List of shipwrecks in 1949
The list of shipwrecks in 1949 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1949.
January
1 January
- Queen Mary (
United Kingdom): The ocean liner ran aground off Cherbourg, France. Refloated the next day.[1]
February
3 February
- Yewpark ( United Kingdom): The collier collided with Beminnes ( United Kingdom) in the Thames Estuary at Purfleet, Essex and sank.[2]
9 February
- Prenton ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground off Mytiki, Greece. Declared a constructive total loss but later repaired and returned to service.
13 February
- Granny Suzanne ( United Kingdom): The coaster collided with San Miguel Bay (
Panama) in the English Channel off Dover, Kent and sank with the loss of two of her eleven crew.[3]
March
1 March
- Katowice (
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Poland): The cargo ship ran aground off the Netherlands. All 26 crew rescued by a Dutch lifeboat.[4]
6 March
- Fiducia (
Netherlands): The cargo ship ran aground at Whitby, Yorkshire and was severely damaged.[5]
25 March
- Miss Orient (
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Hong Kong): The Passenger ship struck a mine at Canton, China and sank with the loss of up to 100 lives.[6]
30 March
- Dan (
United States): The former YMS-1-class minesweeper ran aground in Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia, Canada and was declared a total loss.
31 March
- Charles M ( United Kingdom): The coaster was in collision with another vessel off Dungeness, Kent.[7] All seven crew rescued by Sir Leonard Pearce ( United Kingdom) Charles M later sank.[8]
April
3 April
- Christina Dawn ( United Kingdom): The coaster ran aground at Irvine, Renfrewshire.[9]
14 April
- City of Waterford (
Republic of Ireland): The cargo ship collided with Marpessa (
Greece) in the English Channel and sank east of the Owers Lightship. All 29 crew rescued by Keynes ( United Kingdom).[9]
16 April
- Christina Dawn ( United Kingdom): The coaster sank when her cargo of carbide exploded at Irvine, Renfrewshire.[9]
20 April
- HMS Amethyst (
Royal Navy): Chinese Civil War: The Black Swan-class sloop ran aground on in the Yangtze River at Rose Island, 15 nautical miles (28 km) east of Chianking. She was shelled by the People's Liberation Army with the loss of 22 crew killed and 31 wounded. HMS Consort ( Royal Navy) came to her assistance and was also attacked with the loss of 10 crew killed and three injured. On 26 April, HMS London and HMS Black Swan (both Royal Navy) refloated Amethyst. They also came under fire, with three crew killed and 14 wounded. Amethyst made a dash for freedom down the Yangtze on 30 July, reaching Hong Kong on 11 August.
22 April
- James Clunie ( United Kingdom) : The cargo ship ran aground at Mar del Plata, Argentina.[10]
25 April
- Magdalena ( United Kingdom): The cargo liner ran aground near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on her maiden voyage. Declared a total loss after breaking in two during attempt to tow her into harbour.
Unknown date
- Tung An (
Republic of China Navy): The cargo ship was wrecked in the Yangtze River 6 nautical miles (11 km) south west of Shaweishan.[11]
May
4 May
- Mudo ( Netherlands): The coaster collided with Algol ( United Kingdom) in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk and sank with the loss of two of her six crew.[12]
15 May
- Ebba (
Denmark): The schooner sank 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Cape Farewell, Greenland. The five crew took to a lifeboat.[13]
25 May
- Henrik (
Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Sound of Falsterbo, Denmark with the loss of four of her nineteen crew.[14]
29 May
- Inchmark ( Hong Kong): The cargo ship ran aground on the Schilpad Island Reef, Banda Sea (7°05′S 132°03′E / 7.083°S 132.050°E) and was declared a total loss.[15]
Unknown date
- Mei Yuan ( Republic of China Navy): The river gunboat was scuttled in Shanghai to prevent capture by Chinese Communist forces.
June
3 June
- Norjerv (
United Kingdom): Broke in two whilst under tow of the tugs Rifleman ( United Kingdom) and Tradesman ( United Kingdom) whilst being towed from Normandy, France to Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland for scrapping. Both halves sank.
20 June
- Empire Conyngham ( United Kingdom): Scuttled in the Bay of Biscay with a cargo of obsolete bombs.
21 June
- Prinses Astrid (
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Belgium): The cross-Channel ferry struck a mine 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Dunquerque, France and sank with the loss of five of her 65 crew. All 60 survivors and 218 passengers on board were rescued by Cap Hatid (
France) and various tugs from Dunquerque.[16]
22 June
- Corcrest ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck the wreck of the Victory ship Fort Massac ( United Kingdom) off Clacton-on-Sea, Essex and ran aground in a sinking state.[17]
July
1 July
- Marie-Flore ( Belgium): Collided with Ragnhild Brövig ( Norway) off the mouth of the River Scheldt (51°24′45″N 3°23′30″E / 51.41250°N 3.39167°E and sank. Wreck raised on 3 July 1951, repaired and sold to Dutch buyers.[18]
31 July
- Swan Point ( United Kingdom): Stranded in the Karnaphuli River, Chittagong, India and broke in two. Declared a total loss.
August
23 August
- Chungli (
China): Chinese Civil War: The cargo ship loaded with ammunition exploded and sank at Kaohsiung, Formosa with the loss of over 500 lives. Two other ships were sunk and many fires started in Kaohsiung.[19]
26 August
- USS Cochino ( United States Navy): Sank off Norway with the loss of six crew following a battery explosion and fire.
September
7 September
- Chaksang ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship caught fire at Hong Kong due to barratry. She sank the next day and was declared a total loss. Raised on 22 March 1950 and subsequently scrapped.[15]
9 September
- Pacific Enterprise ( United Kingdom): The cargo liner ran aground 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of Point Arena, California, United States.[20]
14 September
Noronic
- Noronic (
Canada): Caught fire and sank whilst moored in Toronto Harbour with the loss of at least 118 lives. Ship raised in November 1949 and subsequently scrapped.
19 September
- USS U-1105 ( United States Navy): The Type VIIC/41 submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Piney Point, Maryland (38°08′10″N 76°33′10″W / 38.13611°N 76.55278°W) in a test of a depth charge.
23 September
- Surreybrook ( United Kingdom): Wrecked on Spanish Battery Point, Tynemouth.[18]
28 September
- Roslin Caste ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner ran aground in the River Humber. Later refloated and resumed her voyage.[21]
Unknown date
- Major Richard M Strong ( United States): Ran aground at Camp Point, Vancouver Island, Canada. Salvaged, sold and repaired and returned to service as Island Sovereign.[22]
October
4 October
- Mira (
Sweden): The cargo ship struck the wreck of the ocean liner Gneisenau (.svg.png)
Germany) with the loss of two crew.[23]
6 October
- Fantree ( United Kingdom): The 6,300 ton Elder Dempster Line cargo ship struck the Flemish Ledges on the Seven Stones Reef en route from West Africa to Liverpool via Amsterdam and carrying a cargo of hardwood, palm kernels, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, cotton, coffee beans and copal The hardwood was still being salvaged in 1992.[24] Her crew of fifty-eight was rescued by launches Kittern and Goldern Spray of the Isles of Scilly.[25]
7 October
- USS Chehalis ( United States Navy): The Patapsco-class gasoline tanker exploded and sank at United States Naval Station Tutuila, American Samoa with the loss of six of her 75 crew.
16 October
- Ingertre ( Norway): The cargo ship was wrecked off Spitsbergen.[26]
18 October
- Maystone ( United Kingdom): The collier was in collision with HMS Albion ( Royal Navy) and sank 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off the Longstone Lighthouse.
19 October
20 October
- Africa Occidental (
Portugal): The cargo ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom but was refloated undamaged after an hour.[28]
27 October
- USS Chehalis ( United States Navy): Caught fire, exploded and sank at Tutuila, American Samoa with the loss of six crew.
- Suzon ( Belgium): Sprang a leak off Ouessant, France. Assisted by tug Turmoil ( United Kingdom) into Brest where temporary repairs were made. Sailed for Liverpool on 31 October where permanent repairs were made and returned to service.[11]
31 October
- Carl Rehder (
West Germany): The cargo ship collided with Rane ( Sweden in the Kiel Canal and sank.[29]
November
9 November
- HMS Ajax ( Royal Navy): The Leander-class cruiser ran aground at Newport, Monmouthshire.[30]
13 November
- Monte Gurugu (
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Spain): The cargo ship foundered in the Bristol Channel off Lundy Island with the loss of twelve of her 37 crew.[31] Survivors were rescued by Richard Silver Oliver, Violet Armstrong and William Cantrell Ashley (all 
Royal National Lifeboat Institution).[32]
18 November
- Astland ( United Kingdom): The dredger collided with tanker Esso Juniata ( United Kingdom) off Fleetwood, Lancashire and ran aground.[33]
- Lunevale ( United Kingdom): The foot ferry ran aground off Fleetwood.[33]
27 November
- Britkon ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground at Oskarshamn, Sweden and was wrecked. All 27 people on board were rescued.[34]
December
3 December
- HMS Implacable ( Royal Navy): The third rate Téméraire-class ship of the line was scuttled off the Isle of Wight.
11 December
- Toornvliet ( Netherlands): The coaster foundered off the East Goodwin Lightship with the loss of six of her nine crew.[35]
19 December
- Florence Cooke ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in the Belfast Lough, Co Antrim.[36]
- Nova ( Norway): The cargo ship was wrecked two nautical miles north of Obrestad, Norway.[37]
- Star of El Nil ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in Holy Loch, Buteshire.[36]
29 December
- Utklippan II ( Sweden): The cargo ship collided with a wreck and sank in the Baltic Sea at 54°31.21′N 10°31.55′E / 54.52017°N 10.52583°E.[38]
Exact date uncertain
- Altalena (
Israel): Altalena Affair: The converted LST was scuttled off Israel. - Empire Flamingo ( United Kingdom) : The cargo ship was scuttled off Gwennap Head, Cornwall.[15]
- Lützow (
Soviet Navy): Sunk as a target in the Baltic Sea. - Northern Lights: Came ashore on Tavern beach, St Mawes, Cornwall and later re-floated.[39]
See also
References
- ↑ "The Queen Mary Back In Port" The Times (London). Monday, 3 January 1949. (51269), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ "Ship Sinks In Thames" The Times (London). Friday, 4 February 1949. (51297), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ "Ship Sunk In Channel Collision" The Times (London). Monday, 14 February 1949. (51305), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "95 M.P.H. In Holland" The Times (London). Wednesday, 2 March 1949. (51319), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Widespread Falls Of Snow" The Times (London). Monday, 7 March 1949. (51323), col F, p. 4.
- ↑ "Steamer Sunk By Mine Near Canton" The Times (London). Saturday, 26 March 1949. (51340), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Three Men On Raft In Fog" The Times (London). Friday, 1 April 1949. (51345), col F, p. 4.
- ↑ "Bodies Of Fishermen Washed Ashore" The Times (London). Saturday, 2 April 1949. (51346), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Explosion In Ship" The Times (London). Saturday, 16 April 1949. (51357), col B, p. 3.
- ↑ "British Steamer Aground" The Times (London). Saturday, 23 April 1949. (51363), col C, p. 4.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Belgian Merchant P-Z". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ↑ "Ship Sinks After Collision" The Times (London). Thursday, 5 May 1949. (51373), col C, p. 4.
- ↑ "Danish Ship Lost Off Greenland" The Times (London). Wednesday, 18 May 1949. (51384), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Norwegian Ship Sunk By Mine" The Times (London). Thursday, 26 May 1949. (51391), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 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.
- ↑ "Dover-Ostend Ship Sunk" The Times (London). Wednesday, 22 June 1949. (51414), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "Ship Strikes On Wreck" The Times (London). Thursday, 23 June 1949. (51415), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Belgian Merchant H-O". Belgische Koopvaardij. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ↑ "500 Killed In Chinese Ship Explosion" The Times (London). Wednesday, 24 August 1949. (51468), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "British Ship Aground In Pacific" The Times (London). Saturday, 10 September 1949. (51483), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Liner Refloated" The Times (London). Thursday, 29 September 1949. (51499), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ Heaton, K E (8 July 2004). "Shipwrecks in British Columbia's Waters". Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ↑ "Ship In Collision With War-time Wreck" The Times (London). Wednesday, 5 October 1949. (51504), col E, p. 3.
- ↑ Liddiard, John. "Seven Stones". Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Larn, Richard (1992). The Shipwrecks of the Isles of Scilly. Nairn: Thomas & Lochar. ISBN 0-946537-84-4.
- ↑ "Ingertre (5605620)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 2 June 2012. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Fire In French Liner" The Times (London). Thursday, 20 October 1949. (51517), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "Steamer Escapes The Goodwins" The Times (London). Friday, 21 October 1949. (51518), col A, p. 4.
- ↑ "Kiel Canal Blocked" The Times (London). Tuesday, 1 November 1949. (51527), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "H.M.S. Ajax Aground" The Times (London). Thursday, 10 November 1949. (51535), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ "Ship Lost Off Devon Coast" The Times (London). Monday, 14 November 1949. (51538), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ Tovey, Ron. "A Chronology of Bristol Channel Shipwrecks". Swansea Docks. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Traffic Delayed By Fog" The Times (London). Saturday, 19 November 1949. (51543), col E, p. 4.
- ↑ "Crew Of Wrecked Hull Steamer Safe" The Times (London). Tuesday, 29 November 1949. (51551), col D, p. 3.
- ↑ "Dutch Coaster Sunk" The Times (London). Monday, 12 December 1949. (51562), col G, p. 4.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Severe Gales In North" The Times (London). Tuesday, 20 December 1949. (51569), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "Nova (5606399)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 28 March 2014. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Utklippan II (1088196)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 23 November 2013. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ Pollard, Chris (2007). The Book of St Mawes. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 631 7.
External links
| Ship events in 1949 | |||||||||||
| Ship launches: | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 |
| Ship commissionings: | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 |
| Ship decommissionings: | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 |
| Shipwrecks: | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 |