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.
Currituck is in North Carolina, not South Carolina - sorry, just typed it in wrong, no idea why. I apologise for the error, and thanks to @scottk61.bsky.social for pointing it out.
29 Nov 1709 (O.S.) // 44-gun HMS Garland ran aground and was wrecked on sandbanks at Currituck, South Carolina, with the loss of fifteen of her crew. She had been returning to Chesapeake Bay after a cruise but struck a strong current that took her too far to the south. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Currituck is in North Carolina, not South Carolina - sorry, just typed it in wrong, no idea why. I apologise for the error, and thanks to @scottk61.bsky.social for pointing it out.
29 Nov 1944 // Minesweeper MMS.101 was sweeping off Salonika with two other minesweepers when she struck a mine. The explosion completely destroyed the vessel. Three survivors were picked up from among the wreckage, but fifteen men lost their lives. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:51 PM
29 Nov 1944 // Minesweeper MMS.101 was sweeping off Salonika with two other minesweepers when she struck a mine. The explosion completely destroyed the vessel. Three survivors were picked up from among the wreckage, but fifteen men lost their lives. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1940 // HM Trawler Calverton, a minesweeper based at Immingham, was sweeping off Spurn Point in the early hours of the morning when she struck a mine and sank with the loss of two members of her crew. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:50 PM
29 Nov 1940 // HM Trawler Calverton, a minesweeper based at Immingham, was sweeping off Spurn Point in the early hours of the morning when she struck a mine and sank with the loss of two members of her crew. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1940 // Pilot Vessel No. 4, a former Dutch pilot boat taken into #RoyalNavy service as an examination vessel, was sunk with gunfire off Start Point by German destroyer Beitzen. Seven of her mixed Merchant/Royal Navy crew of thirteen men were lost. #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:49 PM
29 Nov 1940 // Pilot Vessel No. 4, a former Dutch pilot boat taken into #RoyalNavy service as an examination vessel, was sunk with gunfire off Start Point by German destroyer Beitzen. Seven of her mixed Merchant/Royal Navy crew of thirteen men were lost. #WW2 #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1939 // Oiler RFA Birchol ran aground at Rubha Mealabhaig, south-eastern South Uist, because of a navigational error by her Master. There was no loss of life. She could not be salvaged and was abandoned after stores and equipment were removed. #RoyalFleetAuxiliary #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:49 PM
29 Nov 1939 // Oiler RFA Birchol ran aground at Rubha Mealabhaig, south-eastern South Uist, because of a navigational error by her Master. There was no loss of life. She could not be salvaged and was abandoned after stores and equipment were removed. #RoyalFleetAuxiliary #WW2 #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1916 // HM Trawler Lord Airedale, a Grimsby boat in #RoyalNavy service as a minesweeper, struck a mine laid by U-boat UC.11 off Harwich and sank with the loss of seven of her crew. #WW1 #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
29 Nov 1916 // HM Trawler Lord Airedale, a Grimsby boat in #RoyalNavy service as a minesweeper, struck a mine laid by U-boat UC.11 off Harwich and sank with the loss of seven of her crew. #WW1 #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1915 // Paddle steamer HMS Duchess of Hamilton, a Caledonian Steam Packet Company ferry requisitioned by the #RoyalNavy as a minesweeper, sank after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC.3 at the mouth of the Thames, with the loss of nine lives. #WW1 #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
29 Nov 1915 // Paddle steamer HMS Duchess of Hamilton, a Caledonian Steam Packet Company ferry requisitioned by the #RoyalNavy as a minesweeper, sank after striking a mine laid by German submarine UC.3 at the mouth of the Thames, with the loss of nine lives. #WW1 #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1839 // 24-gun 6th-rate HMS Tribune (launched as a 36-gun 5th-rate in 1803 and rebuilt in 1832) was lost while moored near Tarragona, Spain. Strong waves caused her to beat on the sea bottom, her anchor cables parted and she was wrecked. No lives were lost. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
29 Nov 1839 // 24-gun 6th-rate HMS Tribune (launched as a 36-gun 5th-rate in 1803 and rebuilt in 1832) was lost while moored near Tarragona, Spain. Strong waves caused her to beat on the sea bottom, her anchor cables parted and she was wrecked. No lives were lost. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1758 // 50-gun 4th-rate HMS Lichfield (or 'Litchfield'), part of a squadron under Commodore Augustus Keppel, was wrecked on the Atlantic coast of Morocco after becoming separated and then being drawn inshore by a strong current. (Contemporary coloured print, National Maritime Museum) [1/3]
November 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
29 Nov 1758 // 50-gun 4th-rate HMS Lichfield (or 'Litchfield'), part of a squadron under Commodore Augustus Keppel, was wrecked on the Atlantic coast of Morocco after becoming separated and then being drawn inshore by a strong current. (Contemporary coloured print, National Maritime Museum) [1/3]
29 Nov 1711 (O.S.) // 14-gun HMS Seahorse was wrecked at Dartmouth during a gale. The wind strengthened as she was lying at anchor, and while she was being moved to a more sheltered anchorage she was blown onto rocks below Dartmouth Castle, where she soon went to pieces. [1/2]
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
29 Nov 1711 (O.S.) // 14-gun HMS Seahorse was wrecked at Dartmouth during a gale. The wind strengthened as she was lying at anchor, and while she was being moved to a more sheltered anchorage she was blown onto rocks below Dartmouth Castle, where she soon went to pieces. [1/2]
29 Nov 1711 (O.S.) // 16-gun 6th-rate HMS Hind (ex French privateer La Diane, captured 1709) was holed when she hit a submerged object, believed to be a discarded anchor, while entering Poolbeg Harbour, Dublin. She was run into shallow water and abandoned as a wreck. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
29 Nov 1711 (O.S.) // 16-gun 6th-rate HMS Hind (ex French privateer La Diane, captured 1709) was holed when she hit a submerged object, believed to be a discarded anchor, while entering Poolbeg Harbour, Dublin. She was run into shallow water and abandoned as a wreck. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1709 (O.S.) // 44-gun HMS Garland ran aground and was wrecked on sandbanks at Currituck, South Carolina, with the loss of fifteen of her crew. She had been returning to Chesapeake Bay after a cruise but struck a strong current that took her too far to the south. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
29 Nov 1709 (O.S.) // 44-gun HMS Garland ran aground and was wrecked on sandbanks at Currituck, South Carolina, with the loss of fifteen of her crew. She had been returning to Chesapeake Bay after a cruise but struck a strong current that took her too far to the south. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
29 Nov 1689 (O.S.) // 6-gun fireship HMS Charles and Henry was anchored in the Cattewater, Plymouth, having moved from a more exposed anchorage in Plymouth Sound because of rising winds, when frigate HMS Dover collided with her and she ran aground and was wrecked. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
29 Nov 1689 (O.S.) // 6-gun fireship HMS Charles and Henry was anchored in the Cattewater, Plymouth, having moved from a more exposed anchorage in Plymouth Sound because of rising winds, when frigate HMS Dover collided with her and she ran aground and was wrecked. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
28 Nov 1940 // HM Trawler Manx Prince sank after striking a mine off Spurn Point as she was getting under way from her overnight anchorage. No lives were lost, all her crew being rescued by another armed trawler. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
28 Nov 1940 // HM Trawler Manx Prince sank after striking a mine off Spurn Point as she was getting under way from her overnight anchorage. No lives were lost, all her crew being rescued by another armed trawler. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
28 Nov 1924 // Former 131-gun first-rate HMS Marlborough, launched 1855 and in use as accommodation hulk Vernon II at Portsmouth since 1904, capsized and sank off Selsey with four men lost while being towed to the breakers. (Image: HMS Marlborough in 1860, UK Gov Art Coll) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
28 Nov 1924 // Former 131-gun first-rate HMS Marlborough, launched 1855 and in use as accommodation hulk Vernon II at Portsmouth since 1904, capsized and sank off Selsey with four men lost while being towed to the breakers. (Image: HMS Marlborough in 1860, UK Gov Art Coll) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
28 Nov 1916 // HM Drifter Pelagia, a Coleraine boat in #RoyalNavy service as a net barrier tender, sank after striking a mine near the Nab Light Vessel off Portsmouth. There were no survivors from her crew of twelve. The mine had been laid earlier that day by U-boat UC.21. #WW1
November 28, 2025 at 1:18 PM
28 Nov 1916 // HM Drifter Pelagia, a Coleraine boat in #RoyalNavy service as a net barrier tender, sank after striking a mine near the Nab Light Vessel off Portsmouth. There were no survivors from her crew of twelve. The mine had been laid earlier that day by U-boat UC.21. #WW1
28 Nov 1915 // HM Trawler William Morrison, an Aberdeen boat in #RoyalNavy service as a minesweeper, struck a mine near the Sunk Head buoy in the Thames Estuary and sank with the loss of three of her crew. The mines had been laid earlier that day by U-boat UC.7. #WW1
November 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
28 Nov 1915 // HM Trawler William Morrison, an Aberdeen boat in #RoyalNavy service as a minesweeper, struck a mine near the Sunk Head buoy in the Thames Estuary and sank with the loss of three of her crew. The mines had been laid earlier that day by U-boat UC.7. #WW1
28 Nov 1915 // River gunboat HMS Shaitan, a locally-acquired vessel, grounded in the River Tigris during the British retreat from Ctesiphon during the Mesopotamian campaign. Efforts to free her under constant Turkish fire were unsuccessful and she was abandoned. #RoyalNavy #WW1
November 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
28 Nov 1915 // River gunboat HMS Shaitan, a locally-acquired vessel, grounded in the River Tigris during the British retreat from Ctesiphon during the Mesopotamian campaign. Efforts to free her under constant Turkish fire were unsuccessful and she was abandoned. #RoyalNavy #WW1
28 Nov 1807 // 22-gun 6th-rate HMS Boreas was wrecked on Les Hanois reef while approaching Guernsey amid rough seas and strong winds. She struck the rocks, floated off, then swung round and struck again, this time grounding firmly, and water immediately began to flood the hold. [1/2]
November 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
28 Nov 1807 // 22-gun 6th-rate HMS Boreas was wrecked on Les Hanois reef while approaching Guernsey amid rough seas and strong winds. She struck the rocks, floated off, then swung round and struck again, this time grounding firmly, and water immediately began to flood the hold. [1/2]
28 Nov 1744 (O.S.) // 10-gun 6th-rate HMS Rye, escorting two merchant ships south from the Humber along the east coast, ran aground in fog and rain near Weybourne, Norfolk, after the pilot first misjudged the tides, and then mistakenly directed the ship inshore instead of out to sea. [1/2]
November 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
28 Nov 1744 (O.S.) // 10-gun 6th-rate HMS Rye, escorting two merchant ships south from the Humber along the east coast, ran aground in fog and rain near Weybourne, Norfolk, after the pilot first misjudged the tides, and then mistakenly directed the ship inshore instead of out to sea. [1/2]
27 Nov 1941 // Sloop HMAS Parramatta, escorting a supply ship to Tobruk from Alexandria with destroyer HMS Avon Vale and two whalers, was torpedoed by U-boat U.559 north west of Tobruk. She broke in two and sank. 138 of the 162 on board lost their lives. #RoyalAustralianNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
27 Nov 1941 // Sloop HMAS Parramatta, escorting a supply ship to Tobruk from Alexandria with destroyer HMS Avon Vale and two whalers, was torpedoed by U-boat U.559 north west of Tobruk. She broke in two and sank. 138 of the 162 on board lost their lives. #RoyalAustralianNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
27 Nov 1940 // HM Trawler Elk, fitted with experimental minesweeping equipment designed to detect acoustic mines, was sweeping just outside Plymouth harbour when a mine exploded beneath her. She steadily flooded and sank after about 45 minutes, with no casualties. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
27 Nov 1940 // HM Trawler Elk, fitted with experimental minesweeping equipment designed to detect acoustic mines, was sweeping just outside Plymouth harbour when a mine exploded beneath her. She steadily flooded and sank after about 45 minutes, with no casualties. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
27 Nov 1940 // Minelayer HMS Port Napier, a requisitioned civilian vessel, caught fire while loaded with over 500 mines and exploded in Loch Alsh between Skye and the Scottish mainland, sinking while burning fiercely. No casualties: the ship and much of the surrounding area had been evacuated. [1/2]
November 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
27 Nov 1940 // Minelayer HMS Port Napier, a requisitioned civilian vessel, caught fire while loaded with over 500 mines and exploded in Loch Alsh between Skye and the Scottish mainland, sinking while burning fiercely. No casualties: the ship and much of the surrounding area had been evacuated. [1/2]
27 Nov 1840 // 6-gun packet brig HMS Spey, carrying mails from England to Cuba and Mexico, ran aground on Raccoon Cay in the Bahamas while taking an ill-advised short cut. She later refloated but was badly flooded, and was run ashore and abandoned. There were no casualties. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
November 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
27 Nov 1840 // 6-gun packet brig HMS Spey, carrying mails from England to Cuba and Mexico, ran aground on Raccoon Cay in the Bahamas while taking an ill-advised short cut. She later refloated but was badly flooded, and was run ashore and abandoned. There were no casualties. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory
27 Nov 1824 // 10-gun brig sloop HMS Partridge grounded on sandbanks at Vlieland after going off course in bad weather and poor visibility while sailing from Leith to the Downs. Efforts to refloat her failed as she sank deeper into the sands, and she was abandoned as a wreck. [1/2]
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
27 Nov 1824 // 10-gun brig sloop HMS Partridge grounded on sandbanks at Vlieland after going off course in bad weather and poor visibility while sailing from Leith to the Downs. Efforts to refloat her failed as she sank deeper into the sands, and she was abandoned as a wreck. [1/2]