World War II: The cargo ship (1,198 GRT, 1891) was stopped in the evening of 30 September 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Hanstholm by U-3 (Kriegsmarine). The papers of the ship showed that she was carrying contraband. A German scuttling party went aboard while the crew left, but then a British submarine came. The ship was finally sunk by a torpedo of U-3 in the morning of 1 October. The crew were rescued by (Denmark).[1][2]
World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper (183/203 t, 1936) was scuttled at Hel, Poland. Refloated the next day, salvaged and repaired and entered Kriegsmarine service as Westernplatte.[4]
World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper (183/203 t, 1935) was scuttled at Hel. Later salvaged by the Germans and entered Kriegsmarine service as Rixhoft.[4]
ORP Zuraw
Polish Navy
World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper (183/203 t, 1939) was scuttled at Hel. She was refloated the next day, repaired and entered Kriegsmarine service as Oxhoft.[4]
World War II: The cargo ship (4,914 GRT, 1935) struck a mine off Saint John's Island, Singapore and sank with the loss of one crew member. The ship was later salvaged.[3][4]
World War II: The fishing vessel (206 GRT, 1907) ran ashore on Aberdeen beach, abreast the Beach Ballroom due to the blackout. The crew of nine were rescued. It was found impossible to free the vessel from the sands, and she was broken up where she lay.[12]
World War II: The cargo ship (4,651 GRT, 1925) was captured in the Atlantic Ocean south of Freetown, Sierra Leone (9°35′S6°30′W / 9.583°S 6.500°W / -9.583; -6.500) by Admiral Graf Spee (Kriegsmarine). Her 34 crew were captured. She was scuttled three days later off the coast of Angola.[3][4][14]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (5,044 GRT, 1928) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 400 nautical miles (740 km) east south east of Bermuda (31°10′N54°00′W / 31.167°N 54.000°W / 31.167; -54.000) by Deutschland (Kriegsmarine). Her 39 crew were captured.[3][4][15]
6 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 6 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (9,462 GRT, 1922) struck a mine laid by U-32 (Kriegsmarine) and was damaged in the Bristol Channel (5 nautical miles (9.3 km)) off the (United Kingdom) (51°24′N4°00′W / 51.400°N 4.000°W / 51.400; -4.000). There was no casualty. She was beached in . Lochgoil was on a voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Newport, Monmouthshire. She was refloated on 28 November, repaired and returned to service.[4][16][17]
World War II: : The cargo ship (6,690 GRT, 1917) ran aground on Fork Spit, Goodwin Sands, Kent and was wrecked. All crew were rescued by the hoveller Lady Haig (United Kingdom).
World War II: The cargo ship (6,873 GRT, 1921) struck a mine laid by U-26 (Kriegsmarine) and was damaged 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south east of the (United Kingdom). She sank 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) north of the lightship (50°32′N2°20′W / 50.533°N 2.333°W / 50.533; -2.333) early the next day. All 42 crew survived. The wreck was dispersed on 10 October.[3][4][19][20]
World War II: The Type IIB submarine (275/323 t, 1935) struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Dover, Kent, United Kingdom (approximately 51°10′N1°30��E / 51.167°N 1.500°E / 51.167; 1.500) with the loss of all 27 crew.
Sweden
World War II: The cargo ship (1,018 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by U-37 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of nine of her 18 crew.[21][22][23]
9 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Indra
Finland
World War II: The cargo ship (1,999 GRT) was badly damaged by a mine in the North Sea off Terschelling, Friesland, Netherlands. Three crew were killed and 6 of the 20 survivors were wounded. The ship was towed to IJmuiden, Netherlands.[24][25]
The cargo ship (4,202 GRT, 1938) ran aground on the Ower Bank in the North Sea. All 29 crew rescued by lifeboat but one later died from injuries sustained during the rescue.
The trawler (202 GRT, 1919) ran aground at Spurn Point, Yorkshire. Salvage attempts failed and she was declared a total loss.[28]
12 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
World War II: The cargo ship (4,810 GRT, 1914) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Ireland (53°28′N14°30′W / 53.467°N 14.500°W / 53.467; -14.500) by U-37 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of two crew of her 29 crew. Survivors were rescued by (Netherlands).[3][4][29]
Crane
United States
With no one aboard, the 10-gross register ton, 34-foot (10.4 m) fishing vessel was wrecked at Valdez, Territory of Alaska.[30]
France
World War II: : The tanker (14,115 GRT, 1937) straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 190 nautical miles (350 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°15′N14°50′W / 50.250°N 14.833°W / 50.250; -14.833) by U-48 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of two crew. Survivors were rescued by (United States). Emile Miguet was scuttled by HMS Imogen (Royal Navy).[3][4][31]
World War II: The coaster (619 GRT, 1921) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 90 nautical miles (170 km) north west of Texel, North Holland, Netherlands (53°55′N2°55′E / 53.917°N 2.917°E / 53.917; 2.917) with the loss of three of her 11 crew. The survivors were rescued by (Finland).[4][33]
United Kingdom
World War II: : The cargo ship (5,202 GRT, 1929) straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 260 nautical miles (480 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°13′N14°48′W / 50.217°N 14.800°W / 50.217; -14.800) by U-48 (Kriegsmarine). All crew were rescued by (United States).[3][4][34]
France
World War II: : The cargo ship (6,903 GRT, 1921) straggled behind the convoy. She was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°14′N15°05′W / 50.233°N 15.083°W / 50.233; -15.083) by U-48 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by HMS Imogen (Royal Navy).[3][4][35][36]
U-40
Kriegsmarine
World War II: The Type IXA submarine (1,016/1,134 t, 1939) struck a mine in the English Channel (50°42′N0°15′E / 50.700°N 0.250°E / 50.700; 0.250) and sank with the loss of 45 of her 48 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Boreas and HMS Brazen (both Royal Navy).[4]
World War II: : The cargo liner (9,205 GRT, 1938) was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 230 nautical miles (430 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by U-45 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of seven crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Isis (Royal Navy) and Lochavon sank on 16 October.[3][4][39]
World War II: The Revenge-class battleship (27,790/31,130 t, 1916) was torpedoed and sunk in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands (at 58°55′N2°59′W / 58.917°N 2.983°W / 58.917; -2.983) by U-47 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 835 of her 1,260 crew.[42]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (3,677 GRT, 1925) was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (49°05′N13°05′W / 49.083°N 13.083°W / 49.083; -13.083) by U-48 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by (Belgium).[3][4][43]
The cargo ship (2,618 GRT, 1919) ran aground off North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom and was wrecked. All 26 crew were saved.[47][48]
16 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Germany
World War II: The blockade running cargo ship (5,889 GRT, 1921) was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Dakar, Senegal by Duguay-Trouin (French Navy) and was scuttled by her crew.[44]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship (5,594 GRT, 1917) ran aground in Liverpool Bay off Southport, Lancashire. No lives were lost and her cargo was later salvaged but the ship was a total loss.[49]
17 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: : The cargo ship (7,028 GRT, 1925) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nautical miles (670 km) west north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain (44°57′N13°36′W / 44.950°N 13.600°W / 44.950; -13.600) by U-46 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of two of the 80 people on board. Survivors were rescued by (United States) and (Norway)[3][44][50]
World War II: The cargo ship (7,256 GRT, 1937) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) north north west of Cape Finisterre (approximately 44°57′N13°40′W / 44.950°N 13.667°W / 44.950; -13.667) by U-48 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of four of her 78 crew. Survivors were rescued by (United States).[44][51]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship was sunk with demolition charges in the South Atlantic (16°00′S17°00′W / 16.000°S 17.000°W / -16.000; -17.000) by Admiral Graf Spee (Kriegsmarine) that had captured her on the 10th. The whole crew survived. (Look 10/10/1939)[3][52]
HMS Iron Duke
Royal Navy
World War II: The Iron Duke-class battleship (21,000/24,000 t, 1914) was attacked by four Junkers Ju 88 aircraft of 1 Staffeln, Kampfgeschwader 30, Luftwaffe at Scapa Flow and was beached to prevent her sinking.[53] Twenty-five crew were killed. She was later repaired and returned to service.
Kriegsmarine
World War II: The vorpostenboot (381 GRT, 1930) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Schiermonnikoog, Friesland, Netherlands.[54][55]
United Kingdom
World War II: : The passenger ship (10,184 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) west of Bordeaux, Gironde, France (44°52′N14°31′W / 44.867°N 14.517°W / 44.867; -14.517) by U-37 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 58 of the 281 people on board. Survivors were rescued by (United States).[3][44][56]
The Shchuka-classsubmarine (590/708 t, 1936) collided in Kola Bay with trawler RT-43 (Soviet Union) and sank. There were 34 dead and 10 survivors.[3][59][60]
20 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The Thames barge sank in the North Sea off Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.[61] (Look 29 September 1939)
World War II: The cargo ship (3,087 GRT, 1923) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) east of the (United Kingdom) (53°19′50″N0°38′20″E / 53.33056°N 0.63889°E / 53.33056; 0.63889). All crew were rescued by the Gorleston Lifeboat Louise Stephens ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution).[44][66][67]
World War II: The special service ship (3,859 GRT, 1907) was scuttled as a blockship in Kirk Sound, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands. Salvaged in 1948.[69]
United Kingdom
The cargo ship (1,559 GRT, 1906) foundered in the South China Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Kwangchowan, French Indo-China.[70][71]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (1,478 GRT, 1925) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire with the loss of 16 of her 20 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Woolston (Royal Navy.[3][44][72][73]
World War II: The vorpostenboot (426 or 449 GRT, 1934) struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Møn, Denmark with the loss of 70 of her 75 crew.[53][44][74][75]
World War II: The cargo ship (1,692 GRT, 1920) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 5 to 6 nautical miles (9.3–11.1 km) off the Withernsea Lighthouse with the loss of 14 crew.[3][44]
23 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Sweden
World War II: The cargo ship (1,241 GRT, 1903) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off the (United Kingdom) with the loss of two crew. Survivors were rescued by (United Kingdom).[3][44][76]
Germany
World War II: The tanker (4,372 or 4,327 GRT, 1904) was intercepted in the Yucatán Channel, Gulf of Mexico by HMS Caradoc (Royal Navy) and HMCS Saguenay (Royal Canadian Navy). She was scuttled by her crew.[77][78][79]
24 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 24 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
World War II: The cargo ship (5,962 GRT, 1913) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the (United Kingdom) (53°20′57″N0°36′54″E / 53.34917°N 0.61500°E / 53.34917; 0.61500) with the loss of four of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by the Gorleston Lifeboat Louise Stephens ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). The wreck was dispersed in 1947.[44][67][80][81]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (3,528 GRT, 1912) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of Gibraltar (36°01′N7°22′W / 36.017°N 7.367°W / 36.017; -7.367) by U-37 (Kriegsmarine), while she was rescuing survivors of Menin Ridge. All 31 crew were rescued by (United States).[3][44][82][83]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (2,474 GRT, 1924) was torpedoed and sunk 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of Gibraltar (36°01′N7°22′W / 36.017°N 7.367°W / 36.017; -7.367) by U-37 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 20 crew. Five survivors were rescued by (United States). The first of three ships sunk this day by U-37.[3][44]
United Kingdom
World War II: The cargo ship (4,413 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 84 nautical miles (156 km) west of Gibraltar (35°44′N7°23′W / 35.733°N 7.383°W / 35.733; -7.383) by U-37 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of two of her 33 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Douglas (Royal Navy). The last of three ships sunk this day by U-37.[3][44][84]
25 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
Greece
The passenger-cargo ship (286 GRT, 1896) ran aground on Euboea Island and was wrecked. Seven passengers died.[85][86][87]
World War II: The Type IIB submarine (275/323 t, 1936) was depth charged and sunk in the English Channel off Dover, Kent, United Kingdom by and HMS Puffin (both Royal Navy) with the loss of all 28 crew.[88]
World War II: The trawler (250 GRT, 1906) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkney Islands (59°50′N4°20′W / 59.833°N 4.333°W / 59.833; -4.333) by U-59 (Kriegsmarine). There were no casualties. The crew, along with all survivors from St. Nidan (United Kingdom) were rescued by Lady Hogarth (United Kingdom).[44][90][91][92]
St. Nidan
United Kingdom
World War II: The trawler (565 GRT, 1937) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkeny Islands (59°50′N4°20′W / 59.833°N 4.333°W / 59.833; -4.333) by U-59 (Kriegsmarine). The whole crew were rescued by Lynx II (United Kingdom).[3][44][91][93]
29 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: : The cargo ship (7,976 GRT, 1938) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 miles (97 km) west north west of Bishop Rock (49°57′N7°37′W / 49.950°N 7.617°W / 49.950; -7.617) by U-34 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of five of her 75 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Grafton (Royal Navy).[3][44][94]
Norway
World War II: The cargo ship (3,618 GRT, 1919) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (53°50′N0°17′E / 53.833°N 0.283°E / 53.833; 0.283) with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Conida (United Kingdom).[44][95]
30 October[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 October 1939
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
World War II: : The cargo ship (4,666 GRT, 1918) was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea off Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire (57°38′N1°45′W / 57.633°N 1.750°W / 57.633; -1.750) by U-13 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of three of her 44 crew. She was taken in tow by (United Kingdom) but sank later that day. Survivors were rescued by (Royal Navy).[3][44][96][97]
World War II: The armed boarding vessel (655 GRT, 1936) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkney Islands by U-59 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 27 crew.[3][44][99][100]
Greece
World War II: The cargo ship (3,693 GRT, 1912) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 160 nautical miles (300 km) west of Ireland (49°25′N11°18′W / 49.417°N 11.300°W / 49.417; -11.300) by U-37 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 22 of her 28 crew. Survivors were rescued by (Norway).[3]
World War II: The coaster (376 GRT, 1939) left Antwerp, Belgium on the 7th for Riga but never arrived and was lost without a trace with all 7 hands. She probably struck a mine in the North Sea around the 10th.[20][102]
^"Newton Beech". maritimequest.com. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^Haarr, Geirr (2013). The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 – April 1940. Seaforth Publishing. p. 249. ISBN978-1-84832-140-3.
^Dinklage, Ludwig; Witthöft, Hans Jürgen (1971). Die deutsche Handelsflotte 1939-1945. Unter bes. Berücks. d. Blockadebrecher. Band 1 (in German). Göttingen: Musterschmidt. pp. 198–201. ISBN9783788114060.