The Kaidai-type submarine collided with the submarine I-60 (Imperial Japanese Navy) in the Bungo Strait off Kyushu, Japan, and sank with the loss of 81 of her 87 crew members.[2][3][4][5] She was refloated in January 1940 and scrapped.[6]
The cargo ship ran aground 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of Cape Agulhas, South Africa and sank.[8] Declared a total loss.[9]
Canada
The coaster, a former Navarin-class naval trawler, ran aground off Nauset Beach, Massachusetts, near Cape Cod, with the loss of a crew member.[7] She capsized in a storm on 7 February and broke up.[10][11]
United Kingdom
The tanker ran aground in the Indo Channel, Argentina.[12] Refloated on 5 February.[9]
5 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground in the Seine at Aizier, Eure, France. Refloated the next day.[9]
Norway
The tanker came ashore 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of Tallinn, Estonia.[12] Later refloated.[9]
Norway
The tanker ran aground at Kastrup, Denmark.[12] Refloated on 8 February.[13]
6 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Nationalist Spain
Spanish Civil War: The nationalist government owned trawler, a former Admiralty naval trawler, was accidentally sunk by Nationalist aircraft at Alicante. Raised, repaired and returned to service.[14][15]
Germany
The passenger ship ran aground on the Saratoga Spit, off the coast of Japan.[16]
The cargo ship collided with (Norway) at Moji and sank.[32]
14 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Netherlands
The cargo ship ran aground at Cape Arkona, Germany.[34] Her cargo of bricks was jettisoned and she was refloated severely damaged on 23 February and towed to Stralsund for assessment.[35]
15 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground in Hjeltefjorden and was severely damaged.[23]
16 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground in Sørfjorden, near Bergen and was severely damaged.[28] Later refloated and towed to Bergen for repairs.[26]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran agrount at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and sprang a leak. She was drydocked for repairs.[36]
17 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship ran aground off the Stavnes Lighthouse and was severely damaged. She was beached at Kristiansund, one crew member was killed.[36]
The tug capsized and sank at Algiers whilst assisting (Italy)
Finland
The cargo ship sprang a leak 18 nautical miles (33 km) east north east of the . She was later beached.[37] Later refloated and taken to Cuxhaven for repairs.[26]
20 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Estonia
The cargo ship ran aground west of Arensburg.[26] Refloated on 10 March after part of the cargo was jettisoned and towed to Tallinn.[38]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship ran aground 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off Partridge Island, New Brunswick, Canada and was damaged. Taken to Saint John for repairs.[26]
United States
The schooner came ashore at San Felipe Key, Cuba.[26]
The S-classsubmarine ran aground off Sandown, Isle of Wight in a gale. She was later refloated.[42]
23 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
Spanish Civil War: The cargo ship had been shelled off Cap de Creus and captured by the Spanish Nationalist gunboat (Spanish Navy) on 5 February. She was wrecked in a gale whilst in custody at Palma de Mallorca. The ship was refloated, confiscated by the Spanish Government and returned to service as Castilla del Oro (later Condestable).[43][44]
24 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The cargo ship came ashore at Palma de Mallorca, Spain.[45] Refloated by 11 March.[38]
The cargo ship ran aground at , Denmark. Refloated the next day and sailed to Korsør for examination.[35]
Germany
The cargo ship ran aground at Korsør. Refloated the next day and entered Korsør for examination.
26 February[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 February 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United States
The cargo ship collided with (Germany) in foggy conditions off the Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey, and was abandoned. She floated for twelve hours but sank just as the crew were preparing to re-board her in an attempt at salvage.[46][47][48]
Nadja
United Kingdom
World War II: The concrete barge was scuttled as a blockship in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands just north of Clio I.[49]
^"Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48237. London. 23 February 1939. col F, p. 24.
^"News in Brief". The Times. No. 48239. London. 25 February 1939. col G, p. 9.
^ ab"Grounding Of Three Submarines". The Times. No. 48237. London. 23 February 1939. col E, p. 16.
^ abEtchegaray, Rafael González (1977). "Appendix Two". La Marina Mercante y el tráfico marítimo en la Guerra Civil (in Spanish). Madrid: Librería Editorial San Martín. ISBN84-7140-150-9.