List of Royal Navy losses in World War II

The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sinking after being torpedoed by a German submarine in November 1941, the assisting destroyer HMS Legion was sunk in 1942.

This is a list of Royal Navy ships and personnel lost during World War II, from 3 September 1939 to 1 October 1945.

See also List of ships of the Royal Navy.

Personnel losses

[edit]

The Royal Navy lost 50,758 men killed in action, 820 missing in action and 14,663 wounded in action.[1] The Women's Royal Naval Service lost 102 killed and 22 wounded.[1]

Combatants

[edit]

Battleships

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Royal Oak (08) Scapa Flow 14 October 1939 Sunk by U-47
HMS Barham (04) off the coast of Sidi Barrani, Egypt 25 November 1941 Sunk by U-331
HMS Prince of Wales (53) South China Sea 10 December 1941 Sunk by Japanese aircraft

Battlecruisers

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Hood (51) Denmark Strait 24 May 1941 Sunk by naval gunfire from Bismarck
HMS Repulse (26) South China Sea 10 December 1941 Sunk by Japanese aircraft

Aircraft carriers

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Courageous (50) off the coast of Ireland 17 September 1939 Sunk by U-29
HMS Glorious (77) Norwegian Sea 8 June 1940 Sunk by naval gunfire from Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
HMS Ark Royal (91) south east of Gibraltar 13 November 1941 Sunk by U-81
HMS Hermes (95) Sri Lanka 9 April 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS Eagle (94) south of Cape Salinas 11 August 1942 Sunk by U-73

Escort aircraft carriers

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Audacity (D10) Atlantic Ocean 21 December 1941 Sunk by U-751
HMS Avenger (D14) off Gibraltar 15 November 1942 Sunk by U-155
HMS Dasher (D37) Firth of Clyde 27 March 1943 Sunk by internal explosion

Cruisers

[edit]

The Royal Navy lost 28 cruisers according to Stephen Roskill,[2] and 34 including Commonwealth/Dominion ships, according to the Naval-History project.[3]

Name Location Date Cause
HMS Dunedin (96) Atlantic Ocean 24 November 1941 Sunk by U-124
HMS Durban (D99) off Normandy 9 June 1944 Deliberately scuttled as breakwater
HMS Neptune (20) off Tripoli 19 December 1941 Sunk by Italian cruiser-laid mine
HMS Calypso (D61) off Crete 12 June 1940 Sunk by Italian submarine Alpino Bagnolini
HMS Coventry (D43) off Crete 14 September 1942 Scuttled following German air attack
HMS Curacoa (D41) off Ireland 2 October 1942 Rammed in poor weather by RMS Queen Mary
HMS Curlew (D42) off Narvik 26 May 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Cairo (D87) off Bizerte 12 August 1942 Sunk by Italian submarine Axum
HMS Calcutta (D82) off Alexandria 1 June 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Galatea (71) off Alexandria 15 December 1941 Sunk by U-557
HMS Penelope (97) off Naples 18 February 1944 Sunk by U-410
HMS Edinburgh (16) Arctic Ocean 2 May 1942 Scuttled after torpedo damage by U-456 and then by German destroyers
HMS Southampton (83) off Malta 11 January 1941 Scuttled following German air attack
HMS Manchester (15) Cap Bon 13 August 1942 Scuttled following Italian motor torpedo boat attack
HMS Gloucester (62) off Crete 22 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Charybdis (88) Battle of Sept-Îles 23 October 1943 Sunk by German torpedo boat destroyers
HMS Hermione (74) off Crete 16 June 1942 Sunk by U-205
HMS Bonaventure (31) off Crete 31 March 1941 Sunk by Italian submarine Ambra
HMS Naiad (93) off Crete 11 March 1942 Sunk by U-565
HMS Spartan (95) off Anzio 29 January 1944 Sunk by German aircraft (glide bomb)
HMS Fiji (58) off Crete 22 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Trinidad (46) off North Cape 15 May 1942 Scuttled following German air attack
HMS Effingham (D98) off Bodø 18 May 1940 Ran aground
HMS Cornwall (56) off Ceylon 5 April 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS Dorsetshire (40) off Ceylon 5 April 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS York (90) Crete 26 March 1941 Scuttled following Italian explosive boat raid
HMS Exeter (68) Battle of the Java Sea 1 March 1942 Sunk by Japanese naval gunfire and torpedoes

Destroyers

[edit]

The Royal Navy lost 132 destroyers, according to Stephen Roskill[2] and 153, including Commonwealth/Dominion ships, according to the Naval-History project.[3]

Name Location Date Cause
HMS Tenedos (H04) Colombo Harbour 5 April 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS Porcupine (G93) off Oran 9 December 1942 Torpedoed by U-602 (constructive total loss)
HMS Wensleydale (L86) English Channel 21 November 1944 Damaged beyond repair after collision with a landing ship
HMS Blean (L47) off Oran 11 December 1942 Torpedoed by U-443
HMS Ithuriel (H05) off Bône 8 November 1942 Bombed by German aircraft (constructive total loss)
HMS Fury (H76) off Normandy 21 June 1944 Beached after hitting a mine (constructive total loss)
HMS Foresight (H68) off Bône 13 August 1942 Scuttled after being hit by Italian aircraft
HMS Firedrake (H79) Atlantic Ocean 16 December 1942 Sunk by U-211
HMS Fearless (H67) off Bône 23 July 1941 Scuttled after being hit by Italian aircraft
HMS Esk (H15) off Texel 1 September 1940 Sunk by mine
HMS Escort (H66) off Sardinia 11 July 1940 Sunk by Italian submarine Guglielmo Marconi
HMS Eclipse (H08) Aegean Sea 24 October 1943 Sunk by mine
HMS Exmouth (H02) Moray Firth 21 January 1940 Sunk by U-22
HMS Daring (H16) off Norway 18 February 1940 Sunk by U-23
HMS Delight (H38) English Channel 29 July 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Diamond (H22) off Crete 27 April 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Duchess (H64) off Mull of Kintyre 12 December 1939 Sunk in a collision with HMS Barham
HMS Defender (H07) off Sidi Barrani 11 July 1941 Scuttled after being hit by German aircraft
HMS Dainty (H53) off Tobruk 24 February 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Imogen (D44) Pentland Firth 16 July 1940 Sunk in collision with HMS Glasgow (C21)
HMS Imperial (D09) off Crete 29 May 1941 Scuttled after being hit by Italian bombers
HMS Inglefield (D02) off Anzio 25 February 1944 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Ivanhoe (D16) off Texel 1 September 1940 Scuttled after hitting a mine
HMS Isis (D87) off Normandy 20 July 1944 Sunk by mine
HMS Thanet (H29) off Singapore 27 January 1942 Sunk by naval gunfire from Japanese cruiser Sendai
HMS Thracian (D86) Hong Kong 25 December 1941 Scuttled to avoid capture by Japanese forces
HMS Stronghold (H50) off Sunda Strait 2 March 1942 Sunk by naval gunfire from Japanese ships Maya, Nowaki and Arashi
HMS Sturdy (H28) off Tiree 30 October 1940 Ran aground
HMS Keith (D06) off Dunkirk 1 June 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Basilisk (H11) off Dunkirk 1 June 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Blanche (H47) Thames Estuary 13 November 1939 Sunk by mine
HMS Boadicea (H65) Lyme Bay 13 June 1944 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Brazen (H80) English Channel 20 July 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Beverley (H64) Atlantic Ocean 11 April 1943 Sunk by U-188
HMS Broadwater (H81) Atlantic Ocean 18 October 1941 Sunk by U-101
HMS Belmont (H46) Atlantic Ocean 31 January 1942 Sunk by U-82
HMS Broke (D83) off Algiers 8 November 1942 Sunk by French shore batteries
HMS Cameron (I05) Portsmouth 5 December 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Campbeltown (I42) St Nazaire Raid 28 March 1942 Intentional explosion after ramming St Nazaire dry dock
HMS Gallant (H59) Malta harbour 5 April 1942 Hit an Italian mine off Panteleria/bombed by German aircraft (constructive total loss)
HMS Rockingham (G58) Atlantic Ocean 27 September 1944 Sunk by mine
HMS Stanley (I73) Atlantic Ocean 19 December 1941 Sunk by U-574
HMS Valentine (L69) off Terneuzen 15 May 1940 Beached after being damaged by German aircraft
HMS Venetia (D53) Thames Estuary 19 October 1940 Sunk by mine
HMS Vimiera (L29) Thames Estuary 9 January 1942 Sunk by mine
HMS Wakeful (H88) Dunkirk evacuation 29 May 1940 Sunk by torpedo from an E-boat
HMS Warwick (D25) Atlantic Ocean 20 February 1944 Sunk by U-413
HMS Wessex (D43) off Calais 24 May 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Whirlwind (D30) Atlantic Ocean 5 July 1940 Sunk by U-34
HMS Whitley (L23) off Ostend 19 May 1940 Beached after being damaged by German aircraft
HMS Wryneck (D21) off Crete 27 April 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Wren (D88) off Aldeburgh 27 July 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Veteran (D72) Atlantic Ocean 26 September 1942 Sunk by U-404
HMS Wild Swan (D62) Atlantic Ocean 17 June 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Codrington (D65) off Dover 27 July 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Acasta (H09) off Narvik 8 June 1940 Sunk by naval gunfire from Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
HMS Achates (H12) Barents Sea 31 December 1942 Sunk by naval gunfire from German cruiser Admiral Hipper
HMS Ardent (H41) off Narvik 8 June 1940 Sunk by naval gunfire from Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
HMS Acheron (H45) off Isle of Wight 17 December 1940 Sunk by mine
HMS Jackal (F22) off Crete 12 May 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Jaguar (F34) off Sollum 26 March 1942 Sunk by U-652
HMS Juno (F46) off Crete 21 May 1941 Sunk by Italian aircraft
HMS Janus (F53) off Anzio 23 January 1944 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Jersey (F72) off Malta 2 May 1941 Sunk by mine (Italian)
HMS Jupiter (F85) off Java 27 February 1942 Sunk by mine (Dutch)
HMS Kelly (F01) off Crete 23 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Kandahar (F28) Mediterranean Sea 19 December 1941 Sunk by Italian cruiser-laid mine
HMS Kashmir (F12) off Crete 23 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Khartoum (F45) Perim 23 June 1940 Sunk by internal explosion after surface engagement with Italian submarine Torricelli
HMS Kingston (F64) Malta 11 April 1942 Sunk by German aircraft at dry dock after being damaged by Italian battleship Littorio
HMS Kipling (F91) off Mersa Matruh 11 May 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Berkeley (L17) off Dieppe 19 August 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Exmoor (L61) off Lowestoft 25 February 1942 Sunk by mine or torpedo
HMS Quorn (L66) off Normandy 3 August 1944 Sunk by "Linse" explosive-motorboat
HMS Tynedale (L96) off Jijel 12 December 1943 Sunk by U-593
HMS Dulverton (L63) off Kos 13 November 1943 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Heythrop (L85) off Bardia 20 March 1942 Sunk by U-652
HMS Eridge (L68) off El Daba 29 August 1942 Torpedoed by Italian motor torpedo boat (constructive total loss)
HMS Puckeridge (L108) off Gibraltar 6 September 1943 Sunk by U-617
HMS Grove (L77) off Egypt 12 June 1942 Sunk by U-587
HMS Hurworth (L28) off Turkey 22 October 1943 Sunk by mine
HMS Southwold (L10) off Malta 24 March 1942 Sunk by mine
HMS Airedale (L07) off Malta 15 June 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Aldenham (L22) off Škrda 14 December 1944 Sunk by mine
HMS Holcombe (L56) Mediterranean Sea 12 December 1943 Sunk by U-593
HMS Limbourne (L57) off Guernsey 23 October 1943 Sunk by torpedo from T22
HMS Penylan (L89) off English Channel 3 December 1942 Sunk by torpedo from an E-boat
HMS Laforey (G99) off Palermo 30 March 1944 Sunk by U-223
HMS Lance (G87) Malta 9 April 1942 Sunk by aircraft
HMS Gurkha (G63) off Sidi Barrani 17 January 1942 Sunk by U-133
HMS Legion (G74) Malta 26 March 1942 Sunk by aircraft
HMS Lightning (G55) Bône 12 March 1943 Sunk by torpedo from German E-boat
HMS Lively (G40) Mediterranean Sea 11 May 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Mahratta (G23) Atlantic Ocean 25 February 1944 Sunk by U-990
HMS Martin (G44) off Algiers 10 November 1942 Sunk by U-431
HMS Pakenham (G06) off Sicily 16 April 1943 Scuttled after being disabled by naval gunfire from Italian torpedo boat Cassiopea
HMS Panther (G41) Aegean Sea 9 October 1943 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Partridge (G30) off Oran 18 December 1942 Sunk by U-565
HMS Quail (G45) Gulf of Taranto 18 May 1944 Sunk by mine
HMS Quentin (G78) off North Africa 2 December 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Swift (G46) off Normandy 24 June 1944 Sunk by mine
HMS Glowworm (H92) off Norway 8 April 1940 Sunk from damage taken after ramming by German cruiser Admiral Hipper
HMS Gipsy (H63) off Harwich 21 November 1939 Sunk by mine
HMS Grafton (H89) off Nieuwpoort 29 May 1940 Scuttled after being torpedoed by U-62
HMS Grenade (H86) off Dunkirk 29 May 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Grenville (H03) off Kentish Knock 19 January 1940 Sunk by mine
HMS Greyhound (H05) off Crete 22 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Hardy (R08) North Atlantic Ocean 30 January 1944 Sunk by U-278
HMS Hardy (H87) Narvik 10 April 1940 Beached after being disabled by naval gunfire from five German destroyers
HMS Hasty (H24) Mediterranean Sea 15 June 1942 Sunk by torpedo from German E-boat
HMS Havock (H43) Cap Bon 6 April 1942 Ran aground
HMS Hereward (H93) off Crete 29 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Hostile (H55) off Cap Bon 23 August 1940 Scuttled after hitting a mine (Italian)
HMS Hunter (H35) Narvik 10 April 1940 Sunk by German destroyers
HMS Hyperion (H97) off Pantelleria 22 December 1940 Sunk by mine (Italian)
HMS Harvester (H19) Atlantic Ocean 11 March 1943 Sunk by U-432
HMS Havant (H32) off Dunkirk 1 June 1940 Scuttled after being bombed by German aircraft
HMS Hurricane (H06) Atlantic Ocean 25 December 1943 Scuttled after torpedoed by U-415
HMS Afridi (F07) off Norway 3 May 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Bedouin (F67) off Pantelleria 15 June 1942 Sunk by naval gunfire from Italian cruisers Montecuccoli, di Savoia and aerial torpedo
HMS Cossack (F03) Atlantic Ocean 27 October 1941 Sunk by U-563
HMS Gurkha (F20) off Norway 9 April 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Maori (F24) Malta 12 February 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Mashona (F59) Atlantic Ocean 28 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Matabele (F26) North Atlantic Ocean 17 January 1942 Sunk by U-454
HMS Mohawk (F31) off Kerkennah Islands 16 April 1941 Sunk by torpedo from Italian destroyer Luca Tarigo
HMS Punjabi (F21) Atlantic Ocean 1 May 1942 Rammed by HMS King George V
HMS Sikh (F82) off Tobruk 14 September 1942 Sunk by German and Italian shore batteries
HMS Somali (F33) North Atlantic Ocean 25 September 1942 Sunk by U-703
HMS Zulu (F18) off Tobruk 14 September 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Electra (H27) First Battle of the Java Sea 27 February 1942 Sunk by Japanese naval gunfire
HMS Encounter (H10) Second Battle of the Java Sea 1 March 1942 Scuttled following Japanese naval gunfire

Submarines

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Name Location Date Cause
HMS Oxley 58° 30'N, 5° 30'E, off Stavanger, Norway 10 September 1939 Sunk by friendly fire from British submarine HMS Triton
HMS Seahorse (98S) 54° 19'N, 7° 30'E, Heligoland Bight 7 January 1940 Most likely mined or sunk by German minesweeper M-5
HMS Undine (N48) 54° 08'N, 7° 33'E, Heligoland Bight 7 January 1940 Scuttled after being severely damaged by German minesweepers M-1201, M-1204 and M-1207
HMS Starfish (19S) 55° 00'N, 7° 10'E, Heligoland Bight 9 January 1940 Sunk by German minesweeper M-7
HMS Thistle (N24) 59° 03'N, 5° 11'E, off Skudenes 10 April 1940 Sunk by German U-boat U-4
HMS Tarpon (N17) 56° 43'N, 6° 33'E, North Sea 10 April 1940 Sunk by German Q-Ship Schiff 40/Schürbek
HMS Sterlet (2S) 58° 55'N, 10° 10'E, Skagrerrak 18 April 1940 Sunk by German anti-submarine trawlers UJ-125, UJ-126 and UJ-128
HMS Unity (N66) 55° 13'N, 1° 19'W, off Blyth, Northumberland 29 April 1940 Sunk by accidental ramming from Norwegian ship Atle Jarl
HMS Odin (N84) 39º 30'N, 17º 30'E, Gulf of Taranto 14 June 1940 Sunk by Italian destroyers Strale and Baleno
HMS Grampus (N56) off Augusta, Sicily 16 June 1940 Sunk by Italian torpedo boats Circe, Clio, Calliope and Polluce
HMS Orpheus (N46) off Benghazi, Libya June 1940 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Shark (54S) 58° 18'N, 5° 13'E, off Egersund, Norway 6 July 1940 Scuttled to prevent capture after being damaged by German aircraft
HMS Phoenix (N96) 37º 15'N, 15º 15'E, off Augusta, Sicily 16 July 1940 Sunk by Italian submarine chaser Albatros
HMS Salmon (N65) off Skudesnes 16 July 1940 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Narwhal (N45) 56º50'N, 01º40'E, off Aberdeen, Scotland 23 July 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Spearfish 58° 07'N, 1° 32'E, North Sea 1 August 1940 Sunk by German U-boat U-34
HMS Oswald (N58) 37° 46'N, 16° 16'E, off Cap Spartivento 1 August 1940 Sunk by Italian destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi
HMS Thames (N71) North Sea 3 August 1940 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Rainbow (N16) 41° 28'N, 18° 05'E, Adriatic Sea 4 October 1940 Sunk by collision with Italian merchantman Antonietta Costa
HMS Triad (N53) 38° 16'N, 17° 37'E, Ionian Sea 15 October 1940 Sunk by Italian submarine Enrico Toti
HMS H49 off Texel, Netherlands 18 October 1940 Sunk by German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ-111, UJ-116 and UJ-118
HMS Swordfish (61S) 50° 24'N, 1° 21'W, off Isle of Wight 7 November 1940 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Regulus (N88) between lower Adriatic Sea and Strait of Otranto 6 December 1940 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Triton (N15) between lower Adriatic Sea and Strait of Otranto 18 December 1940 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Snapper (39S) Bay of Biscay February 1941 Sunk by naval mine or by the German minesweepers M-2, M-13 and M-25
HMS Usk (N65) Cape Bon 3 May 1941 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Undaunted (N55) off Tripoli, Libya 11 May 1941 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Umpire (N82) 53° 09'N, 1° 08'E, off Cromer, Norfolk 19 July 1941 Sunk in accidental collision with British armed trawler HMS Peter Hendriks
HMS Union (N56) off Pantelleria 20 July 1941 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Circe
HMS Cachalot (N83) 32° 49'N, 20° 11'E, off Benghazi, Libya 30 July 1941 Sunk by ramming from Italian destroyer Generale Achille Papa
HMS P33 off Tripoli, Libya August 1941 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS P32 33° 02'N, 13° 10'E, off Tripoli, Libya 18 August 1941 Sunk by either a naval mine or internal explosion
HMS Tetrarch (N77) off Cape Granditola, Sicily, Italy 2 November 1941 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Perseus (N36) 37° 54'N, 20° 54'E, off Zakynthos 6 December 1941 Sunk by naval mine
HMS H31 Bay of Biscay 26 December 1941 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Triumph (N18) Aegean Sea 14 January 1942 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Tempest (N86) 39° 15'N, 17° 45'E, Gulf of Taranto 13 February 1942 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Circe
HMS P38 32° 48'N, 14° 58'E, off Cape Misurata 23 February 1942 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Circe and destroyers Emanuele Pessagno and Antoniotto Usodimare
HMS P39 Kalkara, Malta 26 March 1942 Destroyed in an air raid
HMS P36 Sliema, Malta 1 April 1942 Sunk in an air raid
HMS Pandora (N42) Valletta, Malta 1 April 1942 Sunk in an air raid
HMS Upholder (P37) 34°47′N 15°55′E, off Tripoli, Libya 14 April 1942 Sunk by either a naval mine or by Italian torpedo boat Pegaso
HMS Urge off Grand Harbour, Malta 27 April 1942 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Olympus (N35) 35° 55'N, 14° 35'E, off Malta 8 May 1942 Sunk by naval mine
HMS P.514 46° 33'N, 53° 39'W, off Newfoundland 21 June 1942 Sunk in friendly fire ramming by Canadian minesweeper HMCS Georgian
HMS Thorn (N11) 34° 25'N, 22° 36'E, off Gavdos 6 August 1942 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Pegaso
HMS Talisman (N78) off Sicily, Italy 17 September 1942 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Unique (N95) Bay of Biscay 24 October 1942 Possibly sunk by a premature explosion of its own torpedo
HMS Unbeaten 46° 50'N, 6° 51'W, Bay of Biscay 11 November 1942 Sunk in friendly fire air attack by Royal Air Force
HMS Utmost Mediterranean Sea 25 November 1942 sunk south west off Sicily by depth charges from the Italian torpedo boat Groppo
HMS P222 40º29'N, 14º20'E, off Capri 12 December 1942 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Fortunale
HMS Traveller (N48) Gulf of Taranto 12 December 1942 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS P48 37° 15'N, 10° 30'E, Gulf of Tunis 25 December 1942 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Ardente
HMS P311 off Tavolara, Sardinia 8 January 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Vandal Kilbrannan Sound, Firth of Clyde 24 February 1943 Foundered while preparing to dive
HMS Tigris (N63) off Capri, Italy 27 February 1943 Most likely sunk by German submarine chaser UJ 2210
HMS Turbulent (N98) off La Maddalena, Sardinia 6 March 1943 Most likely sunk by Italian torpedo boat Ardito
HMS Thunderbolt (N25) off Cape San Vito, Sicily 14 March 1943 Most likely sunk by Italian corvette Cicogna
HMS P615 6° 49'N, 13° 09'W, off Freetown 18 April 1943 Sunk by German U-boat U-123
HMS Regent (N41) off Barletta, Italy 18 April 1943 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Splendid (P228) 40° 30'N, 14° 15'E, off Capri, Italy 21 April 1943 Sunk by German destroyer ZG 3 Hermes
HMS Sahib 38° 20.5'N, 15° 11.9'E, off Capo di Milazzo, Sicily 24 April 1943 Sunk by Italian torpedo boat Climene and Italian corvettes Gabbiano and Euterpe
HMS Parthian (N75) Mediterranean Sea July/August 1943 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Saracen (P247) 42° 45'N, 9° 30'E, off Bastia, Corsica 14 August 1943 Sunk by Italian corvettes Minerva and Euterpe
HMS Usurper (P56) Gulf of Genoa October 1943 Most likely sunk by either naval mine or by German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ-2208/Alfred
HMS Trooper (N91) off Leros, Greece 17 October 1943 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Simoom (P225) off Tenedos, Turkey November 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Syrtis off Bodø March 1944 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Stonehenge (P232) between northern Sumatra and the Nicobar Islands March 1944 Unknown
HMS Sickle Kythira Strait, Greece June 1944 Most likely sunk by naval mine
HMS Stratagem Strait of Malacca 22 November 1944 Sunk by Japanese submarine chaser CH 35
HMS Porpoise (N14) off Perak Island 11 January 1945 Most likely sunk by Japanese aircraft

Mine warfare ships

[edit]

Minelayers

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Princess Victoria Humber Estuary 19 May 1940 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Port Napier (M32) Loch Alsh, Scotland 27 November 1940 Destroyed by explosion/engine room fire
HMS Latona (M76) 32° 15'N, 24° 14'E, off Bardia, Libya 25 October 1941 Scuttled after damaged by German aircraft
HMS Redstart (M62) Hong Kong 19 December 1941 Scuttled to prevent capture by Japanese forces
HMS Kung Wo off Pompong Island 14 February 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS Corncrake (M82) North Atlantic 25 January 1943 Foundered in gale
HMS Welshman (M84) 32° 12'N, 24° 52'E, off Tobruk, Libya 1 February 1943 Sunk by German U-boat U-617
HMS Abdiel (M39) Taranto, Italy 10 September 1943 Sunk by naval mine

Minesweepers

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Sphinx (J69) 57° 57′N 02° 00′W, north of Kinnaird Head 3 February 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Dunoon (J52) 52° 45'N, 2° 23'E, off Great Yarmouth 30 April 1940 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Brighton Belle (NF-17) off Gull Light Buoy (Near Goodwin Knoll) 28 May 1940 Sunk after striking a submerged wreck
HMS Gracie Fields 51° 20'N, 02° 05'E, North Sea 29 May 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Waverley off Dunkirk 29 May 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Devonia La Panne, Belgium 31 May 1940 Severely damaged by German aircraft and beached
HMS Brighton Queen off Dunkirk 1 June 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Skipjack (J38) 51° 03'N, 2° 24'E, off Dunkirk 1 June 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Dundalk (J60) 52º 03'N, 01º 48'E, off Harwich 17 October 1940 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Mercury Irish Sea 25 December 1940 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Huntley (J56) 31° 25'N, 26° 48'E, off Mersa Matruh 31 January 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Southsea River Tyne 16 February 1941 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Fermoy (J40) Valletta, Malta 4 May 1941 Damaged beyond repair by Italian aircraft
HMS Stoke (J33) off Tobruk, Libya 7 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Widnes (J55) Suda Bay 20 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft. Raised, repaired and put in Kriegsmarine service as UJ-2109
HMS Snaefell off Sunderland 5 July 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Banka off Tioman Island 7 December 1941 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Changteh off Lingga Islands 14 February 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS Scott Harley off Cilacap 1 March 1942 Most likely sunk by Japanese destroyers Arashi and Nowaki
HMS Sin Aik Lee off Tunda Island, Sunda Strait 1 March 1942 Sunk by Japanese destroyers
HMS Abingdon (J23) off Bighi, Malta 5 April 1942 Damaged beyond repair by Italian aircraft; beached and abandoned
HMS Fitzroy (J03) 52° 39'N, 2° 46'E, off Great Yarmouth 27 May 1942 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Gossamer (J63) off Kola Inlet, Russia 24 June 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Niger (J73) 66° 35'N, 23° 14'W, off Iceland 5 July 1942 Sunk by naval mine (British Northern Barrage minefield SN72)
HMS Leda (J93) 76º 31'N, 05º 32'E, off Spitzbergen 20 September 1942 Sunk by German U-boat U-435
HMS Cromer (J128) 31° 26′N 027° 16′E, off Mersa Matruh 9 November 1942 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Algerine (J213) 36º 45'N, 05º 11'E, off Bougie, Algeria 15 November 1942 Sunk by Italian submarine Ascianghi
HMS Bramble (J11) 73° 18′N 30° 06′E, Barents Sea 31 December 1942 Sunk by German destroyer Friedrich Eckoldt
HMS Alarm (J140) off Bone, Algeria 2 January 1943 Damaged beyond repair by German aircraft
HMS Hythe (J194) 37° 04'N, 5° 00'E, off Bougie, Algeria 11 October 1943 Sunk by German submarine U-371
HMS Cromarty (J09) Strait of Bonifacio 23 October 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Hebe (J24) 41° 08'N, 16° 52'E, off Bari, Italy 22 November 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Felixstowe (J126) 41° 10'N, 9° 40'E, off Capo Ferro, Sardinia 18 December 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Clacton (J151) off Corsica, France 31 December 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Cato (J16) 49° 25'N, 0° 17'W, off Normandy, France 6 July 1944 Sunk by German Neger human torpedo
HMS Magic (J400) 49° 25'N, 0° 15'W, off Normandy, France 6 July 1944 Sunk by German Neger human torpedo
HMS Pylades (J401) 49° 26'N, 0° 15'W, off Normandy, France 8 July 1944 Sunk by German Biber midget submarine
HMS Loyalty (J217) 50° 13'N, 0° 44'W, English Channel 22 August 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-480
HMS Britomart (J22) 49° 41'N, 0° 05'E, off Le Havre, France 27 August 1944 Sunk by friendly fire air attack
HMS Hussar (J82) 49° 41'N, 0° 06'W, off Le Havre, France 27 August 1944 Sunk by friendly fire air attack
HMS Regulus (J327) off Corfu, Greece 12 January 1945 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Squirrel (J301) off Phuket, Thailand 24 July 1945 Damaged beyond repair by naval mine and scuttled
HMS Vestal (J215) off Phuket, Thailand 24 July 1945 Damaged beyond repair by kamikaze attack and scuttled

Frigate

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Itchen (K227) 53° 25'N, 39° 42'W, North Atlantic 23 September 1943 Sunk by German U-boat U-666
HMS Tweed (K250) 48° 18'N, 21° 19'W, Atlantic Ocean 7 January 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-305
HMS Gould (K476) 45° 46'N, 23° 16'W, Atlantic Ocean 1 March 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-358
HMS Lawford (K514) 49° 26'N, 0° 24'W, off Normandy, France 8 June 1944 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Mourne (K261) 49° 35'N, 5° 30'W, English Channel 15 June 1944 sunk by German U-boat U-767
HMS Blackwood (K313) 50° 07'N, 2° 01'W, off Portland Bill 16 June 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-764
HMS Bickerton (K466) 71° 42'N, 19° 11'E, North Cape 22 August 1944 Damaged by German U-boat U-354 and scuttled
HMS Bullen (K469) 58º 30'N, 05º 03'W, off Strathy Point, Scotland 6 December 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-775
HMS Capel (K470) 49° 50'N, 1° 41'W, off Cherbourg 26 December 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-486
HMS Goodall (K479) 69° 25'N, 33° 38'E, Barents Sea 29 April 1945 Sunk by German U-boat U-286

Corvette

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Godetia (K72) 55° 18'N, 5° 57'W, off Altacarry Head 6 September 1940 Sunk in accidental collision with the merchant ship Marsa
HMS Picotee (K63) 62° 00'N, 16° 01'W, North Atlantic 12 August 1941 Sunk by German U-boat U-568
HMS Zinnia (K98) 40° 25'N, 10° 40'W, Atlantic Ocean 23 August 1941 Sunk by German U-boat U-564
HMS Fleur de Lys (K122) 36° 00'N, 6° 30'W, off Strait of Gibraltar 14 October 1941 Sunk by German U-boat U-206
HMS Gladiolus (K34) 57° 00'N, 25° 00'W, North Atlantic 17 October 1941 Most likely sunk by German U-boat U-553
HMS Salvia (K97) 31° 46'N, 28° 00'E, off Alexandria 24 December 1941 Sunk by German U-boat U-568
HMS Arbutus (K86) 55° 05'N, 19° 43'W, North Atlantic 5 February 1942 Sunk by German U-boat U-136
HMS Hollyhock (K64) 7° 21'N, 81° 57'E, off Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 9 April 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft
HMS Auricula (K12) 12° 12'S, 49° 19'E, Courrier Bay, Madagascar 6 May 1942 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Gardenia (K99) 35° 49'N, 1° 05'W, off Oran, Algeria 9 November 1942 Sunk in accidental collision with HMS Fluellen
HMS Marigold (K87) 36° 50'N, 3° 00'E, off Algiers, Algeria 9 December 1942 Sunk by Italian aircraft
HMS Snapdragon (K10) 32° 18'N, 19° 54'E, off Benghazi, Libya 19 December 1942 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Samphire (K128) 36° 56'N, 5° 40'E, off Bougie, Algeria 30 January 1943 Sunk by Italian submarine Platino
HMS Erica (K50) 32° 48'N, 21° 10'E, off Derna, Libya 9 February 1943 Sunk by naval mine
HMS Polyanthus (K47) 57° 00'N, 31° 10'W, North Atlantic 21 September 1943 Sunk by German U-boat U-952
HMS Asphodel (K56) 45° 24'N, 18° 09'W, North Atlantic 10 March 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-575
HMS Orchis (K76) off Courseulles-sur-Mer, France 21 August 1944 Damaged beyond repair by naval mine and beached
HMS Hurst Castle (K416) 55° 27'N, 8° 12'W, North Atlantic 1 September 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-482
HMS Denbigh Castle (K696) 12° 12'S, 49° 19'E, Courrier Bay, Madagascar 13 February 1945 Sunk by German U-boat U-992
HMS Bluebell (K80) 69° 36'N, 35° 29'E, off Kola Inlet 17 February 1945 Sunk by German U-boat U-711
HMS Vervain (K190) 51° 47'N, 7° 06'W, of Dungarvan, Ireland 20 February 1945 Sunk by German U-boat U-1276

Auxiliaries

[edit]

Sloop

[edit]
Name Location Date Cause
HMS Bittern (L07) 64° 28'N, 11° 30'E, off Namsos, Norway 30 April 1940 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Penzance (L28) 56° 16'N, 27° 19'W, North Atlantic 24 August 1940 Sunk by German U-boat U-37
HMS Dundee (L84) 56° 45'N, 14° 14'W, North Atlantic 15 September 1940 Sunk by German U-boat U-48
HMS Grimsby (U16) 32° 30'N, 24° 40'E, off Tobruk, Libya 25 May 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Auckland (L61) 32° 15'N, 24° 30'E, off Tobruk, Libya 24 June 1941 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Culver (Y87) 31° 46'N, 28° 00'E, North Atlantic 31 January 1942 Sunk by German U-boat U-105
HMS Hartland (Y00) Oran Harbour, Algeria 8 November 1942 Sunk by French destroyer Typhon
HMS Walney (Y04) Oran Harbour, Algeria 8 November 1942 Sunk by French shore batteries
HMS Ibis (U99) 37° 00'N, 3° 00'E, off Algiers, Algeria 10 November 1942 Sunk by Italian aircraft
HMS Egret (L75) 42° 10'N, 9° 22'W, off Vigo, Spain 27 August 1943 Sunk by German aircraft
HMS Woodpecker (U08) 48° 49'N, 22° 11'W, North Atlantic 27 February 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-256
HMS Kite (U87) 73° 01'N, 3° 57'E, North Atlantic 21 August 1944 Sunk by German U-boat U-344
HMS Lark (U11) 69º 30'N, 34º 33'E, Barents Sea 17 February 1945 Damaged beyond repair by German U-boat U-968
HMS Lapwing (U62) 69° 26'N, 33° 44'E, Barents Sea 20 March 1945 Sunk by German U-boat U-968

Damage Caused

[edit]

Surface ships caused the loss of 63 warships, comprising:

  • 1 capital ship
  • 1 aircraft carrier
  • 8 cruisers
  • 24 destroyers
  • 29 submarines

Enemy submarines sank 54 warships, including:

  • 2 capital ships
  • 5 carriers
  • 9 cruisers
  • 33 destroyers
  • 5 submarines

Enemy aircraft sank 77 warships, including:

  • 2 capital ships
  • 1 carrier
  • 12 cruisers
  • 55 destroyers
  • 7 submarines

Mines caused the loss of 54 warships, including:

  • 2 cruisers
  • 26 destroyers
  • 26 submarines

Shore defenses sank two destroyers, while one carrier, three cruisers, 15 destroyers and nine submarines were lost to accidents or unknown causes.

Damage inflicted by enemy

[edit]

German forces sank 162 warships, including:

  • 2 battleships
  • 1 battlecruiser
  • 6 carriers
  • 15 cruisers
  • 114 destroyers
  • 24 submarines

Italian forces sank 58 warships, including:

  • 6 cruisers
  • 15 destroyers
  • 37 submarines

Japanese forces sank 19 warships, including:

  • 1 battleship
  • 1 battlecruiser
  • 1 carrier
  • 3 cruisers
  • 10 destroyers
  • 4 submarines

A further destroyer and two sloops were lost to Vichy French shore batteries and warships.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Roskill: "Royal Navy - Britische Seekriegsgeschichte 1939-1945", page 403
  2. ^ a b Roskill: "Royal Navy - Britische Seekriegsgeschichte 1939-1945", page 404
  3. ^ a b c BRITISH LOSSES & LOSSES INFLICTED ON AXIS NAVIES

Literature

[edit]
  • Stephen Roskill: "Royal Navy - Britische Seekriegsgeschichte 1939-1945", Gerhard Stalling Verlag, 1961