List of shipwrecks of the United Kingdom

Loss of the Royal Charter in a storm on the coast of Anglesey in 1859. About 450 lives were lost.

This is a list of shipwrecks located in the United Kingdom.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

England

Main article: List of shipwrecks of England

Northern Ireland

Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Drake  Royal Navy 2 October 1917 Torpedoed by U-79 in Rathlin Sound. 55°17′53″N 6°12′25″W / 55.298°N 6.207°W / 55.298; -6.207 (HMS Drake)
Girona  Spanish Navy 26 October 1588 Foundered and sank off Lacada Point, County Antrim. 55°14′46″N 6°30′15″W / 55.2462°N 6.5043°W / 55.2462; -6.5043 (Girona (ship))
Lagan  United Kingdom March 1946 Sank in collision off Belfast Lough.[1]
Normanby Hall  United Kingdom 8 October 1965 Foundered and sunk off Kilroot.
Princess Victoria  United Kingdom 31 January 1953 Foundered in heavy seas off the Copeland Islands.
State of Louisiana  United Kingdom 28 December 1878 A passenger liner that ran aground on Hunter Rock.
Tiberia  United Kingdom 26 February 1918 A merchant ship torpedoed and sunk by SM U-19 off Black Head near Larne, County Antrim.
Tullaghmurray Lass  United Kingdom February 2002 A Kilkeel fishing boat that sank after a gas explosion. 54°03′36″N 5°59′35″W / 54.060°N 5.993°W / 54.060; -5.993 (Tullaghmurray Lass)

Scotland

Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Akka  Sweden 9 April 1956 Ran aground and was wrecked in the River Clyde.
Annie Jane  United Kingdom 28 September 1853 Sank off Vatersay, Outer Hebrides in a gale, with the loss of 350 lives.[2]
RMS Aurania  United Kingdom 4 February 1918 An ocean liner that was torpedoed by UB-67 off the coast of Ireland. 56°36′N 6°20′W / 56.600°N 6.333°W / 56.600; -6.333 (RMS Aurania (1916))
Avondale Park  Canada 7 May 1945 A cargo ship that was sunk by U-2336 south of the Isle of May. 56°05′N 02°32′W / 56.083°N 2.533°W / 56.083; -2.533 (SS Avondale Park)
Ben Doran  United Kingdom 30 March 1930 An Aberdeen trawler that wrecked on the Ve Skerries, Shetland, killing the ~9 crew.[3]
Breda  Netherlands 23 December 1940 Dutch cargo ship, sunk by two German Heinkel He 111 bomber aircraft in Ardmucknish Bay off Oban. 56°28.55′N 5°25.00′W / 56.47583°N 5.41667°W / 56.47583; -5.41667 (SS Breda)
SMS Brummer  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A Brummer-class cruiser that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter.
HMS Caribbean  Royal Navy 27 November 1915 Sank 35 miles (56 km) off Cape Wrath due to bad weather.
Cemfjord  Cyprus 2 February 2015 A cargo ship that foundered 12 nautical miles (22 km) east of Muckle Skerry.
Coelleira  United Kingdom 4 August 2019 A Spanish-owned, UK-registered longliner that wrecked on the Ve Skerries, Shetland.[4] 60°22′09″N 1°49′35″W / 60.3693°N 1.8265°W / 60.3693; -1.8265 (MV Coelleira)
SMS Cöln  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A Cöln-class cruiser that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter. 58°53′32″N 3°03′00″W / 58.89222°N 3.05000°W / 58.89222; -3.05000 (SMS Cöln (1916))
Craigantlet  United Kingdom 26 February 1982 British container ship ran aground at Killantringan lighthouse, Wigtownshire.
HMS Dartmouth  Royal Navy 9 October 1690 A frigate wrecked in the Sound of Mull. 56°30′23″N 5°41′45″W / 56.5064°N 5.6957°W / 56.5064; -5.6957 (HMS Dartmouth (1655))
HMS Dasher  Royal Navy 27 March 1943 Aircraft carrier sunk by a major internal explosion. Lies in the Clyde estuary. 55°36′38″N 5°00′06″W / 55.61056°N 5.00167°W / 55.61056; -5.00167 (HMS Dasher (D37))
Desabla  United Kingdom 12 June 1915 Intercepted and sunk by German submarine U-17, 35 miles (56 km) off Montrose.
SMS Dresden  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A Cöln-class cruiser that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter.
El Gran Grifón  Spanish Navy 27 September 1588 A ship of the Spanish Armada that was wrecked on Fair Isle.
Elinor Viking  United Kingdom 9 December 1977 An Aberdeen trawler that wrecked on the Ve Skerries, Shetland.[5]
Empire Conveyor  United Kingdom 22 June 1940 A cargo ship torpedoed by U-122 off Barra Head.
Flying Phantom  United Kingdom 19 December 2007 A tug that sank in foggy conditions in the River Clyde at Clydebank.
HMS Goldfinch  Royal Navy 19 February 1915 An Acorn-class destroyer wrecked at Start Point.
Gracechurch  United Kingdom 16 August 1940 A cargo ship that was torpedoed by U-32 off Lewis, Outer Hebrides. 58°29′N 6°29′W / 58.48°N 06.49°W / 58.48; -06.49 (SS Gracechurch)
HMS Graph  Royal Navy 20 March 1944 Formerly the German U-boat U-570. Captured and taken into Royal Navy service in 1942, she ran aground and was wrecked on Islay in 1944. 55°48′06″N 6°28′30″W / 55.80167°N 6.47500°W / 55.80167; -6.47500 (HMS Graph)
HMS Hampshire  Royal Navy 5 June 1916 British armoured cruiser that struck a naval mine off Orkney. 59°7′2″N 3°23′46″W / 59.11722°N 3.39611°W / 59.11722; -3.39611 (HMS Hampshire (1903))
Hispania  Sweden 18 December 1954 A Swedish steamboat that struck rocks in the Sound of Mull. 56°33′55″N 5°59′13″W / 56.56528°N 5.98694°W / 56.56528; -5.98694 (SS Hispania (1912))
HMS Imogen  Royal Navy 16 July 1940 An I-class destroyer that collided with HMS Glasgow off Duncansby Head. 58°34′N 02°54′W / 58.567°N 2.900°W / 58.567; -2.900 (HMS Imogen (D44))
Inkosi  United Kingdom 28 March 1918 A steamship that was torpedoed by U-96 south of Burrow Head.[6]
HMS Iolaire  Royal Navy 1 January 1919 An Admiralty yacht sank in The Minch outside Stornoway harbour with the loss of 205 men returning from World War I. 58°11′16″N 6°20′59″W / 58.18774°N 6.34971°W / 58.18774; -6.34971 (Iolaire)
John Randolph  United States 5 September 1952 Struck a mine on 5 July 1942 in the Denmark Strait. The forepart was salved but broke tow on 1 September 1952 and was later wrecked at Torrisdale Bay, Sutherland on 5 September.[7][8][9]
SMS Karlsruhe  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A Königsberg-class cruiser that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter.
HMS King Edward VII  Royal Navy 6 January 1916 A King Edward VII-class battleship that struck a naval mine laid by SMS Möwe off Cape Wrath.
SMS König  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A König-class battleship that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter.
SMS Kronprinz  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A König-class battleship that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter.
Leadgate  United Kingdom 8 March 1943 A straggler from Convoy SC 121 that was hit by a torpedo from U-642 and sank west of the Hebrides. The master and 25 crewmembers were lost.
SMS Markgraf  Imperial German Navy 21 June 1919 A König-class battleship that was among the 74 ships scuttled in Scapa Flow by Admiral Reuter.
Orion  United Kingdom June 1850 A paddle steamer that sank off Wigtownshire.
HMS Port Napier  Royal Navy 27 November 1940 British minelayer ran aground in the Kyle of Lochalsh, caught fire while being unloaded, destroyed by explosion. 57°15.98′N 5°41.18′W / 57.26633°N 5.68633°W / 57.26633; -5.68633 (HMS Port Napier)
The Ramsey  Royal Navy 8 August 1915 An armed boarding steamer that was sunk by SMS Meteor northeast of Fair Isle. 59°36′N 001°25′W / 59.600°N 1.417°W / 59.600; -1.417 (SS The Ramsey)
Roebuck  Royal Navy 13 January 1915 A minesweeper that sank following a collision with HMS Imperieuse in Scapa Flow, near Longhope.
Rondo  Norway 25 January 1935 Sunk in the Sound of Mull in a storm. 56°32.30′N 5°54.75′W / 56.53833°N 5.91250°W / 56.53833; -5.91250 (Rondo (ship))
HMS Royal Oak  Royal Navy 14 October 1939 A Revenge-class battleship torpedoed in Scapa Flow by U-47, with 833 deaths. 58°55′51″N 2°59′00″W / 58.93083°N 2.98333°W / 58.93083; -2.98333 (HMS Royal Oak (08))
San Juan de Silicia  Spanish Navy 5 November 1588 A ship of the Spanish Armada that was blown up at Tobermory.
HMS Sealion  Royal Navy 13 March 1945 An S-class submarine scuttled off the Isle of Arran.
Seniority  United Kingdom 8 November 1950 A cargo ship that sank off the Bo Vich Chuan Rock in the Outer Hebrides.
St. Sunniva  United Kingdom 10 April 1930 A cruise ship that ran aground on the island of Mousa.
Swan  Royal Navy 13 September 1653 A warship that sunk in a storm while anchored off Duart Castle.
Thesis  United Kingdom 16 October 1889 A steamship that ran aground on a reef in the Sound of Mull.
Tuscania  United Kingdom 5 February 1918 An ocean liner that was torpedoed by UB-77 off Islay, Inner Hebrides. 55°37′N 6°26′W / 55.617°N 6.433°W / 55.617; -6.433 (SS Tuscania (1914))
U-33  Kriegsmarine 12 February 1940 A Type VIIA U-boat that was sunk by HMS Gleaner in the Firth of Clyde. 55°25′N 05°07′W / 55.417°N 5.117°W / 55.417; -5.117 (German submarine U-33 (1936))
U-297  Kriegsmarine 6 December 1944 A Type VIIC/41 U-boat that was sunk by a British Short Sunderland flying boat of No. 201 Squadron RAF 16 nautical miles (30 km) west of Yesnaby, Orkney Islands.
U-714  Kriegsmarine 14 March 1945 German U-Boat sunk by depth charges from the South African frigate HMSAS Natal. She was discovered in the Firth of Forth in 2007. 55°57′N 01°57′W / 55.950°N 1.950°W / 55.950; -1.950 (German submarine U-714)
U-722  Kriegsmarine 27 March 1945 A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk in the Sea of the Hebrides by HMS Fitzroy, HMS Redmill and HMS Byron. 57°09′N 06°55′W / 57.150°N 6.917°W / 57.150; -6.917 (German submarine U-722)
U-1206  Kriegsmarine 14 April 1945 A Type VIIC U-boat that sprung a leak and sank off Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire. 57°21′N 01°39′W / 57.350°N 1.650°W / 57.350; -1.650 (German submarine U-1206)
UB-116  Imperial German Navy 28 October 1918 A Type UB III U-boat that was sunk by a mine while attempting to enter the Scapa Flow. 58°50′N 3°4′W / 58.833°N 3.067°W / 58.833; -3.067 (SM UB-116)
Unknown shipwreck Unknown Unknown Found in 2000.[10]
Valkyrie II  United Kingdom 5 July 1894 A cutter that collided with Satanita on the Firth of Clyde. 55°36′50″N 4°57′00″W / 55.614°N 4.950°W / 55.614; -4.950 (Valkyrie II (yacht))
HMS Vandal  Royal Navy 24 February 1943 A U-class submarine sunk off Lochranza four days after commissioning. 55°43′N 5°20′W / 55.717°N 5.333°W / 55.717; -5.333 (HMS Vandal (P64))
HMS Vanguard  Royal Navy 9 July 1917 A St. Vincent-class battleship that exploded and sank at Scapa Flow, with about 804 deaths. 58°51′24″N 3°06′22″W / 58.8566°N 3.1062°W / 58.8566; -3.1062 (HMS Vanguard (1909))
Varyag  Imperial Russian Navy 1925 A Russian protected cruiser that ran aground and sank in the Firth of Clyde. 55°11′03″N 04°56′30″W / 55.18417°N 4.94167°W / 55.18417; -4.94167 (Russian cruiser Varyag (1899))
HMS Vivid  Royal Navy 8 July 1913 A training ship of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, ran aground and wrecked at Colonsay of her first voyage as a training ship.

Wales

See also: List of shipwrecks in the Bristol Channel
Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Amazonese Unknown 15 April 1881 A cargo steamship that ran aground at St. David's Head.
Behar  United Kingdom 24 November 1940 A 6,100-ton steamer, 436 ft (133 m) in length, with a cargo of 4,700 tons of government stores, allegedly including Harley Davidson motorbikes. Sunk by magnetic parachute mine in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.[11] 52°43′N 5°07′W / 52.717°N 5.117°W / 52.717; -5.117 (SS Behar)
Calburga  Canada 13 November 1915 A Canadian barque that ran aground in a gale off Strumble Head.
Castilian  United Kingdom 12 February 1943 A cargo ship that ran aground off The Skerries, Anglesey. 53°25.0107′N 4°35.9176′W / 53.4168450°N 4.5986267°W / 53.4168450; -4.5986267 (SS Castilian)
HMS Conway  Royal Navy 14 April 1953 A training ship wrecked near Menai Bridge.
Dakotian  United Kingdom 21 November 1940 A 6,400-ton steamer, 400 ft (120 m) in length, with a cargo of 1,300 tons of tinplate. Sunk by magnetic parachute mine approximately 1-nautical-mile (1.9 km) west of Dale in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
Diamond  United States 2 January 1825 A protected wrecksite; a three-masted square rigger with a composite hull, forerunner of the Ocean liners, lost in Cardigan Bay. 52°31′12″N 4°32′28″W / 52.520°N 4.541°W / 52.520; -4.541 (Diamond (ship))
Empire Beacon  United Kingdom 5 April 1942 A coastal trading vessel that struck a mine off Pembrokeshire. 51°41′N 5°10′W / 51.683°N 5.167°W / 51.683; -5.167 (MV Empire Beacon)
Faraday  United Kingdom 25 March 1941 A cable layer that was attacked by a Heinkel He 111 off Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and sank the following day off St Anne's Head. It is now a protected wreck.
Herefordshire  United Kingdom 15 March 1934 Former Bibby Line liner, 7,000 tons, on passage to breakers, lost tow in a storm and ran aground on Cardigan Island; no lives lost, but rats destroyed puffin and Manx shearwater colonies; lies in 12m of water.[12]
Lelia  Confederate States Navy 14 January 1865 A steamship that sank in a storm off the Great Orme. 53°22′16″N 3°50′56″W / 53.371°N 3.849°W / 53.371; -3.849 (PS Lelia)
Loch Shiel
(aka Whiskey Wreck) 		 United Kingdom 30 January 1877 A 1,218-ton rigged sailing ship, 225 ft (69 m) in length, with a cargo of 7,000 cases of whiskey, beer & general goods. Ran aground at Thorne Island in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Now at a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m), is very broken up, but the brick ballast is still visible.[13]
Lucy  Netherlands 14 February 1967 A 52-metre (171 ft) coaster, sank off Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, while carrying a cargo of calcium carbide from Uddevalla, Sweden to Barry.[14][15]
HMY Mary  Royal Navy 25 March 1675 A protected wrecksite; the first British Royal Yacht, hit rocks in fog off Anglesey. 53°15′54″N 4°21′47″W / 53.265°N 4.363°W / 53.265; -4.363 (HMY Mary)
Ocean Monarch  United States 25 August 1848 A barque that caught fire and sank northeast of Llandudno. 53°25′40.00″N 3°35′27.00″W / 53.4277778°N 3.5908333°W / 53.4277778; -3.5908333 (Ocean Monarch (barque))
Pacific  United States January 1856 A Collins Line transatlantic steamer that sank (possibly in the Irish Sea) from unknown causes. Wreck found in 1986.
Paul  Germany 30 October 1925 A four masted windjammer that was wrecked on the Cefn Sidan sands. 51°44′00″N 4°22′30″W / 51.7332°N 4.3749°W / 51.7332; -4.3749 (SV Paul)
Resurgam II  United Kingdom 25 February 1880 A protected wrecksite near Rhyl. 53°23.78′N 03°33.18′W / 53.39633°N 3.55300°W / 53.39633; -3.55300 (Resurgam)
Rothsay Castle  United Kingdom 18 August 1831 A paddle steamer that ran aground and broke up at the eastern end of the Menai Strait in 1831. 53°17′00″N 04°00′30″W / 53.28333°N 4.00833°W / 53.28333; -4.00833 (Rothsay Castle (ship))
Royal Charter  United Kingdom 26 October 1859 A steam clipper driven onto rocks near Moelfre, Anglesey. 53°21′14″N 4°14′06″W / 53.354°N 4.235°W / 53.354; -4.235 (Royal Charter (ship))
Samtampa  United States 23 April 1947 A steamship wrecked off Sker Point. 51°30′01″N 03°44′26″W / 51.50028°N 3.74056°W / 51.50028; -3.74056 (SS Samtampa)
Swanland  Cook Islands 27 November 2011 Sank after hitting a large wave following gale force 8 conditions 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the coast of Anglesey.
U-58  Imperial German Navy 17 November 1917 A Type U 57 U-boat that was sunk by USS Fanning in the action of 17 November 1917. 51°32′N 05°21′W / 51.533°N 5.350°W / 51.533; -5.350 (SM U-58)
U-1302  Kriegsmarine 7 March 1945 A Type VIIC/41 U-boat that was sunk by depth charges from the Canadian frigates HMCS La Hulloise, Strathadam and Thetford Mines in St. George's Channel. 52°19′N 5°23′W / 52.317°N 5.383°W / 52.317; -5.383 (German submarine U-1302)
Walter L M Russ  United Kingdom 15 July 1945 A German cargo ship that was captured by the Allies and ran aground on Grassholm. 51°43′51″N 5°28′53″W / 51.7308°N 5.4814°W / 51.7308; -5.4814 (SS Walter L M Russ)
HMS Whirlwind  Royal Navy 29 October 1974 A W-class destroyer that was sunk as a target in Cardigan Bay. 52°16′47″N 04°40′41″W / 52.27972°N 4.67806°W / 52.27972; -4.67806 (HMS Whirlwind (R87))

References

  1. ^ "MV Lagan (1903)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Annie Jane". Wreck site. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Two Wrecks in the Shetlands" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XXVIII: 66–69. June 1930 – via RNLI Archive.
  4. ^ Stranding and loss of the fishing vessel Coelleira (OB 93) Ve Skerries, Shetland 4 August 2019 (PDF) (Report). Marine Accident Investigation Branch. March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Honours and Awards". The London Gazette. No. 47582. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 4 July 1978. pp. 8045–8046. ISBN 0 11 657582 4. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  6. ^ "SS Inkosi (1902)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. ^ "MHG23280 - John Randolph (Fore Part): Torrisdale Bay, Sutherland". Highland Historic Environment Record.
  8. ^ "Record 167 in Wreck Details" (PDF). Highlands Regional Council Maritime Wrecks and Monuments Record. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  9. ^ Sawyer, L.A.; Mitchell, W.H. The Liberty ships: the history of the 'Emergency' type cargo ships constructed in the United States during World War II. David & Charles. p. 42. ISBN 0715349074.
  10. ^ "SCI/TECH | North Sea wreck in methane mystery". BBC News. 29 November 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  11. ^ "SS Behar (1928)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Storm of 1934 changed Cardigan Island forever". Wales Online. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  13. ^ "THE LOCH SHIEL – 92". Divernet. 14 August 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  14. ^ "Diving MV Lucy". Divernet.com. 14 February 1967. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  15. ^ "Lucy Wreck". Dive-pembrokeshire.com. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
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