittern Bittern class sloop Sunk by German bombers during the Norwegian Campaign Off Namsos
April 30 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Dunoon Hunt class minesweeper Mined while sweeping for mines Off Great Yarmouth
April 30 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Leopard 1924 Raubtier class torpedoboat Sunk after collision with the minelayer Kaiser Skagerrak
April 30 Naval flag of France French Navy Maillé Brézé Vauquelin class destroyer Sunk by accidental explosion of two of its own torpedoes Greenock, Scotland
May 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Aston Villa ASW trawler Sunk by Stuka dive bombers during the Namsos Campaign Namsos
May 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Gaul ASW trawler Sunk by Stuka dive bombers during the Namsos Campaign Namsos
May 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS St. Goran ASW trawler Severely damaged by Luftwaffe bombers during the Namsos Campaign, then scuttled by HMS Angle Namsos
May 1 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Uller Vale class minelayer Sunk by Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service Heinkel He 115 seaplane bomber Sognefjord
May 3 Naval flag of France French Navy Bison Guépard class destroyer Sunk by German aircraft while taking part in the evacuation of Namsos Off Trondheim
May 3 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Afridi Tribal class destroyer Sunk by Stuka dive bombers during the evacuation of troops from the Namsos Campaign Namsos
May 4 Naval flag of Poland Polish Navy ORP Grom Grom class destroyer Sunk by German bombers Ofotfjord near Narvik
May 9 Naval flag of France French Navy Doris Circé class submarine Torpedoed and sunk by U-9 West of Petten,
the Netherlands
May 10 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Van Galen Admiralen class destroyer Severely damaged by German bombers off Waalhaven, sinking later in the day Merwedehaven
May 12 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Friso Gruno class gunboat Sunk by German aircraft On the IJsselmeer off Enkhuizen
May 13 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Christiaan Cornelis K class torpedoboat Scuttled by own crew after suffering heavy damage from German air and ground forces Rotterdam
May 14 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Brinio Gruno class gunboat Scuttled by own crew after suffering damage from German aircraft on May 12 On the IJsselmeer
May 14 Royal Netherlands Navy O 11 O 9 class submarine Scuttled to prevent capture by the Germans Den Helder
May 14 Royal Netherlands Navy O 12 O 12 class class submarine Scuttled to prevent capture by the Germans while undergoing maintenance at the Rijkswerf shipyard Den Helder
May 15 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Hydra Hydra class minelayer Beached and scuttled by her own crew after being damaged by German anti-tank gunfire Somewhere in Zeeland
May 15 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer Scuttled to prevent capture by the Germans Nieuwe Waterweg at Rotterdam
May 15 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Valentine V class destroyer Bombed by German aircraft, beached and abandoned Off Terneuzen, Holland
May 17 Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Philips Van Almonde Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer Scuttled on slipway to prevent capture by the Germans Vlissingen
May 18 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Effingham Hawkins class cruiser Wrecked on a reef near Bodø during the Norwegian Campaign, scuttled with gunfire and torpedoes by HMS Matabele
21 May 1940
Bliksvær near Bodø
May 19 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Whitley W class destroyer Damaged by German aircraft, beached, then scuttled by HMS Keith Off Ostend
May 21 Naval flag of France French Navy L'Adroit L'Adroit class destroyer Sunk by German He 111 bomber Off Dunkerque
May 23 Naval flag of France French Navy Jaguar Chacal class destroyer Sunk by E-boats S-21 and S-23 during Operation Dynamo Off Dunkerque
May 23 Naval flag of France French Navy Orage Bourrasque class destroyer Sunk by German bombers Off Boulogne-sur-Mer
May 24 Naval flag of France French Navy Chacal Chacal class destroyer Sunk by German aircraft Off Boulogne-sur-Mer
May 24 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Wessex W class destroyer Bombed and sunk by German aircraft while conducting a NGFS mission Off Calais
May 26 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Curlew C class
light cruiser
Sunk by German bombers Ofotfjord near Narvik
May 29 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Grafton G class destroyer Sunk by the German uboat U-62 during Operation Dynamo North Sea, off Nieuwpoort, Belgium, Belgium
May 29 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Grenade G class destroyer Sunk by Stukas during Operation Dynamo English Channel
May 29 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Wakeful W class destroyer Torpedoed and sunk by E-boat S-30 during Operation Dynamo English Channel
May 30 Naval flag of France French Navy Bourrasque Bourrasque class destroyer Heavily damaged by mine, then sunk by artillery fire during Operation Dynamo North Sea, off Nieuwpoort, Belgium, Belgium
May 31 Naval flag of France French Navy Sirocco Bourrasque class destroyer Sunk by E-boats S-23 and S-26 during Operation Dynamo English Channel
May 31 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 13 Submarine Sunk by Royal Navy sloop HMS Weston North Sea, south-east of Lowestoft
Late May Naval flag of Poland Polish Navy ORP Orzeł Orzeł class submarine Disappeared while operating against German naval forces off Norway during the Norwegian Campaign Somewhere in the North Sea
June 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Basilisk B class destroyer Sunk by air attack during Operation Dynamo English Channel
June 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Havant Havant class destroyer Damaged by air attack, then sunk by
HMS Saltash during Operation Dynamo
English Channel
June 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Keith B class destroyer Sunk by air attack during Operation Dynamo English Channel
June 1 Naval flag of France French Navy Le Foudroyant L'Adroit class destroyer Sunk by air attack during Operation Dynamo English Channel
June 7 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Carinthia Armed merchant cruiser Torpedoed by U-46 on June 6, foundered the next day West of Galway Bay, Ireland
June 8 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Acasta A class destroyer Sunk by the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst during Operation Juno North Sea near Norway
June 8 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Ardent A class destroyer Sunk by the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst during Operation Juno North Sea near Norway
June 8 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Glorious Aircraft carrier Sunk by the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst during Operation Juno North Sea near Norway
June 8 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Juniper Tree class minesweeping trawler Sunk by the German heavy cruiser
Admiral Hipper during Operation Juno
North Sea near Norway
June 10 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS B-3 B class submarine Scuttled by her own crew to prevent capture by the Germans after battery explosion Alsvåg, Vesterålen
June 12 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Calypso C class
light cruiser
Sunk by Italian submarine Bagnolini Eastern Mediterranean, south of Crete
June 13 Royal Netherlands Navy O 13 O 12 class class submarine Went missing on patrol, probably lost in German mine field June 13 Near the Great Fisher Bank
June 13 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Scotstoun Armed merchant cruiser Torpedoed and sunk by U-25 West of Barra,
Outer Hebrides
June 14 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Macalle Adua class submarine Ran aground Red Sea
June 14 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Odin Odin class submarine Sunk by the Italian destroyers Strale and Baleno In the Gulf of Taranto, off Crotone
June 16 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Grampus Grampus class submarine Sunk by four Italian Spica class torpedo boats East of Sicily
June 17 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMT Lancastria Troopship Sunk by air attack during Operation Ariel South of
Chémoulin Point
in the Charpentier roads off
St. Nazaire
June 17 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Provana Marcello class submarine Rammed and sunk by French sloop La Curieuse after attacking a French convoy Off Oran, Algeria
June 18 Naval flag of France French Navy Achille Redoutable class submarine Scuttled while in drydock Brest
June 18 Naval flag of France French Navy Agosta Agosta class submarine Scuttled Brest
June 18 Naval flag of France French Navy Cyclone Bourrasque class destroyer Damaged by E-boat S-24 30 May 1940, scuttled June 18, 1940 Brest
June 18 Naval flag of France French Navy Pasteur Redoutable class submarine Scuttled Brest
June 18 Naval flag of France French Navy Ouessant Agosta class submarine Scuttled Brest
June 19 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Orpheus Odin class submarine Sunk by the Italian Turbine class destroyer Turbine North of Tobruk
June 20 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Diamante Submarine Torpedoed and sunk by HMS Parthian Off Tobruk
June 22 Naval flag of France French Navy La Bastiaise Flower class corvette Sunk by mine Off Hartlepool
June 22 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 122 Submarine Lost to reasons unknown North Sea
June 23 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Torricelli Submarine Sunk in surface gunbattle with the destroyers HMS Kandahar, HMS Kingston, HMS Khartoum and the sloop HMS Shoreham Red Sea off Perim
June 23 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Khartoum K class destroyer Beached after suffering heavy gunfire damage in battle with the Italian submarine Torricelli Red Sea off Perim
June 23 Royal Indian Navy HMIS Pathan PC class
patrol craft
Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Galvani Gulf of Oman
June 24 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Galvani Brin class submarine Engaged on the surface and sunk by the sloop HMS Falmouth Gulf of Oman
June 25 Flag of Canada Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Fraser C class destroyer Accidentally rammed and sunk by anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta during Operation Ariel Gironde estuary,
off Bordeaux
June 27 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Console Generale Liuzzi Liuzzi class submarine Scuttled after depth charge attack from RN destroyers HMS Dainty, HMS Ilex, HMS Decoy, HMS Defender, and RAN destroyer HMAS Voyager South of Crete
June 28 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Espero Turbine class destroyer Sunk in the Battle of the Espero Convoy while on her way from Taranto to Tobruk with an anti-tank unit
South-west of Crete
June 29 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Edgehill Special service vessel
(Q-ship)
Torpedoed and sunk by U-51 In the North Atlantic,
south-west of Ireland
June 29 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Argonauta Argonauta class submarine Probably sunk by depth charge attack from RN destroyers HMS Dainty, HMS Ilex, HMS Decoy, HMS Defender, and RAN destroyer HMAS Voyager, alternatively depth charged and sunk by a Short Sunderland Off Cape Ras el Hilal, Libya
June 29 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Rubino Sirena class submarine Sunk by Short Sunderland of
No. 230 Squadron RAF
Ionian Sea, off
Santa Maria di Leuca
June 29 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Uebi Sciebeli Adua class submarine Sunk by HMS Dainty and HMS Ilex West of Crete
July 1 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 26 Submarine Sunk by the corvette HMS Gladiolus and a Royal Australian Air Force Short Sunderland Atlantic Ocean
near Ireland
July 1 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 102 Submarine Sunk by HMS Vansittart South-west of Ireland
July 2 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMT Arandora Star Troopship Sunk by U-47 while transporting Italian internees and POWs to Canada North-west of
Ireland
July 3 Naval flag of France French Navy Bretange Bretagne class battleship Sunk at the attack on Mers-el-Kébir Mers-el-Kébir,
French North Africa
July 4 Naval flag of France French Navy Rigault de Genouilly Bougainville class colonial sloop Torpedoed and sunk by RN sub HMS Pandora North of Matifou, French North Africa
July 5 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Whirldwind W class destroyer Torpedoed and sunk by U-34 South-west of Ireland
July 5 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Zeffiro Turbine class destroyer Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Eagle Tobruk
July 6 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Shark S class submarine Sunk under tow by German minesweeping trawlers M-1803, M1806 and M-1807 after capture by German seaplanes the previous day West-south-west of Egersund
July 9 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Salmon S class submarine Lost, probably sunk by a mine Off Norway
July 11 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Escort E class destroyer Torpedoed by the Italian submarine Guglielmo Marconi on July 8, sank under tow July 11 East of Gibraltar
July 16 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Imogen I class destroyer Accidentally rammed and sunk by cruiser HMS Glasgow Off Duncasby Head, Scotland
July 16 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Phoenix Parthian class submarine Sunk by the Italian torpedo boat Albatros Off Augusta, Sicily
July 19 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Bartolomeo Colleoni Condottieri class cruiser Sunk by RAN and RN ships in the Battle of Cape Spada Off Cape Spada, Crete
July 20 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Brazen B class destroyer Sunk by air attack Off Dover
July 20 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Nembo Turbine class destroyer Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Eagle Gulf of Bomba,
near Tobruk
July 20 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Ostro Turbine class destroyer Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Eagle Gulf of Bomba,
near Tobruk
July 26 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Luchs 1924 Raubtier class torpedoboat Torpedoed and sunk by RN submarine
HMS Swordfish
North Sea, off Norway
July 27 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Codrington A class destroyer leader Sunk by air attack Off Dover
July 27 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Wren W class destroyer Sunk by German bombers Off Aldeburgh, England
July 30 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Delight D class destroyer Sank in port after being damaged by German bombers the previous day Portland harbour
July 30 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Narwhal Grampus class submarine Sunk by German aircraft Off Norway
August 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Oswald Odin class submarine Rammed and sunk by the Italian Navigatori class destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi South of Cape Spartivento,
Strait of Messina
August 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Spearfish S class submarine Torpedoed and sunk by U-34 North-east of
Aberdeen, Scotland
August 1 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 25 Submarine Sunk by minefield North Sea
near Terchelling
August 3 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Thames River class submarine Probably mined North Sea
August 10 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Transylvania Armed merchant cruiser Torpedoed and sunk by German uboat U-56 Northwest of Malin Head, Donegal
August 15 Naval flag of Greece Hellenic Navy Elli Light cruiser Torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Delfino Aegean Sea,
off Tinos
August 20 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 51 Submarine Sunk by submarine HMS Cachalot West of St. Nazaire
August 22 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Iride 600-Serie Perla class submarine Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber from HMS Eagle Gulf of Bomba
off Cyrenaica
August 23 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Hostile H class destroyer Damaged by mine, scuttled by HMS Hero Off Cape Bon in the Strait of Sicily
August 24 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Penzance Folkestone class sloop Torpedoed and sunk by U-37 South-west of Iceland
August 28 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Dunvegan Castle Armed merchant cruiser Torpedoed by U-46 August 27, foundered the next day West of Ireland
August 31 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Esk E class destroyer Sunk by mine Off Texel,
the Netherlands
September 1 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Ivanhoe I class destroyer Sunk by mine North Sea,
off the Frisian Islands
September 3 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 57 Submarine Collision with Norwegian steamship Rona Off Brunsbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein
September 15 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Dundee Shoreham class sloop Torpedoed and sunk by U-48 while acting as convoy escort West of Ireland
September 17 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Aquilone Turbine class destroyer Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Illustrious Benghazi harbor
September 17 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Borea Turbine class destroyer Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Illustrious Benghazi harbor
September 23 Naval flag of France French Navy L'Audacieux Destroyer Beached after being attacked by
HMAS Australia during the Battle of Dakar
Dakar,
French West Africa
September 23 Naval flag of France French Navy Persée Redoutable class submarine Sunk during by HMS Foresight and HMS Inglefield during the Battle of Dakar Off Dakar
September 24 Naval flag of France French Navy Ajax Redoutable class submarine Sunk during by HMS Fortune during the Battle of Dakar Off Dakar
September 24 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Ostmark Light seaplane tender Sunk by the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tuna Bay of Biscay south-west of
St. Nazaire
September 30 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Gondar Adua class submarine Sunk by HMAS Stuart and a Short Sunderland flying boat Off Alexandria
October 2 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Berillo Perla class submarine Scuttled after attack from RN destroyers HMS Havock and HMS Hasty Off Sidi Barrani
October 4 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Rainbow R class submarine Rammed and sunk by the Italian merchant Antonietta Costa Off Bari
October 12 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Artigliere Soldati class destroyer Sunk by HMS York after having been heavily damaged by HMS Ajax Ionian Sea
October 15 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Triad T class submarine Sunk in surface gunbattle with
the Italian submarine Enrico Toti
Gulf of Taranto
October 17 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Dundalk Hunt class minesweeper Struck mine October 16, foundered the next day while under tow Off Harwich
October 18 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Durbo Adua class submarine Sunk by HMS Firedrake, HMS Wrestler and two Saunders-Roe London flying boats
of No. 202 Squadron RAF
East of Gibraltar
October 18 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS H49 H class submarine Deptcharged and sunk by the German submarine chasers UJ 116 and UJ 118 Off Texel
October 19 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Venetia V class destroyer Mined Off Margate
October 20 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Lafolè Adua class submarine Sunk by
HMS Gallant, HMS Griffin and HMS Hotspur
North of Melilla
October 20 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Francesco Nullo Sauro class destroyer Beached following surface action with HMS Kimberley and HMNZS Leander, wreck destroyed by three RAF Bristol Blenheim bombers the following day Near Massawa
October 22 Flag of Canada Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Margaree River class destroyer Sunk after collision with freighter M.V. Port Fairy North Atlantic
October 24 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Adolf Vinnen Weather ship Sunk by RN destroyers HMS Somali,
HMS Punjabi and HMS Matabele
Off Stadtlandet, Norway
October 28 British Merchant Navy Empress of Britain Steam passenger ship Torpedoed and sunk by U-32 Northwest of Ireland
October 30 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Sturdy S class destroyer Ran aground and was totally wrecked Off Tiree Island, Scotland
October 30 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 32 Submarine Sunk by HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander Northwest of Ireland
October 31 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Faà di Bruno Marcello class Submarine Lost to unknown reasons Atlantic
November 2 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 31 Submarine Sunk by HMS Antelope North-west of Ireland
November 3 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Laurentic Armed merchant cruiser Torpedoed and sunk by U-99 West of Bloody Foreland, Ireland
November 4 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Patroclus Armed merchant cruiser Torpedoed and sunk by U-99 West of Bloody Foreland, Ireland
November 5 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Jervis Bay Armed merchant cruiser Sunk by German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer Mid-Atlantic
November 7 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Swordfish S class submarine Sunk by mine South of
St. Catherine’s Head,
Isle of Wight
November 7 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine T6 Type 1935 class torpedoboat Sunk by mine Off Kinnaired Head, near Aberdeen, Scotland
November 8 Naval flag of Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen Offshore Patrol Vessel Ran aground on an unmarked shallow and sank Off Jan Mayen
November 8 Naval flag of France French Navy Poncelet Submarine Sunk by HMS Milford
during the Battle of Gabon
Gabon,
French Equatorial Africa
November 9 Naval flag of France French Navy Bougainville Bougainville class colonial sloop Sunk by Free French naval forces
during the Battle of Gabon
Gabon,
French Equatorial Africa
November 11 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Conte di Cavor Conte di Cavour class battleship Sunk by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Illustrious during the battle of Taranto Taranto, Italy
November 16 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Hinrich Freese Weather ship Grounded and wrecked while being chased by RN cruiser HMS Naiad Jan Mayen
November 19 Royal Netherlands Navy O 22 O 21 class submarine Sunk, probably by mine South-west of Norway
November 19 Naval flag of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine Unterseeboot 104 Submarine Disappeared, possibly lost to mine field off
Tory Island
North-west of Ireland
November 25 British Merchant Navy Patria Steam passenger ship Sabotaged and sunk by Haganah activists Port of Haifa, British Mandate of Palestine
November 26 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Regulus R class submarine Most likely mined Straits of Taranto
November 27 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Port Napier Minelayer Sunk by explosion after accidental fire the previous day Kyle of Lochalsh
December 2 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Forfar Armed merchant cruiser Sunk by U-99 Atlantic, west of Ireland
December 5 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Cameron Town class destroyer Bombed and wrecked by the Luftwaffe while in drydock Portsmouth
December 14 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Naiade Sirena class submarine Sunk by RN destroyers HMS Hyperion and HMS Hereward Off Bardia, Libya
December 15 Flag of Italy Regia Marina Capitano Tarantini Liuzzi class submarine Torpedoed and sunk by RN submarine HMS Thunderbolt Gironde estuary,
France
December 15 Forces navales françaises libres Narval Requin class submarine Lost to mine Off Sfax, French North Africa
December 17 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Acheron A class destroyer Sunk by mine Off the Isle of Wight
December 18 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Triton T class submarine Lost to either mines or Italian torpedo boats Strait of Otranto
December 19 Naval flag of France French Navy Sfax Agosta class submarine Torpedoed and sunk, together with 2,785 ton fleet oiler Rhône, by U-37 due to mistaken identity Off Cape Juby, French North Africa
December 22 Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy HMS Hyperion H class destroyer Sunk by mine Off Pantelleria
east of Cape Bon
in the Strait of Sicily
December 29 Naval flag of Greece Hellenic Navy Proteus Submarine Sunk by Italian Spica class torpedo boat Antares shortly after having torpedoed and sunk the 11,452 ton Italian troop transport Sardegna Southern Adriatic, east of Brindisi


[edit] See also


Ship launches: 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Ship commissionings: 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Ship decommissionings: 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Shipwrecks: 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949