Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged 1939 to 1941

Ships Captured or Detained 1939 (80 ships)
Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
09/03/39 Saccarappa Hog Islander Detained by British Released 5 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
09/05/39 Don Isidro Freighter (Philippines) Detained by British Released; Two German passengers removed Med-BlackSea None
09/05/39 Black Osprey Freighter Detained by British Released 8 days NEAtlantic None
09/05/39 Lehigh Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days NEAtlantic None
09/05/39 Santa Paula Passenger Ship Stopped by British Released 20 minutes Caribbean None
09/06/39 Exochorda Freighter Detained by French Released; Crew: 2 ethnic Germans removed Med-BlackSea None
09/07/39 Warrior Freighter Detained by British Released 11 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
09/09/39 President Harding Passenger Ship Detained by French Released; Cargo removed NAtlantic None
09/09/39 Wacosta Freighter Stopped by German U-boat Released 3 hours NAtlantic None
09/10/39 Hybert Freighter Stopped by German U-boat Released 2 hours NAtlantic None
09/11/39 R. G. Stewart Tanker Stopped by German U-boat Released NAtlantic None
09/12/39 Black Eagle Freighter Detained by British Released 7 days NEAtlantic None
09/14/39 City of Joliet Freighter Detained by French Released 21 days; Cargo examined NEAtlantic None
09/16/39 Shickshinny Hog Islander Detained by British Released 3 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
09/17/39 Black Condor Freighter Detained by British Released 8 days NEAtlantic None
09/18/39 Eglantine Freighter Stopped by German U-boat Released NAtlantic None
09/19/39 Black Hawk Freighter Detained by British Released 16 days NEAtlantic None
09/20/39 Ethan Allen Freighter Detained by British Released 11 days NEAtlantic None
09/20/39 Ipswich Freighter Detained by British Released 11 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
09/22/39 Syros Freighter Detained by French Released 19 days NEAtlantic None
09/27/39 Executive Freighter Detained by French Released 3 days NEAtlantic None
10/04/39 Iroquois Passenger Ship Threatened sinking by Germans Coast Guard and Navy escort NAtlantic None
10/05/39 Exeter Freighter Detained by French Released 2 days NEAtlantic None
10/06/39 Black Gull Freighter Detained by British Released 6 days; Mail removed NEAtlantic None
10/06/39 Black Falcon Freighter Detained by British Released 12 days NEAtlantic None
10/07/39 Black Heron Freighter Detained by British Released 10 days NEAtlantic None
10/09/39 City of Flint Freighter Captured by Germans; prize crew aboard Taken to Norway; Soviet Unio; Norway; released by Norwegian commandos 11/03/39 NAtlantic None
10/10/39 Patrick Henry Freighter Detained by British Released 13 days NEAtlantic None
10/11/39 Sundance Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days NEAtlantic None
10/11/39 Black Tern Freighter Detained by British Released 18 days; Mail removed NEAtlantic None
10/13/39 Iberville Freighter Detained by British Released 12 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
10/13/39 Oakman Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days NEAtlantic None
10/14/39 Scanstates Freighter Detained by British Released 7 days NEAtlantic None
10/14/39 Exporter Freighter Detained by British Released 14 days NEAtlantic None
10/14/39 Nashaba Freighter Detained by French Released 12 days NEAtlantic None
10/16/39 Gateway City Freighter Detained by British Released 16 days, Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
10/17/39 Cranford Freighter Detained by British Released 5 days NEAtlantic None
10/18/39 West Hobomac Freighter Detained by British Released 8 days NEAtlantic None
10/21/39 Meanticut Freighter Detained by British Released 7 days Med-Black Sea None
10/22/39 Endicott Freighter Detained by French Released 12 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
10/22/39 West Gambo Freighter Detained by French Released 12 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
10/22/39 President Hayes Passenger Ship Detained by British Released 2 days; Cargo removed Med-BlackSea None
10/23/39 Tulsa Freighter Detained by British Released 18 days NEAtlantic None
10/24/39 Wacosta Freighter Detained by British Released 16 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
10/25/39 Black Eagle Freighter Detained by British Released 10 days NEAtlantic None
10/30/39 Scanpenn Freighter Detained by British Released 13 days NEAtlantic None
10/30/39 Hybert Freighter Detained by British Released 7 days NEAtlantic None
10/31/39 Black Osprey Freighter Detained by British Released NEAtlantic None
11/01/39 Exminster Freighter Detained by British Released 7 days Med-Black Sea None
11/05/39 Black Condor Freighter Detained by British Released 13 days; Cargo and Mail removed NEAtlantic None
11/05/39 President Polk Passenger Ship Detained by British Released; Cargo removed Med-BlackSea None
11/05/39 Scanmail Freighter Detained by British Released 17 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
11/06/39 Exeter Freighter Detained by British Released; Mail removed Med-Black Sea None
11/08/39 Exeter Freighter Detained by French Released 3 days; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
11/11/39 Nishmaha Freighter Detained by British Sent from Gibraltar to Marseilles; Released 39 days; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
11/11/39 Yaka Freighter Detained by British Released; Cargo examined NEAtlantic None
11/12/39 Express Freighter Detained by British Released 10 days Med-Black Sea None
11/13/39 Black Hawk Freighter Detained by British Released NEAtlantic None
11/16/39 Lafcomo Freighter Detained by British Released NEAtlantic None
11/16/39 West Harshaw Freighter Detained by British Released NEAtlantic None
11/17/39 Black Gull Freighter Detained by British Released NEAtlantic None
11/17/39 Examiner Freighter Detained by British Released 18 days; Mail removed Med-Black Sea None
11/20/39 Excambion Freighter Detained by British Released 8 days Med-Black Sea None
11/22/39 Exmouth Freighter Detained by British Released 14 days Med-Black Sea None
11/27/39 Effingham Freighter Detained by British Released 11 days NEAtlantic None
11/27/39 Azalea City Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
11/28/39 Winston Salem Freighter Detained by British Released 10 days; Cargo removed NEAtlantic None
11/30/39 Extavia Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days Med-Black Sea None
12/05/39 Exochorda Freighter Detained by British Released 8 days; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
12/05/39 Yaka Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days NEAtlantic None
12/07/39 Exmoor Freighter Detained by British Released 9 days Med-Black Sea None
12/09/39 Explorer Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days Med-Black Sea None
12/10/39 Steel Engineer Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
12/17/39 Meanticut Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
12/17/39 Excalibur Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days Med-Black Sea None
12/20/39 Oakwood Freighter Detained by British Released 4 days Med-Black Sea None
12/20/39 Executive Freighter Detained by British Released 15 days Med-Black Sea None
12/27/39 Oakwood Freighter Detained by French Released quickly Med-Black Sea None
12/28/39 Exilona Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
12/29/39 President Adams Passenger Ship Detained by British Released; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None

Ships Sunk, Damaged or Detained 1940 (48 ships)
Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
01/01/40 City of Flint Freighter Collision Damaged Murmansk None
01/01/40 Exeter Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
01/03/40 Mormacsun Freighter Detained by British Released NEAtlantic None
01/03/40 Nashaba Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
01/04/40 Exiria Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
01/06/40 Manhattan Passenger Ship Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
01/09/40 Western Queen Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
01/10/40 President Van Buren Passenger Ship Detained by British Released; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
01/11/40 Tripp Freighter Detained by British Released 3 days; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
01/13/40 Narbo Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
01/17/40 Manhattan Passenger Ship Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
01/17/40 Excambion Freighter Detained by British Released 7 days; Mail removed Med-Black Sea None
01/20/40 Examelia Freighter Detained by British Released 12 days Med-Black Sea None
01/20/40 Washington Passenger Ship Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
01/21/40 Nishmaha Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
01/22/40 Excellency Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
01/27/40 Cold Harbor Freighter Detained by British Released 4 days Med-Black Sea None
01/28/40 Sarcoxic Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
01/28/40 Waban Freighter Detained by British Released few hours; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
01/29/40 Exochorda Freighter Detained by British Released 4 days Med-Black Sea None
01/31/40 Washington Passenger Ship Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
01/31/40 Jomar Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
02/01/40 Exminster Freighter Detained by British Released 9 days Med-Black Sea None
02/02/40 Washington Passenger Ship Stopped by French; Detained British Released 3 days; Mail removed ApproachMed None
02/05/40 Exford Freighter Detained by British Released 9 days Med-Black Sea None
02/08/40 Scottsburg Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
02/10/40 West Chatala Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
02/14/40 Manhattan Passenger Ship Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
02/14/40 Exermont Freighter Detained by British Released 3 days Med-Black Sea None
02/16/40 Excalibur Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
02/17/40 Exhibitor Freighter Detained by British Released 5 days Med-Black Sea None
02/21/40 Sahale Freighter Detained by British Released 2 days Med-Black Sea None
02/23/40 Lehigh Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
02/24/40 Scottsburg Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
02/25/40 West Camargo Freighter Stopped by French Released 20 minutes Caribbean None
02/26/40 Washington Passenger Ship Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
02/27/40 Sundance Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
02/29/40 Cold Harbor Freighter Detained by British Released Med-Black Sea None
03/01/40 Exeter Freighter Detained by British Released 4 days; Mail removed Med-Black Sea None
03/02/40 Manhattan Passenger Ship Detained by British Released; Cargo removed Med-Black Sea None
03/09/40 Exmoor Freighter Detained by British Released 3 days Med-Black Sea None
03/10/40 Explorer Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
03/10/40 Exchester Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
03/10/40 West Cohas Freighter Detained by British Released few hours Med-Black Sea None
06/11/40 Washington Passenger Ship Stopped by German U-boat Released NAtlantic None
06/12/40 Exochorda Freighter Shelled Slight damage Med-Black Sea None
11/09/40 City of Rayville Freighter Mine Sunk Pacific Crew 1
12/21/40 Charles Pratt Tanker (Panama) Torpedo Sunk SAtlantic Crew 2

Ships Sunk or Damaged January to November 1941 (16 ships)
Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
05/21/41 Robin Moor Hog Islander Torpedo & Shelled Sunk Caribbean None
08/11/41 Iberville Freighter  Aerial mine Damaged Indian-Red Sea  None
08/17/41 Longtaker [former Danish Sessa] Freighter (Panama) Torpedo & Shelled Sunk NAtlantic Crew 24
09/05/41 Steel Seafarer Freighter Bombed Sunk Indian-Red Sea None
09/11/41 Arkansan Freighter Shelled Damaged Indian-Red Sea None
09/11/41 Montana [former Danish Paula] Freighter (Panama) Torpedo Sunk NAtlantic Crew 26
09/19/41 Pink Star [former Danish Landby] Freighter (Panama) Torpedo Sunk NAtlantic Crew 13
09/27/41 I. C. White Tanker (Panama) Torpedo Sunk SAtlantic Crew 3
10/16/41 Bold Venture [former Danish Alssund] Freighter (Panama) Torpedo Sunk NAtlantic Crew 17
10/19/41 Lehigh Freighter Torpedo Sunk ApproachMed None
11/05/41 Montrose Freighter Collision Unknown NAtlantic Unknown
11/11/41 Meridian [former Italian Dino] Freighter (Panama) Torpedo Sunk NAtlantic Crew approx. 38
11/14/41 Crusader [former Danish Brosund] Freighter Torpedo Sunk NAtlantic Crew 33; German POW 1
11/16/41 Turecamo Boys Tug Unknown Sunk NAtlantic Crew 9
11/19/41 Del Pidio Unknown (Philippines) Mine Unknown Philippines Crew 6
11/19/41 Edridio Mindoro (67 ton) Mine Sunk Philippines Unknown

 

Ships Sunk, Damaged or Captured December 1941 (82 ships) 

Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
12/01/41 Astral Tanker Torpedo attack None NAtlantic None
12/02/41 Astral Tanker Torpedo Sunk NAtlantic Crew 37
12/03/41 Sagadahoc Freighter Torpedo Sunk ApproachMed Crew 1
12/07/41 Cynthia Olson Steam Schooner Torpedo Sunk Pacific Crew 33; US Army 2
12/07/41 Islas Visayas Freighter (Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Meifoo No. 5 Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Mei Kang Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Mei Ling [Ying] Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Mei Nan Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Mei Yun Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Foch Freighter (Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Needwood Freighter (Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Herleik Freighter (Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Folozu Freighter (Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 Ramona Freighter (Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/08/41 President Harrison Troopship Deliberately grounded Captured by Japanese Pacific Crew 3; Japanese POW: 164; Died POW:12 including 4 lost on SS Arizan Maru while being transferred to Japan
12/08/41 Admiral Cole Freighter Bombed Little damage Philippines None
12/08/41 Gertrude Kellogg Freighter Bombed Damaged Philippines Japanese POW: Crew 2
12/08/41 Capillo Freighter Bombed Damaged Philippines None
12/08/41 Morazan Freighter (Honduras or Panama) Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific None
12/08/41 Nisqually Scow (former Sub Boat) Japanese attack on Wake Island Sunk Pacific Unknown
12/09/41 Gran Freighter (Panama) Captured Captured Pacific Unknown
12/09/41 Donerail [former Danish Nordhval] Freighter (Panama) Torpedo Sunk Pacific Crew 33; Passengers 8
12/10/41 Cetus Unknown (Philippines) Scuttled Taken over by Japanese Philippines Unknown
12/10/41 Mauna Ala Freighter Grounded Total loss Westcoast None
12/10/41 Oregon (States Steamship) Freighter Collision Sunk Eastcoast Crew 17
12/10/41 Sagoland Freighter Bombed Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/11/41 Lahaina Freighter Shelled Sunk Pacific Crew 4
12/11/41 President Grant Troopship None None Philippines Japanese POW: Crew: 35; Died POW: 5
12/11/41 Wawa Freighter (British owned Panama-flag) Scuttled to avoid capture Sunk Pacific Japanese POW: Crew 3
12/12/41 Governor Wright Passenger ship (Philippines) Bombed Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/12/41 Marion Freighter (Panama) Scuttled to avoid capture Sunk Pacific Unknown
12/12/41 Vincent Freighter Torpedo Sunk Pacific Japanese POW: Crew 37; Died POW: 2
12/13/41 Essi Freighter (Panama) Captured by Vichy French Turned over to Japanese Pacific Unknown
12/13/41 Manatawny Tanker Bombed Sunk Philippines None
12/15/41 Vizcaya Freighter (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/17/41 Corregidor Steamship (Philippines) Mine Sunk Philippines 500 dead
12/17/41 Manini Freighter Torpedo Sunk Pacific Crew 2
12/18/41 L. P. St. Clair Tanker Shelled None Westcoast None
12/18/41 Samoa Lumber schooner Shelled and missed by Torpedo Slight damage Westcoast None
12/19/41 Prusa Hog Islander Torpedo Sunk Pacific Crew 10
12/20/41 Lindinha Freighter (Panama) Captured Captured Pacific Unknown
12/20/41 Florinha Freighter (Panama) Captured Captured Pacific Unknown
12/20/41 Agwiworld Tanker Shelled Little damage Westcoast None
12/20/41 Emidio Tanker Shelled & Torpedo Total loss Westcoast Crew 5
12/20/41 Tahoe Garbage scow Collision with submarine Slight damage Westcoast None
12/22/41 H. M. Storey Tanker Submarine attack None Westcoast None
12/23/41 Justine Foss Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Japanese POW 4 - 2 killed on Wake by Japanese
12/23/41 Pioneer Tug Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/23/41 Columbia Dredge Captured by Japanese Captured Pacific Unknown
12/23/41 Idaho Freighter Shelled Damaged Westcoast None
12/23/41 Larry Doheny Tanker Shelled Little damage Westcoast None
12/23/41 Montebello Tanker Torpedo & Shelled Sunk Westcoast None
12/24/41 Absaroka Freighter Torpedo Damaged Westcoast Crew 1
12/24/41 Dorothy Philips Freighter Shelled Damaged-No damage [sources disagree on damage] Westcoast None
12/24/41 Si Kiang [former French] Steamship (Ship confiscated by U.S. prior) Bombed Fire Total loss Philippines Total 10; Marines 2?
12/25/41 Admiral Y. S. Williams Freighter Captured Captured Pacific Crew 1; 29 to Japanese POW camp: Died POW: 4
12/25/41 Argus Steamship (Philippines) Captured CapturedJapanese Pacific Unknown
12/25/41 Barbara Olson Freighter Submarine attack None Westcoast None
12/25/41 Eldorado Freighter (Panama) Scuttled Sunk Raised by Japanese Pacific Unknown
12/25/41 Churruca Freighter (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Pacific Unknown
12/25/41 Daylight Freighter (Panama) Captured Captured Pacific Unknown
12/25/41 Hirondelle Yacht Captured Captured Pacific Unknown
12/24/41 Si Kiang Unknown (Ship confiscated by U.S. prior) Bombed Fire Unknown Philippines Unknown
12/26/41 Nancy Moran Tug Collision Sunk Eastcoast Unknown
12/26/41 Capillo Freighter Bombed Sunk Philippines Japanese POW: 39; Died POW: 6
12/26/41 Paz Freighter (Philippines) Bombed & Fire Damaged Philippines Unknown
12/27/41 Connecticut Tanker Torpedo Damaged Westcoast None
12/27/41 Ethel Edwards Freighter Bombed & Fire Unknown Philippines Unknown
12/27/41 Taurus Freighter (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/28/41 Mauban Freighter (Philippines) Scuttled Taken over by Japanese Philippines Unknown
12/28/41 Ruth Alexander Cargo/Passenger Ship None Crew left behind Philippines Japanese POW: Crew 17; Died POW: 3
12/29/41 Don Jose Freighter (Philippines) Bombed Taken over by Japanese Philippines Unknown
12/29/41 Stone Street [former Italian Clara] Freighter (Panama) Engine room explosion Damaged NAtlantic Crew 1
12/29/41 Aloha Freighter (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/29/41 Bicol Freighter (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/29/41 Palawan Unknown (Philippines) Scuttled Taken over by Japanese Philippines Unknown
12/31/41 Dos Hermanos Unknown (Philippines) Scuttled Taken over by Japanese Philippines Unknown
12/31/41 Magallanes Steamship (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/31/41 Montanes Steamship (Philippines) Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown
12/31/41 Ruth Alexander Cargo/Passenger Ship Bombed Sunk Pacific Crew 1
12/_/41 Vizcaya Unknown Scuttled Sunk Philippines Unknown

 

Chronological list of U.S. ships sunk or damaged

Geographical list of U.S. ships sunk or damaged

Alaska

Westcoast

Pacific

Philippines

Okinawa

Eastcoast

Gulf Mexico

Caribbean

Approach Med

Med-Black Sea

Murmansk Run

Normandy
 

 

Alphabetical list of U.S. ships sunk or damaged

X

Merchant Marine Casualties
Armed Guard Casualties
Ships Sunk or Damaged in World War II
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