The decommissioned Benham-classdestroyer was sunk as a gunnery target in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
DD-934
United States Navy
The captured Akizuki-classdestroyer, formerly Hanazuki (Imperial Japanese Navy), was sunk as a target by United States Navy forces off Japan's Gotō Islands.
The decommissioned Pennsylvania-classbattleship was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
12 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 February 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Soegio
Netherlands
struck a mine and sank in Macassar Strait, Borneo.
The Gilliam-classattack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests of 1946.
The Tunis-registered cargo ship, converted from HMS Sandwich of 1928, foundered outside Port La Nouvelle, on a voyage from Oran to Sète with a cargo of oranges.[10][11]
The cargo ship collided with (Brazil) in the River Mersey and sank. All 25 crew were rescued.[13]
27 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 February 1948
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship was driven ashore between Bardia and Tobruk, Libya. She was later refloated and towed to Tobruk, where she was scrapped.[14]
29 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 February 1948
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The Liberty ship caught fire south west of the Cocos Islands and was abandoned. She was declared a total loss and was consequently scrapped in 1950.[15]
The decommissioned Bagley-classdestroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The decommissioned Benham-classdestroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The decommissioned Gilliam-classattack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
14 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 March 1948
Ship
Country
Description
..
French Navy
The VP 51-class motorlaunch was lost at Tahiti.[18]
French Navy
The VP 51-class motorlaunch was lost at Tahiti.[18]
French Navy
The VP 51-class motorlaunch was lost at Tahiti.[18]
The decommissioned Bagley-classdestroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The decommissioned Benham-classdestroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The decommissioned Benham-classdestroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests of 1946.
8 April[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 April 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship sank off Egersund, Norway, with the loss of all nine crew.[5]
The decommissioned Sims-classdestroyer was sunk by gunfire in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests of 1946.
Bound for London from Liverpool she stranded on the Seven Stones Reef, between the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. She refloated on same day; the only ship to get off the reef in modern times.[24]
O'Boyle
United States Navy
The floating drydock sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.[25]
The decommissioned Benham-classdestroyer was sunk by gunfire in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests of 1946.
The decommissioned Gilliam-classattack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean just south of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests of 1946.
The decommissioned Pensacola-classheavy cruiser was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean 130 miles (210 km) off the coast of Southern California after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
31 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 May 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Bobolink
United States
The 16-gross register ton, 37.5-foot (11.4 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Naknek, Territory of Alaska.[21]
June[]
9 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 June 1948
Ship
Country
Description
U-S-1
United States
The 91-gross register ton, 71.6-foot (21.8 m) scow sank at the anchorage at Naknek, Territory of Alaska.[30]
11 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 June 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Denmark
The passenger ship struck a mine and sank 15 nautical miles (28 km) off the east coast of Jutland with the loss of 48 lives.[31]
16 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 June 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Israel
Altalena on fire at Tel Aviv
Altalena Affair: The Irgun-operated converted tank landing ship was shelled by the Israel Defense Forces, grounded, and set on fire near Tel Aviv. She was towed out to sea and scuttled in 1949.
24 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 June 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The tanker suffered a fire in her engine room whilst on a voyage from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela to Le Havre, France. Declared a constructive total loss.[5]
The decommissioned Mahan-classdestroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off California after use as target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The cargo ship ran aground on the Siwadiwa Atoll in the Maldives. Refloated on 12 April 1949 and towed to Columbo, Ceylon where declared a total loss.[5]
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground in Stokksundet, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Bergen to Tromsø.[5]
The decommissioned Sims-classdestroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Bikini Atoll after use as target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
8 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 July 1948
Ship
Country
Description
USS New York
United States Navy
The decommissioned New York-classbattleship was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii following use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The decommissioned Nevada-classbattleship was sunk as a target approximately 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
United Kingdom
The coaster was in collision with (Norway) in Liverpool Bay and sank with the loss of four of the six people on board.[38]
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in July 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Italy
The Liberty ship broke in two whilst under tow from Port Said, Egypt to an Italian port. Bow section salvaged and subsequently joined to stern section of (United States).[22]
The 163-gross register ton, 82.3-foot (25.1 m) motorcargo vessel was destroyed by fire at the mouth of the Kasilof River in Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[32]
The decommissioned Salmon-classsubmarine was sunk as a target by aircraft rockets off California after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The fishing vessel Arleux foundered off White Head Bay, Nova Scotia.[41]
22 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 August 1948
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition.[4]
25 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 August 1948
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The barge capsized and sank off Ardlamont Point, Argyllshire with the loss of four of the five people on board.[42]
29 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 August 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Hellenic Bulbul
United Kingdom
The coaster ran aground on Domanik Island, Bay of Bengal, India and sank.
Willard B
United States
The 64-gross register ton, 73.3-foot (22.3 m) fishing vessel was wrecked in 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) north of , Territory of Alaska.[43]
30 August[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 August 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The ex-Portuguese-class naval trawler ran aground in Frøyskjæret, west of Florø whilst on a voyage from Poland to Vadsø, Norway. Refloated in 1951 and scrapped in 1954.[5]
The 10-gross register ton, 39.6-foot (12.1 m) motorcargo vessel was destroyed by fire in the harbor at Whittier, Territory of Alaska.[40]
September[]
5 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Goose
United States
The 12-gross register ton, 32.9-foot (10.0 m) fishing vessel was wrecked on the coast of the Territory of Alaska 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) west of Cape Spencer.[45]
6 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Caledonia
United States
The 164-gross register ton, 82.2-foot (25.1 m) fishing vessel sank in a storm off a location identified in the wreck report as "Icy Point" in Southeast Alaska. It is not clear to which of at least two locations of the name the wreck report refers.[39]
11 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
United States Navy
The tug sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina whilst under tow.[46]
The cargo ship was abandoned in the North Atlantic with the loss of six of her 45 crew. Located on 26 September by Foundation Lillian and towed to Bermuda By Foundation Josephine, arriving 3 October. Beached by a hurricane on 7 October, re-floated 19 October, and towed to Newport News, Virginia, arriving 31 October. Repaired and recommissioned 14 December.[48]
19 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground during a hurricane at Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. She was refloated on 30 September.[49][50]
20 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Dubrovnik
United States
The 31-gross register ton, 49-foot (14.9 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Klawock, Territory of Alaska.[12]
The decommissioned Tambor-classsubmarine was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Mare Island, California, after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
27 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship was driven ashore at Hoihow, China in a typhoon. Refloated in 1949 and sold.[5]
28 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 September 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Portugal
The cargo ship was wrecked at the entrance to Fogo Harbour, Canada.[52]
October[]
2 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 October 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank off Lista, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Ålesund to Stockholm, Sweden.[5]
The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off California after serving as a target for the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
The patrol boat was lost off Greenland with the loss of all eight crew.[53]
Nora
United States
The 62-gross register ton, 68-foot (20.7 m) motorcargo vessel sank in the Gulf of Alaska off Middleton Island off the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[54]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship caught fire and sank at Copenhagen, Denmark.[55]
The decommissioned Sims-classdestroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after being used as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
17 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 October 1948
Ship
Country
Description
P T & B Co. 1652
United States
The 1,008-gross register ton, 202.4-foot (61.7 m) barge sank in the Bering Sea approximately 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) north of Seguam Island in the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands.[57]
The cargo ship ran aground west of , Norway, whilst on a voyage from Brevik to Namsos. Refloated on 2 April 1949, repaired and returned to service.[5]
Toby T
United States
The 9-gross register ton, 29.9-foot (9.1 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Orca Inlet 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) from Cordova, Territory of Alaska.[60]
26 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 October 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Empire Flamingo
United Kingdom
The bow section of the cargo ship sank in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south of the Longships Lighthouse whilst under tow.[61] Raised in 1949 and sunk off Gwennap Head, Cornwall.[4]
Norway
The cargo ship sank 100 nautical miles (190 km) south west of Kopervik, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to Kopervik.[5]
1948 Gozo luzzu disaster: The fishing boat which was overloaded with passengers capsized and sank in the Gozo Channel off Qala, Gozo, Malta, killing 23 of the 27 people on board.[62]
31 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 October 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground and sank in the Namsenfjord, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Slemmestad to Namsos.[5]
November[]
1 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 1 November 1948
Ship
Country
Description
France
The tanker ran aground at Gribba Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom with the loss of eleven of her twelve crew.[63]
The decommissioned Pensacola-classheavy cruiser was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Washington after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroadsatomic bomb tests.
11 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 November 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of , Norway, whilst on a voyage from Rekefjord to Møre.[5]
13 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 13 November 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Belgium
The cargo ship ran aground on the Rocks of Mansonria off Fedala, French Morocco. Declared a constructive total loss.[52]
The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland, Canada with the loss of all 40 crew.
17 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 November 1948
Ship
Country
Description
EK-3
Soviet Navy
The Tacoma-class frigate ran aground off Petropavlosk, Soviet Union. She was declared a total loss.
USS U-1105
United States Navy
The Type VIIC/41submarine was deliberately sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Point No Point Lighthouse, Maryland. She was raised in the summer of 1949.
22 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 22 November 1948
Ship
Country
Description
SS Southern Flyer
United Kingdom
The 438 GRT whaler ran aground on rocks at Lazarete Beach, Cape Verde after calling in for bunkers while on delivery voyage to South Georgia.[66]
23 November[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 November 1948
Ship
Country
Description
Famous
United States
The 41-gross register ton, 57.5-foot (17.5 m) motorcargo vessel was wrecked in the Territory of Alaska at an unidentified location described by the wreck report as "Point Alba."[67]
The 228-foot (69 m), 1,349-gross register ton four-mastedlumberschooner was abandoned at the on the west side of the Mystic River in Noank, Connecticut, sometime during the 1940s, gradually rotted away, and settled on the river bottom in 10 feet (3.0 m) of water.[74]
Royal Netherlands Navy
The torpedo boat was sunk was a target off Den Helder sometime in 1948.[75]
The captured pre-dreadnought battleship was beached by the Soviet Navy in the Gulf of Finland near Osmussaar Island in the Soviet Union's Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic for use as a target. The hulk was used as a target until 1966, eventually becoming entirely submerged.
References[]
^Lane, Anthony (2009). Shipwrecks of Kent. Stroud: The History Press. pp. 51–52. ISBN978-0-7524-1720-2.
^"Stranded Ships". The Times. No. 50962. London. 7 January 1948. col G, p. 4.
^ ab"Shipping Warned of Further Gales". The Times. No. 50963. London. 8 January 1948. col F, p. 4.
^ abcMitchell, 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. ISBN1-85044-275-4.
^"Schooner Blown Up at Bari". The Times. No. 51043. London. 12 April 1948. col E, p. 3.
^Noall, Cyril (1968). Cornish Lights and Shipwrecks. Truro: D. Bradford Barton.
^Arkin, William M.; Handler, Joshua (June 1989). "Naval Accidents 1945 - 1988"(PDF). Greenpeace / Institute for Policy Studies. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
^Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910—2002 (Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing. p. 27. ISBN1-55125-072-1.
^"Steam-barge Sunk in Squall". The Times. No. 51160. London. 26 August 1948. col A, p. 3.
^Gray, Randal, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1947–1982, Part II: The Warsaw Pact and Non-Aligned Nations, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1983, ISBN0-87021-919-7, p. 301.
^Gardiner, Robert, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1947–1982 Part I: The Western Powers, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1983, ISBN0870219189, p. 93.
^Gray, Randal, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1947–1982, Part II: The Warsaw Pact and Non-Aligned Nations, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1983, ISBN0-87021-919-7, p. 348.
Italy
United Kingdom
Soviet Union
Norway
United States Army
Imperial Japanese Navy), was sunk as a target by United States Navy forces off Japan's Gotō Islands.
Netherlands
Tunisia
Brazil) in the River Mersey and sank. All 25 crew were rescued.[13]
Republic of Korea Navy
New Zealand
French Navy
Greece
Royal Australian Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
Denmark
Israel
Australia
France
Belgium
Germany
United States Navy
Canada
Royal Navy
Portugal
Royal Danish Navy
Royal Egyptian Navy
Malta
Soviet Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
China
Royal Netherlands Navy
Kriegsmarine