The 60.39-gross register ton, 32.3-foot (9.8 m) fishing vessel was lost in the vicinity of Nantucket Lightship (United States) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. Paolina was last heard from by radio at about 7:00 P.M. on 12 February 1952. At that time it was established vessel had on board about 30,000 pounds of mixed fish and was about 32 miles (51 km) south southwest of Nantucket Lightship and was planning to head for New Bedford, Massachusetts at midnight to arrive on 13 February so as to make the 14 February fish market. The U.S. Coast Guard was first notified at 9:15 A.M. on 15 February that Paolina was overdue. An extensive U.S.Coast Guard surface and air search took place until abandoned on the morning of 18 February, due to a bad northeast storm, the improbability of Paolina being afloat and the need for the services of Coast Guard resources in connection with the then-ongoing operations off Chatham, Massachusetts involving the tankers Fort Mercer and Pendleton.[14]
Carrying a cargo of fuel oil, the Type T2-SE-A1 tanker broke in two in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. The stern section grounded 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) off Chatham, Massachusetts, and later sank in 25 feet (7.6 m) of water 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) east of Monomoy Island at 41°35′10″N069°57′45″W / 41.58611°N 69.96250°W / 41.58611; -69.96250 (Pendleton stern section). Her bow section either sank or ran aground on a nearby reef and later was salvaged and rebuilt, according to different sources. Thirty-two of her 41 crew were rescued by the motorlifeboatCG 36500 ( United States Coast Guard). Her other nine crew members perished.[16]
The T2-SE-A1 tanker broke in two off Chatham, Massachusetts. Twenty one of her 34 crew were rescued from the stern section by the icebreakerUSCGC Eastwind ( United States Coast Guard). Four crew were rescued from the bow section by the cutterUSCGC Yakutat ( United States Coast Guard).[17]
The Gleaves-classdestroyer collided in the Atlantic Ocean with the aircraft carrierUSS Wasp (United States Navy) and sank with the loss of 176 lives.
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1952
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The tug was towing Esso Appalachee (United Kingdom) with Flying Petrel (United Kingdom) when Esso Appalachee fouled her tow and then collided with Flying Buzzard, sinking her. She was salvaged in May and repaired, returning to service in October.
Australia
The cargo ship ran aground in Port Philip Bay, Victoria, Australia. Refloated on 7 May.[22]
May[]
4 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 May 1952
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
Was engaged in salvage work over the wreck of (flag unknown) off Bordeaux harbour, GuernseyChannel Islands. Timed explosive charges placed on wreck but she could not move clear in time and was severely damaged by the explosion. She launched her life boat and the four crew pulled clear before the vessel foundered.[23][24]
The decommissioned Admiral Nakhimov-classlight cruiser was grounded on a spit for use as a target. By 1980, nothing remained of the ship above the water's surface.
The Liberty ship ran aground in the . She was later refloated. Although declared a constructive total loss, she was repaired and returned to service.[30]
The Hansa A Type cargo ship ran aground on the Chinchorro Bank, off the coast of British Honduras and sank. She was on a voyage from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States to Belize City, British Honduras.
5 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 June 1952
Ship
Country
Description
HMML 2582
Royal Navy
Exercise Bluebird: A Royal Netherlands Air ForceRepublic F-84 Thunderjet aircraft collided with the motor launch's mast and crashed onto the boat, killing its pilot and fifteen crew of 2582, which sank. The accident occurred in the Marsdiep, Netherlands.[31]
The Liberty ship ran aground off Karachi, Pakistan, broke in two and sank.[33]
30 June[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 June 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Mahenge
Belgium
The Victory ship collided with Liberty ship (France) off Alderney, Channel Islands (49°48′N2°18′W / 49.800°N 2.300°W / 49.800; -2.300). Mahenge sank,[34] her 46 crew and three passengers were rescued by Ringas (Norway). Granville severely damaged and set on fire. Later towed to Cherbourg, France after fire extinguished.
July[]
6 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 July 1952
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship sank north east of the Paracel Islands, China.[35]
The Liberty ship ran aground in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States. She was later refloated and taken in to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Although declared a constructive total loss, she was repaired and returned to service.[30]
Korean War: The Abnaki-classfleet ocean tug struck a naval mine and sank off the coast of North Korea between Wonsan and Hungnam. Four crewmen were killed and four wounded. Survivors were rescued by the destroyerUSS Boyd and the minesweepersUSS Zeal and USS Competent (all United States Navy).[50][51][52]
Korean War: The minelayer was captured by HMCS Nootka (Royal Canadian Navy) in the Taedong River estuary and was scuttled. Five crewmen were captured.[51]
23 September[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 September 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Joacosta
Portugal
The three-masted sailingtrawler sank in the Atlantic 56 nautical miles (104 km) north of , Azores. Twelve crew were rescued by (United States). Thirty five were rescued by (United States) and the remaining 27 were rescued by (West Germany).[55][56]
Piloted on Loch Ness in Scotland by John Cobb in an attempt to set a new world water speed record, the jet-powered speedboat struck a wake at an estimated speed of 210 miles per hour (340 km/h) and disintegrated, killing Cobb, whose body was thrown 50 yards (46 m).[59] The boat′s wreckage was discovered on 5 July 2002 on the bottom of Loch Ness at a depth of 200 metres (656 ft).[60]
Operation Hurricane: The decommissioned frigate was obliterated by an atomic bomb detonated inside her hull in a nuclear test 350 metres (383 yards) off in the lagoon in the Monte Bello Islands in Western Australia.[65]
8 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 October 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The cargo ship ran aground at Osthammar, Sweden and was damaged. Later refloated and towed into Oregrund.[66]
The cargo ship ran aground north of Hook of Holland, Netherlands. Her 26 crew were rescued by Jan Lels (Netherlands). Faustus sank the following day.[69][70]
Turkey
The cargo ship ran aground off Ameland, Netherlands.[69]
Spain
The cargo ship ran aground off the Wadden Islands, Netherlands.[69]
The ship ran aground at Falconera Islet whilst on a voyage from Crete to Piraeus.[72]
United Kingdom
The tug was involved in a collision with another vessel and sank in the River Mersey with the loss of three crew. Raised on 17 November and beached near Liverpool, Lancashire.[73]
The gunboat ran aground on Scroby Sands, Norfolk, United Kingdom.[75] She was refloated on 17 December. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.[43]
10 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Ellen
West Germany
The coastal tanker collided with the ocean liner (Netherlands) in the Nieuwe Waterweg, Netherlands. She capsized and sank with the loss of six of the twelve people on board.[76]
11 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo liner collided with (United States) and sank near the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, United States. All 42 crew and twelve passengers were rescued.[77]
The Liberty ship ran aground on the Pearl & Hermes Reef, in the Pacific Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) east of Midway Atoll and broke in two, a total loss.[79]
The cargo ship ran aground off Atherfield, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. Refloated 23 January 1953, but declared a constructive total loss and subsequently scrapped.[87][88]
27 December[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 December 1952
Ship
Country
Description
Australia
The 550-ton interstate cargo ship, owned by L. W. Smith Pty. Ltd., Launceston, ran aground in Wineglass Bay, Swansea, Tasmania, Australia.[89]
The barque ran aground at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada and was subsequently destroyed by fire.[91]
United Kingdom
Whilst on a voyage from Swansea to Guernsey with Anthracite, the cargo ship ran aground on Black Rock off St Sampson's, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Declared a constructive loss.[92]
^Marine Board of Investigation into disappearance of fishing vessel PAOLINA with all persons on board, off Atlantic Coast, 13 February 1952, P. A. Overden, Chief, Merchant Vessel Inspection Division, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.
^"Vessel Breaks Back on Mud Bank". The Times. No. 52432. London. 2 October 1952. col D, p. 6.
^"Dutch Ship Sinks in Channel". The Times. No. 52433. London. 3 October 1952. col C, p. 4.
^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. 139.
^"Crew of Dutch Ship Rescued". The Times. No. 52438. London. 9 October 1952. col C, p. 5.