World War II: The cargo ship (2,390 GRT, 1922) was intercepted off Aruba, Netherlands Antilles by HMS Despatch (Royal Navy) and was scuttled by her crew that was captured by the Despatch.[1][7][8]
Norway
World War II: The cargo ship (1,388 GRT, 1909) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) east by south of CopinsayOrkney Islands, United Kingdom by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of KG26, Luftwaffe. All 19 crew were rescued by (United Kingdom).[1][9][10]
2 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 2 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (1,176 GRT, 1913) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of Hartlepool, Co Durham. Nine crew were killed. The survivors were rescued by and HMS Wallace (both Royal Navy).[1][11][12]
World War II: The cargo liner (8,441 GRT, 1921) was bombed and set on fire in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium by Heinkel He 111H aircraft of KG26 with the loss of 108 of the 291 people on board. Domala was towed to the Solent and beached. She was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport, converted to a cargo ship and entered service as Empire Attendant.
Netherlands
World War II: The coaster (197 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of KG26, Luftwaffe with the loss of two of her five crew.[1][13][14][15][16]
Royal Navy
The tug (282 GRT, 1921) ran aground at Redcar, Yorkshire and was wrecked. All 19 crew were saved.[17][18][19]
Germany
World War II: The cargo ship (6,530 GRT, 1925) was intercepted in the Caribbean Sea west of the Windward Passage by HMS Dunedin (Royal Navy) and was scuttled by her crew that was captured by Dunedin.[1][7][8]
Sweden
World War II: The cargo ship (2,818 GRT, 1929) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) west of the Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom (59°34′N5°10′W / 59.567°N 5.167°W / 59.567; -5.167) by U-32 (Kriegsmarine). One crew was lost. The 27 survivors were rescued by Belpamela (Norway).[1][13][20][21]
World War II: The passenger ship (3,369 GRT, 1927) was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean east of Iceland (63°20′N14°42′W / 63.333°N 14.700°W / 63.333; -14.700) by HMS York (Royal Navy) and was scuttled by her crew. Ten crew members were lost at sea. York rescued 42 survivors but three more died aboard her.[1][27][30][circular reference][31]
United Kingdom
World War II: The Admiralty-requisitioned cargo ship (1,017 GRT, 1894) was scuttled in Water Sound, Scapa Flow as a blockship.[32][33]
The cargo ship (6,281 GRT, 1919) ran aground at night 85 nautical miles (157 km) south of Acapulco, Mexico and was wrecked. The whole crew survived.[36][37]
The cargo ship (2,679 GRT, 1922) collided with (United Kingdom) in the Bristol Channel off the north coast of Cornwall and sank. All 31 crew were rescued by Thurston but only one survived when she was sunk some hours later.[42][43][44][45]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (3,072 GRT, 1918) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel 32 nautical miles (59 km) off Trevose Head, Cornwall (50°23′N5°49′W / 50.383°N 5.817°W / 50.383; -5.817) by U-29 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 34 crew of her 37 crew. 30 of the survivors from S.N.A. 1 were also killed. The 3 survivors, and the only survivor from S.N.A. 1 were rescued by (United Kingdom).[1][44][46]
The O 9-classsubmarine (515/647 t, 1926) collided with the tugAmsterdam (Netherlands) at Den Helder and sank. Three crew were killed. There were 27 survivors. She was refloated on 10 March but was never repaired.[1][50][51]
World War II: The fishing vessel (26 GRT) sunk in the North Sea off the Noord Hinder Lightship by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of KG26, Luftwaffe or by a mine. Four crew were killed.[1][54]
The tanker barge (1,155 GRT, 1904) ran aground at Bradenton Beach, Florida, United States in bad weather and was wrecked. One of her eight crew members drowned.[59][60]
9 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: The collier (1,585 GRT, 1924) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Cornwall by U-14 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all 19 crew.[1][61][62]
The collier (1,323 GRT, 1924) ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent. She broke in two on 11 March. All 17 crew were rescued by the motor life-boat Prudential.[1][18]
World War II: The trawler (216 GRT, 1915) was shelled and sunk off Tory Island by U-38 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all 11 crew.[70]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship (1,918 GRT, 1911) collided with (United Kingdom) in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north east of Hartlepool, Co Durham and sank. All 23 crew were rescued.[1][68][71]
French Navy
World War II: The auxiliary patrol vessel ran aground near Latakia, Syria and was wrecked.[72][73]
Greece
World War II: The cargo ship (4,979 GRT, 1913) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel off the north coast of Cornwall by U-28 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all 30 crew.[74][75]
Santa Godelieva
Belgium
World War II: The fishing vessel (33 GRT) was sunk in the North Sea off Ostend, West Flanders by a mine or by aircraft of KG26, Luftwaffe, with the loss of four crew.[1][7][76][77][78]
The cargo ship (5,760 GRT, 1916) collided with (United Kingdom) in the English Channel 18 nautical miles (33 km) south east of Start Point, Devon and sank. All 75 crew were rescued by French Trawler Notre Dame de Montlignon.[82][83]
World War II: The trawler (165 GRT) caught a mine in her nets whilst fishing in the North Sea. The mine exploded sinking the vessel. All nine crew were rescued by the trawler Ipswich (United Kingdom).[87][88][89][90][91]
World War II: The Type VIIAsubmarine (616/733 t, 1936) was bombed and sunk in the Jade Bight by a Bristol Blenheim aircraft of 82 Squadron, Royal Air Force with the loss of all 58 people on board. She was raised on 15 March, repaired at Wilhelmshaven and returned to service on 30 July.[92]
Winter War: End of War: The tugboat was scuttled in Lake Ladoga at Sortavala off the Havus Shipyard.[95]
Finland
Winter War: End of War: The tugboat was scuttled in Lake Ladoga at Sortavala off the Havus Shipyard.[95]
Netherlands
World War II: The coaster (270 GRT) ran ashore on Kalder Steel, off Yorkshire, England and was wrecked. All six crew were rescued by the motor lifeboat Robert Patton - The Always Ready. She was later raised and repaired, resuming service in September 1941.[18][96]
The coaster (121 GRT, 1918) sank off the mouth of the Camden Haven River, New South Wales after hitting a breakwater. Her 8 crew members were all saved.[100][101]
Finland
Winter War: End of War: The Board of Navigation liaison ship was burned/scuttled at Petsamo.[95]
Finland
Winter War: End of War: The dredger was scuttled in Lake Ladoga at Sortavala off the Havus Shipyard.[95]
Winter War: End of War: The tugboat was scuttled in Lake Ladoga at Sortavala off the Havus Shipyard.[95]
United Kingdom
World War II: : The cargo ship (6,922 GRT, 1928) was in collision with (United Kingdom) in the Atlantic Ocean 600 nautical miles (1,100 km) east of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and sank. All 37 crew were rescued.[103][104][105]
Finland
Winter War: End of War: The tugboat was scuttled in Lake Ladoga at Sortavala off the Havus Shipyard.[95]
Finland
Winter War: End of War: The Border Guard patrol ship was burned/scuttled at Petsamo.[95]
World War II: The naval trawler (398 GRT, 1933) struck a mine and was damaged in the English Channel off Dover, Kent (51°00′N1°35′E / 51.000°N 1.583°E / 51.000; 1.583). The crew were rescued by (Royal Navy) and the ship was taken in tow by HMS Brilliant (Royal Navy). (United Kingdom) later took over the tow but the ship sank before she could be brought into port. There were no casualties.[107][110][111]
Netherlands
World War II: The coaster (397 GRT) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with all seven hands.[15][76][112]
16 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Australia
The cargo ship (1537 GRT, 1938) sank off West Point, Tasmania after striking an uncharted rock. Her 24 crew members were all saved.[113][114]
Royal Navy
World War II: The naval trawler (107 GRT, 1914) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Margate east of North Foreland, Kent, with the loss of six of her 12 crew. The survivors were rescued by (Royal Navy).[107][110][115]
Sweden
The cargo ship (1,314 GRT, 1913) ran aground in the Skaggerak off Risør, Norway and was wrecked. Eleven of her 20 crew died.[116][117][118][119]
The trawler sank after a collision with the trawler Aberdeen (flag unknown) in the fishing grounds off Ireland. The crew were all rescued by Aberdeen.[122]
17 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The coaster (350 GRT) ran aground on Fort Island, Isle of Man with the loss of two of her nine crew.[107][123]
World War II: : The cargo ship (3,196 GRT, 1915) was in collision with (Norway) in the North Sea and sank. The 27 crew were rescued by (Norway).[126]
France
World War II: The cargo ship (3,137 GRT, 1922) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea north of Margate, Kent, United Kingdom with the loss of two crew. There were 28 survivors.[1][18][127][128]
Netherlands
The coaster (352 GRT, 1937) sank after hitting rocks near Rathlin Island, Northern Island. All seven crew survived.[129]
The fishing vessel (227 GRT, 1916) collided with HMS Intrepid (Royal Navy) in the North Sea and sank with the loss of two of her ten crew. The survivors were rescued by HMS Intrepid.[110][131]
The trawler (219 GRT, 1917) foundered in a storm on rocks known as "The Black Waughs" 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) south of Gourdon, Aberdeenshire. Six fishermen lost their lives.[135]
Italy
World War II: The cargo ship (4,853 or 4,861 GRT, 1911) struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off the east coast of Kent, United Kingdom. She was taken in tow by (United Kingdom but struck two more mines and sank at 51°20′N1°42′E / 51.333°N 1.700°E / 51.333; 1.700 with the loss of one of her 37 crew.[1][136][137]
World War II: The trawler (276 GRT, 1917) collided with (Royal Navy) in the North Sea off Montrose, Angus and sank with the loss of 11 crew. There was only one survivor.[110][140]
Denmark
World War II: The cargo ship (1,229 GRT, 1911) was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the North Sea off the north coast of Inverness-shire (58°07′N2°39′W / 58.117°N 2.650°W / 58.117; -2.650) by U-19 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 11 of her 20 crew. The survivors were rescued by HMS Esk (Royal Navy).[26][110][141][142]
20 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (5,439 GRT, 1921) was bombed and damaged in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south south west of Beachy Head, Sussex by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of KG26, Luftwaffe. Five crew were lost. The 29 survivors were rescued by the Eastbourne Lifeboat Jane Holland ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution) She was beached south east of but broke her back on 26 March, a total loss.[7][18][110][143][144][145]
Denmark
World War II: The cargo ship (2,109 GRT, 1920) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the north coast of Inverness-shire, United Kingdom by U-19 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 15 of her 20 crew.[26][146][147]
Protinus
Netherlands
World War II: The trawler (341 or 202 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of , Luftwaffe with the loss of two of her 12 crew. Two others died before the eight survivors were rescued by HMS Unity (Royal Navy) on 25 March.[110][15][148][149][150]
Norway
World War II: : The cargo ship (1,267 GRT, 1916) was bombed and damaged in the North Sea by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was taken in tow by (United Kingdom) but sank 4.75 nautical miles (8.80 km) east of Copinsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom following and explosion. She may have struck a mine. There were no casualties.[110][151]
World War II: The cargo ship (1,654 GRT, 1938) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (60°17′N2°49′W / 60.283°N 2.817°W / 60.283; -2.817), by U-38 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of four crew members and a passenger. The 20 survivors were rescued by (Royal Navy).[26][110][154][155][156]
Denmark
World War II: The cargo ship (3,270 GRT, 1922) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (60°17′N2°49′W / 60.283°N 2.817°W / 60.283; -2.817), by U-38 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one of her 25 crew. The survivors were rescued by (Royal Navy).[26][157][158][159]
United Kingdom
World War II: The paddle steamer ferry (250 GRT, 1886) was scuttled as a block ship in Water Sound, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, or capsized and sank in deep water during a gale.[33][160][161]
The cargo ship (1,914 GRT) was damaged by ice and sank in the Baltic Sea. Her crew survived.[164]
Sweden
The cargo ship (1,282 GRT, 1902) collided in dense fog with Nujolla (Sweden) and sank 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Færder Lighthouse in the Oslofjord, Norway. There were no casualties.[165][166]
23 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
World War II: The cargo ship (2,189 GRT, 1920) was shelled and stopped in the Skaggerak off Jutland, Denmark by HMS Truant (Royal Navy) and subsequently sunk with torpedoes. The captain was taken as a prisoner of war. The other crewmen reached land safely.[27][110][167][168]
The L'Adroit-classdestroyer (1,380/2,000 t, 1928) was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Casablanca, Morocco by the accidental explosion of its own torpedoes with the loss of 28 crew. There were also 24 wounded.[169][170][171]
Royal Navy
World War II: The naval trawler (210 GRT, 1910) struck a mine in the North Sea 61 nautical miles (113 km) north of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire and sank. All crew were rescued by (Royal Navy).[110][172][173][174]
24 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
The cargo ship (3,030 GRT) ran aground off , Denmark 5 miles (8.0 km) from Hirsthals Light after striking a reef. She was refloated on 30 March.[175][176][177]
25 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Denmark
World War II: The cargo ship (1,146 GRT, 1921) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea north east of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (60°00′N4°19′W / 60.000°N 4.317°W / 60.000; -4.317) by U-47 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 13 of her 18 crew. The survivors were rescued by (Denmark).[26][110][178][179][180]
The auxiliary patrol boat sank off Dunkerque after running in a sandbank during a storm.[187][188]
28 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
World War II: : The cargo ship (3,220 GRT, 1920) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea north of Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, United Kingdom. All 33 crew were rescued by HMS Pelican (Royal Navy).[110][189][190][191]
The schooner (98 GRT) was rammed by the cargo ship Esmond (United Kingdom) and sank at the entrance of the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia. There were nine fatalities.[194][195][196]
30 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Canada
The cargo ship (2,158 GRT, 1908) ran aground off Winging Point, 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia and was wrecked. The crew were all saved.[197][198]
31 March[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 March 1940
Ship
Country
Description
Norway
The cargo ship (625 GRT, 1920) foundered 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) off Arinagour, Coll, United Kingdom. Her 14 crew were all saved.[18][199]
Walsingham
United Kingdom
The trawler was helping a neutral steamer which had gone aground on the east coast of England when the steamer slipped on a shelf and collided with Walsingham, which foundered (51°40′N1°35′E / 51.667°N 1.583°E / 51.667; 1.583). The crew was saved.[187][200][201]
World War II: The Type IIBsubmarine (275/323 t, 1936) was declared missing since 27 March 1940 in the North Sea or Skaggerak. There is no explanation for its loss. All 27 hands were lost.[7][202]
^"Wolfsburg". www.warcovers.dk. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
^Donald A. Bertke, Gordon Smith, Don Kindell (2011). World War II Sea War, Volume 1: the Nazis strike first. Lulu.com. p. 393. ISBN978-0-578-02941-2.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Arucas". de.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
^"Arucas". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 9 February 2021.