List of shipwrecks in February 1939

The list of shipwrecks in February 1939 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during February 1939.

1 February

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List of shipwrecks: 1 February 1939
Ship State Description
Iron Warrior   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground at Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.[1]
Thode Fagelund   Norway The cargo ship ran aground at Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina.[1]

2 February

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List of shipwrecks: 2 February 1939
Ship State Description
I-63   Imperial Japanese Navy 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]
Northton   United Kingdom The cargo ship sank at Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada.[7]
Washington   United States The dredger caught fire and sank at New York.[7]

3 February

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List of shipwrecks: 3 February 1939
Ship State Description
Avala   Yugoslavia The cargo ship ran aground 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of Cape Agulhas, Union of South Africa and sank.[8] Declared a total loss.[9]
Lutzen   Canada The coaster, a former Navarin-class minesweeper, ran aground off Nauset Beach, Massachusetts with the loss of a crew member.[7] She capsized in a storm on 7 February and broke up.[10][11]
Montrolite   United Kingdom The tanker ran aground in the Indo Channel, Argentina.[12] She was refloated on 5 February.[9]

5 February

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List of shipwrecks: 5 February 1939
Ship State Description
Glenmaroon   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground in the Seine at Aizier, Eure, France. She was refloated the next day.[9]
Mitra   Norway The tanker came ashore 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of Tallinn, Estonia.[12] She was later refloated.[9]
Mylla   Norway The tanker ran aground at Kastrup, Denmark.[12] She was refloated on 8 February.[13]

6 February

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List of shipwrecks: 6 February 1939
Ship State Description
Authorpe   Nationalist Spain Spanish Civil War: The nationalist government owned trawler, a former Admiralty naval trawler, was accidentally sunk by Nationalist aircraft at Alicante. She was raised, repaired and returned to service.
Leverkusen   Germany The passenger ship ran aground on the Saratoga Spit, off the coast of Japan.[14]

7 February

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List of shipwrecks: 7 February 1939
Ship State Description
Rashin Maru   Japan The cargo ship ran aground at Hongay, French Indo-China.[15] She was refloated about a month later.[16]

8 February

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List of shipwrecks: 8 February 1939
Ship State Description
Katina Bulgari   Greece The cargo ship collided with Meanticut (  United States) and sank in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south of the Humber Lightship (  Trinity House) (53°35′28″N 0°31′20″E / 53.59111°N 0.52222°E / 53.59111; 0.52222). The wreck was subsequently dispersed by explosives.[17]
Maria de Larrinaga   United Kingdom The cargo ship issued a mayday in the Atlantic Ocean (42°30′N 46°00′W / 42.500°N 46.000°W / 42.500; -46.000).[10] Wreckage was spotted the next day by Aurania (  United Kingdom) at 42°27′N 45°49′W / 42.450°N 45.817°W / 42.450; -45.817. All 37 or 38 crew were lost.[18][19][20]
Pluto   Finland The cargo ship ran aground off Dragør, Denmark.[10] She was refloated on 10 February after discharging 100 tons of cargo.[15]
HMAS Swordsman   Royal Australian Navy The S-class destroyer was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New South Wales.[21]

9 February

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List of shipwrecks: 9 February 1939
Ship State Description
Aghios Nicolaos   Greece The cargo ship ran aground of the Punta Bianca Lighthouse, Grossa Islan, Yugoslavia.[15] She was refloated on 14 February.[22]
Apollo   Finland The cargo ship ran aground on Møn, Denmark.[13] She was refloated on 11 February.[23]
Corio   United Kingdom The cargo ship was scuttled off Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia.[24]
Damanski   Greece The cargo ship ran aground at "Stylis".[13]
Dronningen   Denmark The passenger ship ran aground in fog at Arendal, Norway.[13]
Elsa Croy   Estonia The schooner came ashore north of Rønne, Denmark.[13] She was refloated on 19 February.[25]
Fonix   Norway The cargo ship ran aground at Fedje and sank. All of her crew were rescued.[13]
Glückauf   Germany The collier collided with the wreck of Katina Bulgari (  Greece) in the North Sea (54°36′06″N 0°31′05″E / 54.60167°N 0.51806°E / 54.60167; 0.51806) and sank. All nineteen crew were rescued by Rhea (  Finland).[13][26]
Kaupanger   Norway The cargo ship ran aground in the Guadiana 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) downstream of Pomerão, Portugal.[13] She was refloated undamaged on 16 February.[27]

10 February

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List of shipwrecks: 10 February 1939
Ship State Description
Chuy   Brazil The cargo ship ran aground at Bahia.[15] She was later refloated.[23]
Egeran   Germany The cargo ship passed the Elbe Lighthouse on a voyage from Hamburg to Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands. No further trace.[28]
Lightburne   United States The tanker ran aground in dense fog at Old Harbour Point, on the coast of Block Island off Rhode Island, 0.25 miles (0.4 km) southeast of Block Island Southeast Light. She broke in two, and sank in up to 30 feet (9.1 m) of water (41°08′58″N 071°32′54″W / 41.14944°N 71.54833°W / 41.14944; -71.54833 (Lightburne)). All 37 crew and a dog on board were rescued by the cutter USCGC Active (  United States Coast Guard).[23][29][30]
Monocacy   United States The decommissioned gunboat was scuttled off the coast of China.

11 February

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List of shipwrecks: 11 February 1939
Ship State Description
Basil Blackett   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground of a reef off Nassau, Bahamas.[23] She was declared a total loss.[22]
Maltran   United States The Design 1012 cargo ship ran aground in the James River.[23] She was refloated the next day.[31]

12 February

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List of shipwrecks: 12 February 1939
Ship State Description
Baltabor   United Kingdom The cargo liner ran aground 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Liepāja, Latvia.[23] She was refloated on 21 June, but grounded again.[32]
Eduard Geiss   Germany The cargo ship ran aground off Kołobrzeg, Poland.[23]

13 February

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List of shipwrecks: 13 February 1939
Ship State Description
Agnew   United Kingdom The dredger ran aground at Devonport, Tasmania, Australia.[31] She was declared a total loss and sold for scrap.[33]
Naviedale   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground off the Longman Beacon, Inverness-shire.[31] She was refloated on 15 February.[22]
Saiko Maru   Japan The cargo ship collided with Binna (  Norway) at Moji and sank.[31]

14 February

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List of shipwrecks: 14 February 1939
Ship State Description
Koningsdiep   Netherlands The cargo ship ran aground at Cape Arkona, Germany.[33] Her cargo of bricks was jettisoned. She was refloated on 23 February and towed to Stralsund for assessment. She was found to be severely damaged.[34]

15 February

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List of shipwrecks: 15 February 1939
Ship State Description
Topdalsfjord   Norway The cargo ship ran aground in Hjeltefjorden and was severely damaged.[22]

16 February

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List of shipwrecks: 16 February 1939
Ship State Description
Arnfinn Jarl   Norway The cargo ship ran aground in Sørfjorden, near Bergen and was severely damaged.[27] She was later refloated and towed to Bergen for repairs.[25]
Kaipara   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran agrount at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and sprang a leak. She was drydocked for repairs.[35]

17 February

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List of shipwrecks: 17 February 1939
Ship State Description
Albion   Norway The cargo ship ran aground off the Stavnes Lighthouse and was severely damaged. She was beached at Kristiansund, one crew member was killed.[35]
Gertrude Jean   United Kingdom The schooner was crushed by pack ice at Hickman's Harbor, Newfoundland and sank.[35] She was declared a total loss.[36]
Rossmore   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground at Hayle, Cornwall.[35] She was refloated the next day.[25]
Wiborg   Germany The coaster collided with City of Bremen (  United Kingdom) in the Osterems in dense fog and sank. All twelve crew were rescued by City of Bremen.[35]

18 February

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List of shipwrecks: 18 February 1939
Ship State Description
Kongeaa   Denmark The cargo ship ran aground off Dragør.[36] She was refloated the next day.[25]
Moreton Bay   United Kingdom The passenger ship ran aground in the Suez Roads, Egypt. She was later refloated undamaged.[36]
Moyalla   United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground at Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland.[36]
Nasu Maru   Japan The salvage ship ran aground on one of the Ryukyu Islands.[25]
Provençal 8   France The tug capsized and sank at Algiers, Algeria whilst assisting Oceania (  Italy).[citation needed]
Taurus   Finland The cargo ship sprang a leak 18 nautical miles (33 km) east north east of the Borkum Lightship (  Germany). She was later beached.[36] Taurus was subsequently refloated and taken to Cuxhaven, Germany for repairs.[25]

20 February

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List of shipwrecks: 20 February 1939
Ship State Description
Alfa   Estonia The cargo ship ran aground west of Arensburg.[25] Refloated on 10 March after part of the cargo was jettisoned and towed to Tallinn.[37] She was consequently scrapped.[38]
Beaverhill   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.[25]
Changri   United States The schooner came ashore at San Felipe Key, Cuba.[25]
Kaiyoku Maru   Japan The cargo ship ran aground and foundered east of Port Hamilton, Korea (34°03′N 127°24′E / 34.050°N 127.400°E / 34.050; 127.400). She was on a voyage from Karatsu to Tsingtao, China.[39][40]

21 February

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List of shipwrecks: 21 February 1939
Ship State Description
Daniel M.   United Kingdom The coaster ran aground at the entrance to Margate Harbour, Kent.[41]

22 February

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List of shipwrecks: 22 February 1939
Ship State Description
HMS L21 The L-class submarine ran aground on the Isle of Arran, Bute whilst under tow to the breakers. She was refloated on 24 February.[42]
HMS Sterlet   Royal Navy The S-class submarine ran aground off Sandown, Isle of Wight in a gale. She was later refloated.[43]
HMS Sunfish   Royal Navy The S-class submarine ran aground off Sandown in a gale. She was later refloated.[43]

23 February

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List of shipwrecks: 23 February 1939
Ship State Description
Stangrove   United Kingdom Spanish Civil War: The cargo ship had been shelled off Cap de Creus and captured by the Spanish Nationalist gunboat Dato (  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.[44][45]

24 February

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List of shipwrecks: 24 February 1939
Ship State Description
Diana   Germany The cargo ship came ashore at Palma de Mallorca, Spain.[46] She had been refloated by 11 March.[37]

25 February

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List of shipwrecks: 25 February 1939
Ship State Description
Loulis   Greece Spanish Civil War: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off Cap de Creus, Spain.[44]
Mercurius   Sweden The cargo ship ran aground at Sjkelskør, Denmark. She was refloated the next day and sailed to Korsør for examination.[34]
Norden   Germany The cargo ship ran aground at Korsør. Refloated the next day and entered Korsør for examination.[34] Consequently declared a total loss.[47]

26 February

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List of shipwrecks: 26 February 1939
Ship State Description
Lillian   United States The cargo ship collided with Wiegand (  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.[48][49][50]
Nadja   United Kingdom World War II: The concrete barge was scuttled as a blockship in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands just north of Clio I (  United Kingdom).[51]
Lillian   United States The cargo ship collided with Wiegland (  Germany) off the Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey. Lillian sank the next day (40°01′N 73°31′W / 40.017°N 73.517°W / 40.017; -73.517). The wreck was subsequently removed.[52]

27 February

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List of shipwrecks: 27 February 1939
Ship State Description
Swan   United States The towing vessel was wrecked on Tugidak Island, in the Kodiak Archipelago, Territory of Alaska. Both people on board survived.[53]

28 February

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List of shipwrecks: 28 February 1939
Ship State Description
Naja   United Kingdom The Admiralty-requisitioned concrete barge was scuttled as a blockship in Water Sound, Scapa Flow.[54][55]

Unknown date

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List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1939
Ship State Description
Lucky   United Kingdom Spanish Civil War: The cargo ship was sunk in an air raid at Valencia, Spain. She was refloated on 21 April.[56]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48219. London. 2 February 1939. col G, p. 4.
  2. ^ "Japanese Submarine Sunk". The Times. No. 48221. London. 4 February 1939. col B, p. 11.
  3. ^ "81 Lives Lost In Sunken Submarine". The Times. No. 48223. London. 7 February 1939. col B, p. 14.
  4. ^ "Type KD3". Combined Fleet. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Submarine Sunk. Japanese Mishap". The Evening Post. Vol. CXXVII, no. 29. Wellington, New Zealand. 4 February 1939. p. 9.
  6. ^ Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. p. 198. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
  7. ^ a b c "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48221. London. 4 February 1939. col C, p. 21.
  8. ^ "Yugoslav Steamer Lost". The Times. No. 48221. London. 3 February 1939. col C, p. 21.
  9. ^ a b c d "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48223. London. 7 February 1939. col C, p. 24.
  10. ^ a b c "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48224. London. 9 February 1939. col F, p. 8.
  11. ^ "Lutzen, Cargo Ship 1918-1939". Wrecksite. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  12. ^ a b c "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48222. London. 6 February 1939. col F-G, p. 21.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48225. London. 10 February 1939. col F, p. 26.
  14. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48224. London. 8 February 1939. col F, p. 4.
  15. ^ a b c d "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48227. London. 11 February 1939. col F, p. 23.
  16. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48243. London. 2 March 1939. col C, p. 26.
  17. ^ Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant Fleets, 1939. London: Chatham publishing. p. 523. ISBN 1-86176-023-X.
  18. ^ "High Rate On British Steamer". The Times. No. 48226. London. 10 February 1939. col F, p. 26.
  19. ^ "British Ship Lost In Atlantic". The Times. No. 48226. London. 10 February 1939. col E, p. 14.
  20. ^ "SS Mari de Larrinaga (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  21. ^ "Hmas Swordsman (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  22. ^ a b c d "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48231. London. 16 February 1939. col G, p. 24.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48228. London. 13 February 1939. col F, p. 20.
  24. ^ "SS Corio (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48235. London. 21 February 1939. col F, p. 26.
  26. ^ "SS Gluckauf ? (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  27. ^ a b "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48232. London. 17 February 1939. col C, p. 25.
  28. ^ "SS Egeran (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  29. ^ Lightburne
  30. ^ "Lightburne". Hunting New England Shipwrecks. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  31. ^ a b c d "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48229. London. 14 February 1939. col F, p. 20.
  32. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48338. London. 22 June 1939. col C, p. 23.
  33. ^ a b "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48230. London. 15 February 1939. col C, p. 25.
  34. ^ a b c "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48240. London. 27 February 1939. col G, p. 24.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48233. London. 18 February 1939. col G, p. 23.
  36. ^ a b c d e "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48234. London. 20 February 1939. col C, p. 23.
  37. ^ a b "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48251. London. 11 March 1939. col G, p. 22.
  38. ^ "Alfa (19424)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Steamers & Motorships. ALE-ALF (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1939–1940 – via Southampton City Council.
  39. ^ "Kaiyoku Maru (1124356)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  40. ^ "Registan". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  41. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48237. London. 23 February 1939. col F, p. 24.
  42. ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 48239. London. 25 February 1939. col G, p. 9.
  43. ^ a b "Grounding Of Three Submarines". The Times. No. 48237. London. 23 February 1939. col E, p. 16.
  44. ^ a b Etchegaray, Rafael González (1977). "Appendix Two". La Marina Mercante y el tráfico marítimo en la Guerra Civil (in Spanish). Madrid: Librería Editorial San Martín. ISBN 84-7140-150-9.
  45. ^ Rodríguez Aguilar, Manuel: El vapor Británico "Stangrove" en la Guerra Civil Española y un poco de su historia Revista General de Marina, July 2013. Retrieved on 19 April 2016 (in Spanish)
  46. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48244. London. 3 March 1939. col F, p. 20.
  47. ^ "Norden (11763)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. NOR (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1939–1940 – via Southampton City Council.
  48. ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 48241. London. 28 February 1939. col B, p. 13.
  49. ^ "The Loss Of The Lillian". The Times. No. 48242. London. 1 March 1939. col G, p. 4.
  50. ^ "SS Lillian (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  51. ^ "wrecks of Scapa Flow". North Link Ferries. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  52. ^ Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant Fleets, 1939. London: Chatham publishing. p. 577. ISBN 1-86176-023-X.
  53. ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (S)
  54. ^ "Emerald Wings: Block Ship". Scapa Flow Wrecks. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  55. ^ "Naja (part Of) ? [+1939]". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  56. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48287. London. 24 April 1939. col C, p. 23.

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