RN ship losses
@rnshiplosses.bsky.social
Recording ship losses of the Royal Navies of Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand day by day, remembering the fallen and honouring all who served. Corrections and additions welcome. No official affiliations. No AI used here! Also at Twitter/X.
19 Nov 1943 // Submarine HMS Simoom was lost with all 49 crew in the Aegean on or around this date. Her wreck was found in 2016 off the island of Tenedos with damage indicating that she had hit a mine while running on the surface. (Image: Imperial War Museum FL 19059) #RoyalNavy #WW2
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
19 Nov 1943 // Submarine HMS Simoom was lost with all 49 crew in the Aegean on or around this date. Her wreck was found in 2016 off the island of Tenedos with damage indicating that she had hit a mine while running on the surface. (Image: Imperial War Museum FL 19059) #RoyalNavy #WW2
19 Nov 1941 // Light cruiser HMAS Sydney was sunk with the loss of all 645 crew by German commerce raider Kormoran off the coast of Western Australia, in the vicinity of Carnarvon. The Kormoran was also sunk: her survivors' accounts helped the Australians to piece together what had happened. [1/3]
November 19, 2025 at 9:22 PM
19 Nov 1941 // Light cruiser HMAS Sydney was sunk with the loss of all 645 crew by German commerce raider Kormoran off the coast of Western Australia, in the vicinity of Carnarvon. The Kormoran was also sunk: her survivors' accounts helped the Australians to piece together what had happened. [1/3]
19 Nov 1804 // 50-gun 4th-rate HMS Romney ran aground in thick fog on the night of 18 November off Texel. She had been sailing to join a squadron blockading the Dutch coast when she went off course and grounded on Zuiderhaak Sand. During the night she refloated and was moved to deeper water. [1/3]
November 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
19 Nov 1804 // 50-gun 4th-rate HMS Romney ran aground in thick fog on the night of 18 November off Texel. She had been sailing to join a squadron blockading the Dutch coast when she went off course and grounded on Zuiderhaak Sand. During the night she refloated and was moved to deeper water. [1/3]
18 Nov 1943 // Sloop HMS Chanticleer was part of the escort force for a large inbound convoy from Freetown and Gibraltar which had faced repeated U-boat attacks in the eastern Atlantic. While investigating an asdic contact between Portugal and the Azores, she was hit by a torpedo. [1/2]
November 18, 2025 at 8:59 AM
18 Nov 1943 // Sloop HMS Chanticleer was part of the escort force for a large inbound convoy from Freetown and Gibraltar which had faced repeated U-boat attacks in the eastern Atlantic. While investigating an asdic contact between Portugal and the Azores, she was hit by a torpedo. [1/2]
18 Nov 1917 // Sloop HMS Candytuft was lost with 9 men killed when she was torpedoed by U-boat U-39 off Bougie, Algeria. The first torpedo blew off the stern and a second broke off her bows. The remainder of the ship then grounded. (Imperial War Museum image: SP 470) #RoyalNavy #WW1
November 18, 2025 at 8:56 AM
18 Nov 1917 // Sloop HMS Candytuft was lost with 9 men killed when she was torpedoed by U-boat U-39 off Bougie, Algeria. The first torpedo blew off the stern and a second broke off her bows. The remainder of the ship then grounded. (Imperial War Museum image: SP 470) #RoyalNavy #WW1
15 Nov 1942 // Destroyer HMCS Saguenay, escorting a convoy from St Johns, Newfoundland, to Sydney, Nova Scotia, was run into from astern in thick fog by freighter Azar. Several of her depth charges were dislodged: one exploded and sank the Azar with one man lost. (Images: Wikimedia Commons) [1/2]
November 15, 2025 at 5:42 PM
15 Nov 1942 // Destroyer HMCS Saguenay, escorting a convoy from St Johns, Newfoundland, to Sydney, Nova Scotia, was run into from astern in thick fog by freighter Azar. Several of her depth charges were dislodged: one exploded and sank the Azar with one man lost. (Images: Wikimedia Commons) [1/2]
15 Nov 1942 // Minesweeper HMS Algerine was torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Ascianghi off Bougie, Algeria. Only 8 of her 92 crew survived, with many men dying of injuries caused by Algerine's depth charges detonating as she sank. (Imperial War Museum FL 472) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
15 Nov 1942 // Minesweeper HMS Algerine was torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Ascianghi off Bougie, Algeria. Only 8 of her 92 crew survived, with many men dying of injuries caused by Algerine's depth charges detonating as she sank. (Imperial War Museum FL 472) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
15 Nov 1942 // Escort carrier HMS Avenger was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat U.155 just west of Gibraltar. The torpedo struck her bomb room, and she sank quickly with heavy loss of life: there were only 12 survivors from 528 on board. (Imperial War Museum image FL 1268) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
15 Nov 1942 // Escort carrier HMS Avenger was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat U.155 just west of Gibraltar. The torpedo struck her bomb room, and she sank quickly with heavy loss of life: there were only 12 survivors from 528 on board. (Imperial War Museum image FL 1268) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
14 Nov 1941 // Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sank south-east of Gibraltar: she had been torpedoed by German submarine U.81 on 13 Nov, and capsized and sank despite efforts to save her. One member of her crew died in the initial explosion. (Imperial War Museum A 6334) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
14 Nov 1941 // Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sank south-east of Gibraltar: she had been torpedoed by German submarine U.81 on 13 Nov, and capsized and sank despite efforts to save her. One member of her crew died in the initial explosion. (Imperial War Museum A 6334) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
14 Nov 1918 // Armoured cruiser HMS Cochrane ran aground in the Mersey on approach to Liverpool due to an error by the pilot. It was decided that salvage was not worthwhile and she was emptied of stores and equipment and broken up where she lay. (Imperial War Museum Q 21094) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 PM
14 Nov 1918 // Armoured cruiser HMS Cochrane ran aground in the Mersey on approach to Liverpool due to an error by the pilot. It was decided that salvage was not worthwhile and she was emptied of stores and equipment and broken up where she lay. (Imperial War Museum Q 21094) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
14 Nov 1854 // Screw steamer transport HMS Prince was lost in a violent storm which struck French and British vessels assembled off Balaklava. She had just disembarked troops but was still loaded with desperately needed winter supplies for the soldiers engaged in the Crimean War. [1/2]
November 14, 2025 at 12:15 PM
14 Nov 1854 // Screw steamer transport HMS Prince was lost in a violent storm which struck French and British vessels assembled off Balaklava. She had just disembarked troops but was still loaded with desperately needed winter supplies for the soldiers engaged in the Crimean War. [1/2]
He was, in a sense, left in France, as he and the officers of the Woodlark were held prisoner there for nine years. The court martial was held in June 1814 after they had been released and repatriated, and admonished both Innes and the pilot, although clearly finding the latter most culpable.
November 14, 2025 at 7:59 AM
He was, in a sense, left in France, as he and the officers of the Woodlark were held prisoner there for nine years. The court martial was held in June 1814 after they had been released and repatriated, and admonished both Innes and the pilot, although clearly finding the latter most culpable.
13 Nov 1939 // Destroyer HMS Blanche, escorting (with HMS Basilisk) minelayer HMS Adventure from Grimsby to Portsmouth, hit a German mine in the Thames Estuary. 2 men were killed and 12 injured. She was taken in tow but capsized and sank. (Imperial War Museum: FL 2352) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
13 Nov 1939 // Destroyer HMS Blanche, escorting (with HMS Basilisk) minelayer HMS Adventure from Grimsby to Portsmouth, hit a German mine in the Thames Estuary. 2 men were killed and 12 injured. She was taken in tow but capsized and sank. (Imperial War Museum: FL 2352) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
Tynwald before and after. A really remarkable transformation! (Both images via Wikimedia Commons.)
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Tynwald before and after. A really remarkable transformation! (Both images via Wikimedia Commons.)
12 Nov 1942 // Landing ship HMS Karanja, a requisitioned merchant ship, was sunk by German bombing off Bougie, Algeria. She was hit by two bombs at about 5.30am and was set ablaze, sinking about three hours later. 38 men lost their lives. (IWM images A 6752 & A 12831) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
12 Nov 1942 // Landing ship HMS Karanja, a requisitioned merchant ship, was sunk by German bombing off Bougie, Algeria. She was hit by two bombs at about 5.30am and was set ablaze, sinking about three hours later. 38 men lost their lives. (IWM images A 6752 & A 12831) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
12 Nov 1942 // At about 7am landing ship HMS Cathay, a requisitioned merchant ship, which had been bombed (with one man killed) while landing troops at Bougie, Algeria, on the previous afternoon, exploded and capsized. By 10am she had sunk. (Imperial War Museum A 13020) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
12 Nov 1942 // At about 7am landing ship HMS Cathay, a requisitioned merchant ship, which had been bombed (with one man killed) while landing troops at Bougie, Algeria, on the previous afternoon, exploded and capsized. By 10am she had sunk. (Imperial War Museum A 13020) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
12 Nov 1942 // Auxiliary AA ship HMS Tynwald (ex Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. SS Tynwald) was torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Argo off Bougie, Algeria. Ten men died in the sinking. (Imperial War Museum image A 7113) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
12 Nov 1942 // Auxiliary AA ship HMS Tynwald (ex Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. SS Tynwald) was torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Argo off Bougie, Algeria. Ten men died in the sinking. (Imperial War Museum image A 7113) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
12 Nov 1942 // Destroyer tender HMS Hecla was torpedoed and sunk by U.515 around midnight, west of Gibraltar. The first torpedo stopped the Hecla but it took three more torpedoes to sink her. 281 of 849 on board were killed. (IWM images: FL 22892 & Art.IWM ART LD 2611) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
12 Nov 1942 // Destroyer tender HMS Hecla was torpedoed and sunk by U.515 around midnight, west of Gibraltar. The first torpedo stopped the Hecla but it took three more torpedoes to sink her. 281 of 849 on board were killed. (IWM images: FL 22892 & Art.IWM ART LD 2611) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
12 Nov 1925 // HMS M1, a 'submarine monitor' with 12in gun, sank with all hands (69 men) after being struck while submerged by a Swedish collier, SS Vidar, off South Devon. Exercising with submarine HMS M3 and surface vessels, M1 dived at 7:37am and was not seen again. A search found no trace. [1/2]
November 12, 2025 at 6:37 PM
12 Nov 1925 // HMS M1, a 'submarine monitor' with 12in gun, sank with all hands (69 men) after being struck while submerged by a Swedish collier, SS Vidar, off South Devon. Exercising with submarine HMS M3 and surface vessels, M1 dived at 7:37am and was not seen again. A search found no trace. [1/2]
11 Nov 1931 // Minesweeper HMS Petersfield was wrecked with no loss of life after running aground on Tung Yung (Dongyin) island while sailing from Shanghai to Fuzhou carrying Admiral Sir William Kelly, CinC China Station, and his wife and daughter. The wreck was big news in the British press. [1/7]
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
11 Nov 1931 // Minesweeper HMS Petersfield was wrecked with no loss of life after running aground on Tung Yung (Dongyin) island while sailing from Shanghai to Fuzhou carrying Admiral Sir William Kelly, CinC China Station, and his wife and daughter. The wreck was big news in the British press. [1/7]
11 Nov 1917 // Coastal monitor HMS M.15 was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC.38, which succeeded in infiltrating the well-protected anchorage at Deir el Belah south of Gaza where M.15 was at anchor following shore bombardment operations directed against Turkish forces. [1/2]
November 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
11 Nov 1917 // Coastal monitor HMS M.15 was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC.38, which succeeded in infiltrating the well-protected anchorage at Deir el Belah south of Gaza where M.15 was at anchor following shore bombardment operations directed against Turkish forces. [1/2]
11 Nov 1917 // Destroyer HMS Staunch was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC.38 while in a well-protected anchorage with other ships at Deir el Belah, south of Gaza. Struck by one torpedo amidships, the destroyer broke in two and sank in about fifteen minutes with 8 men lost. [1/2]
November 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
11 Nov 1917 // Destroyer HMS Staunch was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC.38 while in a well-protected anchorage with other ships at Deir el Belah, south of Gaza. Struck by one torpedo amidships, the destroyer broke in two and sank in about fifteen minutes with 8 men lost. [1/2]
11 Nov 1914 // Minesweeper HMS Niger was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat U.12 off Deal, where she was serving as an examination vessel. A courageous rescue by local lifeboats saved many of those on board, but 15 crewmen lost their lives. (Imperial War Museum image Q 75440) #RoyalNavy #WW1
November 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
11 Nov 1914 // Minesweeper HMS Niger was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat U.12 off Deal, where she was serving as an examination vessel. A courageous rescue by local lifeboats saved many of those on board, but 15 crewmen lost their lives. (Imperial War Museum image Q 75440) #RoyalNavy #WW1
In honour of the Navy and to the abiding memory of the fallen. We will remember them. #RemembranceDay
November 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
In honour of the Navy and to the abiding memory of the fallen. We will remember them. #RemembranceDay
10 Nov 1942 // Sloop HMS Ibis was torpedoed and sunk by Italian aircraft off Algiers while participating in Operation Torch. 108 of her crew were lost. (Imperial War Museum FL 10454) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
10 Nov 1942 // Sloop HMS Ibis was torpedoed and sunk by Italian aircraft off Algiers while participating in Operation Torch. 108 of her crew were lost. (Imperial War Museum FL 10454) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory