List of shipwrecks in 1947
The list of shipwrecks in 1947 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1947.
January
1 January
- Karla (
Denmark): The cable laying ship struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Finland, 15 nautical miles (28 km) of Ormus Island, Estonia. Sixteen of the 44 crew were killed.[1]
2 January
- Caritas I (
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Belgium): The cargo ship broke in two and sank after being beached in the River Scheldt following a collision with Jan Steen (
Netherlands) on 1 January. - Empire Wharfe (
United Kingdom): The cargo ship arrived at Lagos, Nigeria on fire and was beached in Badagry Creek. Refloated on 6 January, repaired and returned to service.[2]
3 January
- Magnhild (
Norway): The cargo ship collided with Imba No. 401 (
Soviet Union) whilst on a voyage from Kolding, Denmark to Gdynia, Poland.[3]
5 January
- Varvassi (
Greece): The cargo ship ran aground off the Needles Lighthouse, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.[4]
7 January
- Pollnes ( Norway): The cargo ship foundered off the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom whilst on a voyage from Bodø to Dublin, Ireland. Thirteen crew killed.[3]
8 January
- Senjen ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground west of the Kvaløy Lighthouse whilst on a voyage from Bangsund to Trondheim.[3]
11 January
- Ewell ( United Kingdom): The collier ran aground off Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk.[5]
13 January
- Good Shepherd ( United Kingdom): The ship was driven ashore on Fair Isle and was a total loss.[5]
14 January
- Astafjorden ( Norway): The cargo ship sank west of Kvænangen whilst on a voyage from Tromsø to Hammerfest.[3]
- Simbra ( United Kingdom): The Whaler foundered in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all bar one of her sixteen crew.[6]
19 January
- Authority ( United Kingdom) The coastal tanker ran aground in the River Mersey, United Kingdom.[7]
- Chihkiang (
China): The passenger ship collided with a tug and sank at Shanghai with the loss of at least 100 lives.[8] - Chimarra ( Greece): The ferry struck a mine and sank off Kavaliani with the loss of about 300 lives.[9]
- Sweet Water (
United States): The tanker ran aground in the River Mersey. Refloated after twelve hours.[7]
20 January
- Empire Grassland (
Australia): The hopper ship foundered in the Pacific Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) north north west of Carnarvon, Western Australia whilst under tow from Singapore to Australia by Empire Downland ( Australia).[2]
21 January
- HMS Bonaventure (
Royal Navy): The submarine tender ran aground at Cape Melville, Australia.[10] Refloated on 23 January.[11]
23 January
- Ampleforth ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was driven ashore in a storm at Tel Aviv, Palestine. She was refloated on 3 March but declared a constructive total loss. She was repaired, sold and re-entered service in 1948 as Bangor Bay.[2]
25 January
- Storesand I ( Norway): The cargo ship sank in Drammensfjord whilst on a voyage from Gilhus to Oslo.[3]
30 January
- Star of Mex (
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Egypt): The cargo ship ran aground off Bahrein. The ship was attacked by Arab pirates on 15 February. All 28 crew rescued by British Destiny ( United Kingdom).[12]
February
2 February
- Dora Oldendorff (
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Germany): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay. (47°40′N 9°02′W / 47.667°N 9.033°W).[13]
5 February
- Winkleigh ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground off the mouth of the Humber.[14]
18 February
- Arrow (
United States Army): The Army transport, formerly of Colonial Navigation Company and built as Belfast in 1909, wrecked off Ocean Park, Washington while under tow to Puget Sound.[15][16]
26 February
- Royal Ulsterman ( United Kingdom): The ferry ran aground at Clauchlands Point, Isle of Arran, Argyllshire. Refloated with the aid of the tug Vanguard ( United Kingdom).[17]
- Zephyros ( Greece): The cargo ship was driven ashore at Cullercoats, Ayrshire, United Kingdom.[17]
- Zeprom ( Greece): The cargo ship ran aground at Whitley Bay, Northumberland, United Kingdom. All 35 crew rescued.[17]
March
3 March
4 March
- Bolivar ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground on the Kish Bank, Irish Sea whilst on a voyage from Dublin, Ireland to Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.[3]
6 March
- Trondhjem ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine in the Weser, West Germany and sank. She was on a voyage from Stavaner to Hamburg.[3]
8 March
- Ira ( Greece): The Liberty ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom and broke in two. All 34 crew rescued by the Walmer Lifeboat.[19]
13 March
- Empire Jonquil ( United Kingdom): Sank at Hull Docks, declared a constructive total loss but later repaired and returned to service.
22 March
- Empire Contamar ( United Kingdom): The schooner ran aground in St Austell Bay. Seven crew rescued by the Fowey lifeboat. Refloated in June and declared a constructive total loss but rebuilt as a coaster and returned to service.
24 March
- Garnes ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine off the Dutch coast and sank at 53°26′N 4°35′E / 53.433°N 4.583°E whilst on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Emden, West Germany.[3]
28 March
- Sevilla ( Norway): The cargo ship collided with Clio ( Norway) west of Bloksen and sank with the loss of ten crew. She was on a voyage from Bergen to Geneva, Switzerland.[3]
30 March
- Titania ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine off the Dutch coast (53°35′N 4°35′E / 53.583°N 4.583°E) whilst on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Oslo, Norway. Declared a constructive total loss and scrapped at Stavanger.[3]
April
3 April
- Stancliffe ( United Kingdom): Ran aground at Sharpness Docks. Declared a constructive total loss but later repaired and returned to service.
13 April
- Belpamela ( Norway): Sank in a storm off Newfoundland. Cargo included 16 locomotives for the French Railways.[20]
14 April
- Queen Elizabeth ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner ran aground on the Brambles Bank in the Solent.[21] Refloated the next day.[22]
15 April
- Georgie (
Panama): The cargo ship ran aground at St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.[22] - Nicolaos G Kulukundis ( Greece): The cargo ship ran aground off Beachy Head, East Sussex, United Kingdom.[22]
23 April
- Samtampa ( United Kingdom): The Liberty ship was driven ashore at Sker Point, Glamorgan and broke in three. All 39 crew were lost, as well as all eight crew of the Mumbles lifeboat Edward, Prince of Wales (
Royal National Lifeboat Institution). - HMS Warspite ( Royal Navy): Ran aground at Prussia Cove after parting tow on final voyage from Portsmouth to the breakers yard on the Clyde.[23] Towed to Marazion in 1950 and dismantled.[24][25]
28 April
- Merganser ( United Kingdom): Collided with Norwalk Victory ( United States) and sank in the River Scheldt between Doel and Liefkenshoek.[26] Raised on 2 July and beached. Repaired between 1949 and 1951, sold and returned to service.[18]
Unknown date
- San Nicolao ( Panama): The cargo ship departed from the Tees on 2 April bound for Gibraltar. No further trace.[27]
May
2 May
- Wicklow Head ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground near Port Mouton, Nova Scotia, Canada. All 30 crew were rescued by the fishing vessel Ray Richard (
Canada).[28]
13 May
- Balena ( United Kingdom): The whaler ran aground on the Shipwash Shoal, off the coast of Essex. Refloated but again ran aground.[29]
- General Botha (
South Africa): The training ship was sunk as a target in False Bay off Simonstown.[30]
14 May
- Balena ( United Kingdom): The whaler ran aground off Gorleston, Norfolk.[31]
17 May
- USS Oklahoma ( United States Navy): The Nevada-class battleship sank under tow 540 nautical miles (1,000 km) off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii whilst on way to San Francisco, California for scrapping.
22 May
- USS Mallard (
United States Navy): The Lapwing-class minesweeper was sunk as a target by USS Piper ( United States Navy).
24 May
- Newhall Hills ( United States): The tanker collided with Monica (
Sweden) off the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom causing an explosion in No.2 tank and subsequent fire. Two hours later, an explosion blew off her bow forward of No.3 tank and that section sank. Newhall Hills was towed to Sheerness.[32] - Oceanic II ( Belgium): The trawler was in collision with John la Farge ( United States) and was cut in two. She sank with the loss of three of her five crew.[32]
25 May
- Trader Horn ( United Kingdom): The schooner foundered in the Caribbean with the loss of two of her five crew.[33]
31 May
June
4 June
- Emperor ( Canada): The cargo ship struck a rock and sank of Isle Royale, Lake Superior with the loss of twelve of her 33 crew. The survivors were rescued by USCGC Kimball (
United States Coast Guard).[35]
28 June
- Heron ( Greece): The cargo ship collided with Stal ( Denmark) in the English Channel off Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom and sank with the loss of one of her 24 crew. The survivors were rescued by Suavity ( United Kingdom).[36]
Unknown date
- Ourang Medan ( Netherlands): Allegedly exploded and sank after its crew died under suspicious circumstances.
July
3 July
4 July
- M Xilas ( Greece): The cargo ship caught fire at Ko Sichang, Thailand. She was beached and abandoned, and sank on 13 July.[2]
17 July
- Empire Lark ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (47°55′N 8°25′W / 47.917°N 8.417°W with a cargo of obsolete chemical bombs and contaminated soil.[2]
- Ramdas (
India): The coastal passenger ship sank 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Bombay with the loss of around 600 lives.[37]
23 July
- Empire Lifeguard ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was sunk at Haifa, Palestine by limpet mines which had been placed on her hull whilst at Famagusta, Cyprus. Refloated on 8 August, subsequently repaired and returned to service.[2]
28 July
- Ocean Liberty ( Norway): The Liberty ship caught fire at Brest, France whilst unloading a cargo of ammonium nitrate. Later towed out of port and scuttled.[3]
August
18 August
- Graf Zeppelin ( Germany): Hitler's only aircraft carrier was sunk by the Soviets as a weapons target.
- Rovena ( Norway): Wrecked off Langanes, Iceland.
29 August
- Hellenic Bee ( Hong Kong): Ran aground on Domanik Island, Bay of Bengal and then sank.
Unknown date
- Unidentified E-boat (
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Regia Marina): The captured E-boat was sunk by explosives off Marsaxlokk, Malta. Five other E-boats were scuttled in open seas.[38]
September
6 September
- Matagalpa ( United States Army): The fire-damaged former Clemson-class destroyer was scuttled off Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
8 September
- Norfisk ( Norway): The cargo ship was abandoned whilst on a voyage from Aalborg, Denmark to Tórshavn, Norway.[3]
9 September
- Goma ( Norway): The cargo ship sank north of the Tylön Lightship whilst on a voyage from Aalborg, Denmark to Gdańsk, Poland.[3]
15 September
- Rolfsøy ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground off Egersund whilst on a voyage from Fredrikstad to Harstad.[3]
16 September
- Sunset ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off the coast of Norway whilst on a voyage from Raufarhafn to Åkrehamn.[3]
October
2 October
- Reine II ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off Halmstad with the loss of all five crew. She was on a voyage for Halmstad to Oslo and may have struck a mine.[3]
4 October
- Troll ( Norway): The cargo ship collided in the Øresund with the DFDS ship Jolantha ( Denmark) and sank. Raised on 22 January 1948 and repaired at Copenhagen. Returned to service as Bandak.[3]
7 October
- Betty Hindley ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine off Scarborough, Yorkshire and broke her back. She was beached sinking by the bows. One crewmember was killed.[39]
- Bro ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground off the coast of Iceland whilst on a voyage from Sandur, Norway to Reykjavík.[3]
15 October
- HMS Gillstone ( Norway): The Isles-class trawler was driven ashore at Kvalbeinsrumen, Jæren whilst on a voyage form Bergen to Risør for conversion to a merchant ship. Later refloated and returned to Bergen.[3]
19 October
- Corona ( Norway): The cargo ship, which had been refloated two days earlier having sank on 24 February 1943, sank in the Mediterranean Sea whilst under tow 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Derna, Libya.[40]
21 October
- Oda ( Norway): The cargo ship capsized and sank at Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua whilst being loaded with a cargo of timber bound for Maracaibo, Venezuela.[3]
- U-190 (
Royal Canadian Navy): The Type IXC/40 submarine was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean by Avro Anson, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Swordfish and Supermarine Seafire aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force; and by HMCS Haida, HMCS New Liskeard and HMCS Nootka (all Royal Canadian Navy).
31 October
- Dolly ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off Mariager whilst on a voyage from Mariager to Isefjord, Denmark.[3]
November
1 November
- Tilla ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off Fosnes whilst on a voyage from Randers to Fredrikstad.[3]
2 November
- Castillo Montjuich (
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Spain): Broke moorings, collided with another ship and driven ashore at Gijón, France. Refloated in March 1948, repaired and returned to service.[41]
3 November
- Mona ( Norway): The sailing barge sank off Lille Marnet whilst on a voyage from Horsens to Slemmestad.[3]
11 November
- Aqueity ( United Kingdom): Struck a mine and sank off Terschelling, the Netherlands.
20 November
U-234
- Roald Amundsen ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground at Skudeneshavn whilst on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Narvik, Norway. Broke into three on 15 January 1948, with two sections sinking. The remaining section was scrapped in situ during the summer of 1948.[3]
- U-234 ( United States Navy): The Type X submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States by USS Greenfish ( United States Navy).
21 November
- Havøy I ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off Lillesund after striking flotsam whilst on a voyage from Oslo to Bergen.[3]
24 November
- Clarksdale Victory ( United States): The Victory ship was wrecked at Hippa Reef Island, British Columbia, Canada with the loss of 49 of her 53 crew.[42]
- Sunbird ( United Kingdom): The tug capsized and sank in the River Thames at Limehouse Reach, London with the loss of two of her six crew.[43]
- Vaagar ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground off Gothenburg, Sweden whilst on a voyage from Menstad, Norway to Hälsingborg, Sweden.[3]
28 November
- U-530 ( United States Navy): The Type IXC/40 submarine was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean north east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
30 November
- Stenberg ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground at Tromøya with the loss of three crew. She was on a voyage from Skjebergkilen to Kristiansand.[3]
- Oval ( Norway): The converted Portuguese-class naval trawler sank off Trelleborg whilst on a voyage from Stettin, Poland to Bergen, Norway.[3]
December
1 December
- Castillo Coca ( Spain): The cargo ship ran aground at the mouth of the Ferrol and was wrecked with the loss of 46 of her 50 crew.[44]
24 December
- Skoghaug ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off the Dutch coast with the loss of all 26 crew after hitting a mine. She was on a voyage from Rotterdam, Netherland to Oslo, Norway.[3]
26 December
- Kina ( Denmark): The cargo liner ran aground on Samandag Island, Philippines and was wrecked.[45]
- Samuel Bakke ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground whilst going to the aid of Kina ( Denmark). She was refloated and rescued five crew from Kina.[45]
Unknown date
- Vinkt ( Belgium) collided with trawler Sonny Boy, which sank 6 nautical miles (11 km) west of Dungeness, England.[46]
Unknown date
- Alek ( Norway): The cargo ship sank off Farsund.[3]
- U-858 ( United States Navy): The Type IXC/40 submarine was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States in the latter months of 1947.[47]
- U-889 ( United States Navy): The Type IXC/40 submarine was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States in the latter months of 1947.
References
- ↑ "Danish Ship Mined In Gulf Of Finland" The Times (London). Monday, 6 January 1947. (50651), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 "Norske skipsforlis i 1947" (in Norwegian). Skipet. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ↑ "Aground Near The Needles" The Times (London). Monday, 6 January 1947. (50651), col B, p. 8.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Casualties In The Gale" The Times (London). Sunday, 12 January 1947. (50658), col D, p. 2.
- ↑ "Fifteen Lost In Whaler" The Times (London). Wednesday, 15 January 1947. (50659), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Tankers Aground In Mersey" The Times (London). Monday, 20 January 1947. (50663), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ "Chinese Steamer Sunk" The Times (London). Monday, 20 January 1947. (50663), col F, p. 4.
- ↑ "Greek Ship Hits A Mine" The Times (London). Monday, 20 January 1947. (50663), col F, p. 4.
- ↑ "British Warship Aground" The Times (London). Wednesday, 22 January 1947. (50665), col C, p. 3.
- ↑ "Grounded Warship Refloated" The Times (London). Friday, 24 January 1947. (50667), col C, p. 3.
- ↑ "Piracy In Egyptian Ship" The Times (London). Monday, 17 February 1947. (50687), col C, p. 3.
- ↑ "Dora Oldendorff (1112672)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 28 June 2012. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Weather Threatens Coal Supply" The Times (London). Thursday, 6 February 1947. (50678), col A-B, p. 4.
- ↑ Maritime Administration. "Arrow". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ↑ Colton, T. (January 29, 2015). "Bath Iron Works, Bath ME". ShipbuildingHistory. T. Colton. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Steamers Aground" The Times (London). Thursday, 27 February 1947. (50696), col A, p. 2.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Belgian Merchant H-O". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ↑ "Ship Breaks In Half" The Times (London). Monday, 10 March 1947. (50705), col D, p. 2.
- ↑ Hudson, Mike; Atkins, Philip (September 2007). "Locos lost at sea. The all-time definitive record". The Railway Magazine (IPC Media Ltd) 153 (1277): pp.14–19. ISSN 0033-8923
- ↑ "The Queen Elizabeth" The Times (London). Tuesday, 15 April 1947. (50735), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Liner Freed By 15 Tugs" The Times (London). Wednesday, 16 April 1947. (50736), col D, p. 6.
- ↑ "Warspite Driven On Rocks In Gale" The Times (London). Thursday, 24 April 1947. (50743), col A, p. 4.
- ↑ "1946-62". St. Ives Trust. Retrieved 15 March 20085. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ Larn, R; Larn, B (1991). Shipwrecks Around Mounts Bay. Penryn: Tor Mark Press.
- ↑ "British Ship Sinks In The Scheldt" The Times (London). Wednesday, 30 April 1946. (50748), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Two Steamers Still Aground" The Times (London). Thursday, 17 April 1947. (50737), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "Shipwrecked Crew Rescued" The Times (London). Saturday, 3 May 1947. (50751), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ "Whaling Ship Aground" The Times (London). Wednesday, 14 May 1947. (40760), col C, p. 4.
- ↑ "S. African Training Ship's End" The Times (London). Wednesday, 14 May 1947. (50760), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ "Whaling Ship Again Aground" The Times (London). Thursday, 15 May 1947. (50761), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Tanker Explosion And Fire" The Times (London). Monday, 26 May 1947. (50770), col E, p. 2.
- ↑ "Men From Lost British Ship Picked Up" The Times (London). Thursday, 29 May 1947. (50773), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "Berlin (6103075)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 17 April 2012. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Ship Sunk In Lake Superior" The Times (London). Thursday, 5 May 1947. (50779), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "Ship Sinks In Channel" The Times (London). Monday, 30 June 1947. (50800), col A, p. 3.
- ↑ "Bombay Shipwreck" The Times (London). Saturday, 19 July 1947. (50817), col F, p. 4.
- ↑ "E Boat (German Enemy Boat)". Subway Dive Centre. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ↑ "Steamer Hits Mine" The Times (London). Wednesday, 8 October 1947. (50886), col E, p. 2.
- ↑ "Corona". Uboat. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ↑ "Belgian Merchant A-G". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ↑ Heaton, K E (8 July 2004). "Shipwrecks in British Columbia's Waters". Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ↑ "Two Missing From Tug Sunk In Thames" The Times (London). Tuesday, 25 November 1947. (50927), col B, p. 3.
- ↑ "46 Missing In Spanish Steamer" The Times (London). Wednesday, 3 December 1947. (50934), col B, p. 4.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Typhoon Strikes The Philippines" The Times (London). Saturday, 27 December 1947. (50953), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "Belgian Merchant P-Z". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ↑ "U-858". Uboat. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
See also
- List of shipwrecks
| Ship events in 1947 | |||||||||||
| Ship launches: | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 |
| Ship commissionings: | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 |
| Ship decommissionings: | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 |
| Shipwrecks: | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 |