World War II: The cargo ship (a.k.a. Konri Go) was torpedoed and sunk in the Yellow Sea west of the Changshan Islands (38°08′N124°38′E / 38.133°N 124.633°E / 38.133; 124.633) by USS Haddo (United States Navy). Six passengers, eight guards and seventeen crew were killed.[1]
World War II: The cargo ship (a.k.a. Daiun Maru No.2 and Shinneisho Go) was torpedoed and sunk in the Yellow Sea west of the Changshan Islands (38°08′N124°38′E / 38.133°N 124.633°E / 38.133; 124.633) by USS Haddo (United States Navy). Two crew were killed.[1]
The cargo ship struck the submerged wreck of (United Kingdom) and sank in the English Channel, 8 nautical miles (15 km) off Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. The wreck was dispersed in 1960.[5]
World War II: The cargo ship was sunk by naval mine dropped by aircraft near Jindo Island (34°22′N126°25′E / 34.367°N 126.417°E / 34.367; 126.417). Eight crew and 280 passengers were killed. Another source says there were around 40 survivors of the more than 500 people aboard.[6][7][8][9]
The Bahia-class cruiser was accidentally sunk during gunnery practice when her own guns hit depth charges at the stern of the ship with the loss of most of her crew.
Royal Navy
The naval drifter (156 GRT, 1934) was lost on this date.[10]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The patrol boat was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean west of Kyushu by USS Tirante (United States Navy).[11]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The patrol boat was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean west of Kyushu by USS Tirante (United States Navy).[11]
and
Japan
World War II: The incomplete Pa-1-classpatrol ships were bombed and destroyed while under construction at Tokushima.[12]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper was sunk off Haha Jima, by aircraft from Task Force 38.[13]
World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off the Kuril Islands by USS Barb (United States Navy). Four crewmen were killed.[9][11]
Japan
World War II: The transport was sunk off Shimonoseki, near Mutsure Jima, Japan (33°56′N130°53′E / 33.933°N 130.883°E / 33.933; 130.883) by an aerial mine dropped by Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" heavy bombers. Three crewmen and 84 passengers were killed.[9][14]
World War II: The CHa-1-class auxiliary submarine chaser was torpedoed and sunk east of Singapore by the submarineUSS Bluefish (United States Navy).[11]
World War II: The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean south of Honshu by the submarine USS Trepang (United States Navy).[11]
Royal Navy
The naval trawler (399 or 359 GRT, 1933) collided with (United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea near the (United Kingdom) off the coast of Kent with the loss of 11 of her 25 crew. The tugEmpire Henchman (United Kingdom) rescued the survivors.[18][19]
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean west of Honshu by the submarine USS Tirante (United States Navy).[11]
World War II: The O 19-class submarine ran aground on Ladd Reef in the South China Sea (08°40′N111°40′E / 8.667°N 111.667°E / 8.667; 111.667). On 10 July, she was scuttled by her crew with scuttling charges, and shelled and torpedoed by USS Cod (United States Navy) to prevent her capture by the Japanese. USS Cod took her crew to Australia.[20]
World War II: The fishing vessel struck a mine and sank in Varangerfjord, Norway with the loss of two crew.[22]
Japan
World War II: The whaler was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean east of Honshu by USS Moray (United States Navy).[11]
Royal Navy
World War II: The naval trawler (352 GRT, 1930) struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off The Lizard, Cornwall with the loss of all but 1 of 16 crew.[23]
Japan
World War II: The coastaltanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Thailand by USS Hammerhead (United States Navy).[11]
Japan
World War II: The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Thailand by USS Hammerhead (United States Navy).[11]
World War II: The I-351-class submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the South China Sea (4°30′N110°00′E / 4.500°N 110.000°E / 4.500; 110.000) 100 nautical miles (190 km) northeast of Natuna Besar by the submarine USS Bluefish (United States Navy) with the loss of 110 lives. Bluefish rescued her three survivors.[38]
Royal Navy
The landing craft vehicle and personnel was lost on this date.[39]
HMS Ludlow
Royal Navy
The decommissioned Town-class destroyer was grounded in the Firth of Forth off Yellowcraigs beach, Fidra, Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland, for use as a rocket target by Royal Air Force aircraft.
The refloated Tribal-classdestroyer was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea off Valletta, Malta, after she sank at her moorings in the Grand Harbour on 12 February 1942.[40]
End of World War II: Damaged beyond repair, the decommissioned destroyer-minelayer, a former Wickes-class destroyer, was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off Apra Harbor, Guam.
World War II: The gunboat, a former Regulus-class auxiliary minelayer, was torpedoed and sunk in the Java Sea (05°26′S110°33′E / 5.433°S 110.550°E / -5.433; 110.550) west of Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies by USS Blenny (United States Navy).[44]
Tangang 33
Greece
World War II: The tug was sunk by a mine in the Gulf of Patras off Missolonghi, Greece. Two crew were killed.[45]
World War II: The Favourite-classtugboat (570 GRT, 1943) struck a mine and sank off Livorno, Italy.[46]
Hamonic
Canada
The steamer (5,265 GRT, 1909) burned at Dock at Point Edward, Ontario, or Sarnia, Ontario, a total loss.[47][48]
Germany
The Type 1939/40 schnellboot was beached on Bru Island.[49]
18 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 18 July 1945
Ship
Country
Description
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The Type D escort ship was torpedoed and sunk off Karafuto (46°04′N142°16′E / 46.067°N 142.267°E / 46.067; 142.267) by USS Barb (United States Navy) when she deliberately intercepted a torpedo fired at passenger ferry (Japan) carrying 600 passengers, mostly women and children. Soya Maru escaped unharmed. Two hundred crew, including her captain, were killed; four survivors were rescued.[50]
World War II: The torpedo boat was sunk at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[11]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The cable layer, the former United States Army mine planterCol. George F. E. Harrison, was bombed and sunk at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[11][52]
World War II: The I-361-class submarine was sunk by damage from a near miss at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[11][53]
Kasuga
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The training ship, a former Kasuga-class cruiser, was sunk at her mooring at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[11]
World War II: The auxiliary patrol boat was bombed and sunk at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[52]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The auxiliary patrol boat was bombed and sunk at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[11][52]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The auxiliary patrol boat was bombed and sunk at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy).[11][52]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The Matsu-class destroyer was bombed and sunk at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy). She was only 60% complete.[11][52]
World War II: The target ship, a former Minekaze-class destroyer, was damaged by near misses and flying debris from other ships bombed at Yokosuka by aircraft based on USS Yorktown (United States Navy). She eventually sank a number of days later due to lack of repairmen. Scrapped post War.[11][55]
19 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 July 1945
Ship
Country
Description
Teal
United States
The 20-gross register ton, 44.8-foot (13.7 m) motor vessel sank 350 yards (320 m) below at the mouth of the Kvichak River on the Territory of Alaska's coast along Bristol Bay.[28]
World War II: The Kamikawa Maru-classseaplane tender was bombed by United States Navy aircraft and was beached off Shida Beach, north of . She sank on 22 November. Raised in December 1948; later repaired and put in Japanese civilian passenger service.[56]
World War II: The transport was bombed in Boengos Bay by British aircraft and beached. Refloated sometime in August and towed to Emma Haven, Padang, Netherlands East Indies.[61]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The auxiliary guard ship was sunk by mines off Chinhae, Korea.[62]
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine outside Wakamatsu Harbor and was beached. Refloated post-War, repaired and returned to service.[63]
World War II: The Unryū-class aircraft carrier was bombed and sunk at Kure by American aircraft of Task Force 38. She was further bombed and damaged on 28 July, capsizing the next day. The wreck was refloated on 31 July 1946 and subsequently scrapped.
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The CHa-1-classsubmarine chaser was sunk at Moji by American aircraft.[64]
Gozo
United Kingdom
The trawler (172 GRT, 1902) was sunk by a mine 25 miles off Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland. The crew were all saved by the teawler Phoebe.[65]
World War II: Bombing of Kure: The Ise-class battleship was bombed and heavily damaged at Kure by aircraft based on USS Bataan, USS Bennington, USS Essex, USS Hancock, USS Monterey, USS Randolph and USS Ticonderoga (all United States Navy), with 200 crew killed and 600 wounded. Her stern settles in very shallow water on 25 July (34°10′N132°33′E / 34.167°N 132.550°E / 34.167; 132.550), and the rest of her hull settles on the bottom on 26 July. her remaining crew abandoned her on 1 August.[66]
Iwate
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: Bombing of Kure: The training ship, a former Izumo-class cruiser, was heavily damaged by near misses when bombed at Kure by United States Navy aircraft of Task Force 38. She capsized and sank off Eta Jima (34°14′N132°30′E / 34.233°N 132.500°E / 34.233; 132.500) on 25 July due to damage sustained.[67]
World War II: The escort carrier struck a mine and was bombed by United States Navy aircraft in Kizuki Bay. She was towed to Beppu Bay and beached off Hinode on 25 July. Sank further on 28 July (33°20′N131°32′E / 33.333°N 131.533°E / 33.333; 131.533). On 9 August she was further damaged by United States Fifth Air ForceNorth American B-25 Mitchell aircraft and partially capsized. Her crew abandoned her on 10 August. Scrapped post war.[68]
Settsu
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: Bombing of Kure: The target ship, a former Kawachi-class battleship was bombed and beached at Kure by United States Navy aircraft of Task Force 38. he wreck was abandoned on 29 July.[69]
World War II: The Algerine-classminesweeper struck a mine and was damaged, then caught fire. After a half-hour the flames were beyond control and she was abandoned. Survivors were rescued by HMIS Punjab (Royal Indian Navy) in the Andaman Sea off Phuket Island, Thailand with the loss of seven crew. She was later scuttled.[70]
World War II: Bombing of Kure: The Tone-class cruiser was bombed and sunk at Kure by United States Navy aircraft of Task Force 38. Fifty-nine crew were killed and 28 were reported missing. The hulk was bombed again on 28 July.[71]
World War II: The Standard Peacetime Type TM oiler was bombed and damaged in the Inland Sea of Japan off by United States Navy aircraft and beached on Miura Beach, Iwai Shima. She was refloated, repaired and returned to service post-war.[81]
World War II: The Algerine-classminesweeper was struck by a kamikaze aircraft in the Andaman Sea off Phuket Island, Thailand with the loss of 20 crew. She was later scuttled.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The auxiliary submarine chaser was sunk on this date.[82]
27 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 July 1945
Ship
Country
Description
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Yellow Sea by USS Pogy (United States Navy).[11]
Imperial Japanese Navy
The auxiliary submarine chaser was sunk on this date.[83]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The Komahashi-class hydrographic survey ship, being used as a tender for explosive motorboats, midget submarines and Kaitenmanned torpedoes, was bombed by United States Navy aircraft and sunk in shallow water at the Owase Submarine Base. Raised and scrapped in 1949.[84]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The minelayer may have been torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Malacca by HMS Seadog (Royal Navy).[11] This however is not mentioned in the submarine's log book.[85]
United States Navy
World War II: The Mk 5 landing craft tank was sunk by blast damage while tied up alongside Pratt Victory (United States) when the Victory ship was torpedoed and damaged by a Japanese aircraft at Ie-jima. She was later salvaged.[86]
28 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 July 1945
Ship
Country
Description
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper was sunk at the Kure Naval Base by aircraft from Task Force 38.[13]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The Type D escort ship was strafed by North American P-51 Mustang aircraft of the United States Army's 15th Fighter Group and beached in Yura Bay, then bombed and sunk (34°20′N135°00′E / 34.333°N 135.000°E / 34.333; 135.000) by United States Navy aircraft. Ninety-eight crew were killed, 51 were wounded.[87]
World War II: The Fletcher-class destroyer was sunk in an attack by a Japanese Yokosuka K5Y Willowkamikaze aircraft in the Pacific Ocean off Okinawa, Japan.
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Inland Sea of Japan by USS Sennet (United States Navy).[11]
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Inland Sea of Japan by USS Sennet (United States Navy).[11]
Haruna
Imperial Japanese Navy
Haruna
World War II: The Kongō-class battleship was bombed and sunk at Kure Naval Base by aircraft based on USS Shangri-La (United States Navy) with the loss of 65 of her 1,360 crew. The wreck was raised and scrapped in 1946.
Japan
World War II: The incomplete I-400-classsubmarine was bombed and sunk at Kure.[90]
World War II: Bombing of Kure: The training ship, a former Izumo-class cruiser, was heavily damaged by near misses when bombed at Kure, Hiroshima by United States Navy aircraft of Task Force 38. She capsized and sank from damage to her seams and rivets off Eta Jima (34°14′N132°30′E / 34.233°N 132.500°E / 34.233; 132.500).[91]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The Koryu Maru-class auxiliary minelayer, originally built as a Type 2E standard merchant ship, was bombed and sunk at the Hitachi Zosen shipyard, Innoshima, by United States Navy aircraft.[92]
United Kingdom
The tug collided with (Canada) and sank in the River Mersey at Birkenhead, Cheshire with the loss of all six crew.[93]
Nashi
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: Bombing of Kure: The Matsu-class destroyer was bombed at Kure, Hiroshima (34°40′N132°30′E / 34.667°N 132.500°E / 34.667; 132.500) by United States Navy aircraft of Task Force 38. Seventeen crew were killed. She was raised and repaired 1954-1955. Recommissioned in the Japanese Self-Defence Forces 31 May 1956 as Wakaba (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force), the only Imperial Japanese Navy warship to serve in Japan's new navy.[94]
World War II: The Ōyodo-class cruiser was bombed and damaged at Kure Naval Base by aircraft based on USS Shangri-La (United States Navy). She was towed to and beached, capsizing with the loss of about 300 of her 911 crew. The wreck was raised in 1947 and scrapped in 1948.
World War II: The transport struck a mine in Wakasa Bay and was beached off Maizuru. She was raised, repaired and returned to service August, 1948.[96]
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Inland Sea of Japan by USS Sennet (United States Navy).[11]
30 July[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 July 1945
Ship
Country
Description
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The auxiliary submarine chaser was sunk off Obama, Japan, by carrier aircraft from Task Force 38.[82]
Imperial Japanese Navy
World War II: The escort ship was bombed and sunk at Kobe, Nagoya, or Maizuru, by American carrier-based aircraft.[11]
World War II: The Portland-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Philippine Sea by I-58 (Imperial Japanese Navy) with the loss of 879 of her 1,196 crew. The wreck was located in August 2017.
Japan
World War II: The cargo ship was grounded in . Possibly recovered by (Soviet Navy) on 20 August.[98]