Submarine Losses |
Personnel Losses |
||
---|---|---|---|
Chile |
1 |
Chile |
— |
Denmark |
1 |
Denmark |
1 |
France |
18 |
France |
446 |
Germany |
9 |
Germany |
30 |
Great Britain |
24 |
Great Britain |
631 |
Greece |
1 |
Greece |
— |
Israel |
1 |
Israel |
69 |
Italy |
3 |
Italy |
95 |
Japan |
7 |
Japan |
385 |
Netherlands |
3 |
Netherlands |
4 |
Russia |
4 |
Russia |
46 |
Soviet Union |
5 |
Soviet Union |
174 |
Spain |
1 |
Spain |
46 |
Sweden |
3 |
Sweden |
35 |
Turkey |
1 |
Turkey |
81 |
United States |
19 |
United States |
402 |
Total |
101 |
Total |
2,445 |
Cause of Submarine Disasters |
|
---|---|
Collision |
35 |
Foundering |
49 |
Explosion |
3 |
Mine |
1 |
Miscellaneous |
1 |
Unknown |
12 |
Total |
101 |
Date |
Country |
Name or Number |
Commissioned |
Submerged |
Depth |
Men Lost |
Survivors |
Salvaged |
Place and Cause |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 July 1971 |
Great Britain |
Artemis |
1947 |
1,120 |
30 feet |
0 |
23 |
Yes |
Sank at her moorings alongside the jetty at the Submarine Base, HMS Dolphin, Gosport, Hants, England. |
12 April 1970 |
Soviet Union |
"N” Class (unknown) |
— |
4,000 |
— |
— |
— |
No |
About 400 to 600 miles northwest of Spain. Cause unknown. |
4 March 1970 |
France |
Eurydice (S644) |
1964 |
4,040 |
3,600 |
57 |
None |
No |
In Mediterranean off Cape Camaret, 35 miles east of Toulon, France. Explosion. |
16 May 1969 |
United States |
Guitarro (SSN-665) |
— |
4,640 |
35 |
— |
— |
Yes |
Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. Flooded at dock due to negligence of workmen. |
21 May 1968 |
United States |
Scorpion (SSN-589) |
1960 |
3,500 |
10,000 |
99 |
None |
No |
In Atlantic, 400 miles south of Azores. Cause unknown. |
27 January 1968 |
France |
Minerve (S647) |
1964 |
1,040 |
Unknown |
52 |
None |
No |
In Mediterranean. Cause unknown. |
25 January 1968 |
Israel |
Dakar (77) |
1945 |
4,700 |
Unknown |
69 |
None |
No |
In Mediterranean. Cause unknown. |
14 September 1966 |
Germany |
Hai (170) (ex- U-2365) |
1945 |
256 |
160 |
19 |
1 |
Yes |
In North Sea off Doggerbank. A welded seam in the engine room sprang open flooding the compartment and making the U-boat unstable while on the surface. |
10 April 1963 |
United States |
Thresher (SSN-593) |
1961 |
4,300 |
8,400 |
129 |
None |
No |
In Atlantic 220 miles east of Boston, Massachusetts. Cause unknown. |
30 May 1958 |
United States |
Stickleback (SS-415) |
1945 |
2,424 |
9,000 |
0 |
82 |
No |
In Pacific 19 miles southwest of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Collision with destroyer USS Silverstein. Broached during maneuvers and was struck between control room and forward battery room. |
16 June 1955 |
Great Britain |
Sidon |
1944 |
1,000 |
36 |
13 |
43 |
Yes |
In Portland Harbor, England. Flooded following torpedo explosion in forward torpedo compartment. |
4 April 1953 |
Turkey |
Dumlupinar |
1944 |
2,424 |
276 |
81 |
5 |
No |
In Dardanelles, off Nagara Point, three miles north of Canakkale, Turkey. Rammed by Swedish freighter Naboland. |
23 September 1952 |
France |
Sibylle |
1942 |
1,007 |
2,280 |
47 |
None |
No |
In Mediterranean 38 miles east of Toulon, France. Foundered. Disappeared while diving between Cannes and the Island of Porquerolles. Cause unknown. |
17 April 1951 |
Great Britain |
Affray |
1945 |
1,620 |
278 |
75 |
None |
No |
In English Channel 30 miles north of Island of Guernsey. Believed flooded due to failure of snorkel mast weldment. Precise cause still unknown. |
12 January 1950 |
Great Britain |
Truculent |
1942 |
1,575 |
54 |
64 |
15 |
Yes |
Ten miles east of Sheerness, England, in the Thames Estuary. In collision with Swedish tanker Divina. |
25 August 1949 |
United States |
Cochino (SS-345) |
1945 |
2,424 |
840 |
1(6)* |
77 |
No |
In Greenland Sea 100 miles north of Hammerfest, Norway. Foundered after battery explosion. |
27 June 1946 |
Spain |
C-4 |
1928 |
1,290 |
1,000 |
46 |
None |
No |
Eight miles off Soller, Balearic Islands, Spain. Was cruising submerged when rammed by the Spanish destroyer Lepanto. |
5 December 1946 |
France |
U-2326 (ex-German) |
1944 |
256 |
Unknown |
26 |
None |
No |
Off Toulon, France. Cause unknown. |
12 August 1943 |
Sweden |
Illern |
1921 |
640 |
26 |
1 |
30 |
Yes |
In Kalmarsund Strait, Sweden. Rammed by Swedish motorship Birkaland of Gothenburg due to poor visibility. |
14 April 1943 |
Sweden |
Ulven |
1931 |
850 |
160 |
33 |
None |
Yes |
Off Marstrand, Sweden. Sunk by a mine. |
4 September 1942 |
Sweden |
Sjoborren |
1941 |
760 |
30 |
1 |
33 |
Yes |
Off Oxelosund Archipelago, Sweden. Rammed by Swedish steamship Virginia of Jonstorp. |
2 October 1941 |
Japan |
I-61 |
1929 |
2,100 |
300 |
70 |
None |
No |
Off Iki Island, Japan. Collided with gunboat. |
20 June 1941 |
United States |
O-9 (SS-70) |
1918 |
629 |
440 |
33 |
None |
No |
Forty miles southeast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Foundered while on training cruise. |
29 August 1940 |
Japan |
I-67 |
1932 |
2,330 |
Unknown |
89 |
None |
No |
Off Bonin Islands. Disappeared in a heavy storm during an exercise. |
6 March 1940 |
Netherlands |
O-11 |
1926 |
656 |
30 |
3 |
27 |
Yes |
Off Helder Navy Yard, Netherlands. Rammed by naval tug while on the surface. |
24 July 1939 |
Soviet Union |
SC-424 |
1937 |
587 |
— |
34 |
None |
— |
Off Murmansk, Soviet Russia. Collision. |
15 June 1939 |
France |
Phenix |
1931 |
2,060 |
390 |
71 |
None |
No |
225 miles northeast of Saigon, French Indo-China. Cause unknown. |
1 June 1939 |
Great Britain |
Thetis |
1939 |
1,575 |
160 |
99 |
4 |
Yes |
Off Mersey, Liverpool Bay, England. Flooded via torpedo tube when opened under water with bow cap open. |
23 May 1939 |
United States |
Squalus (SS-192) |
1939 |
2,350 |
243 |
26 |
33 |
Yes |
Off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Failure of main induction valve during dive. |
2 February 1939 |
Japan |
I-63 |
1928 |
2,100 |
330 |
81 |
6 |
Yes |
In Bungo Channel in strait between Kyushu and Shikoku Islands, Japan. Lost during maneuvers after collision with another submarine. |
20 November 1936 |
Germany |
U-18 |
1936 |
329 |
— |
8 |
12 (3)* |
Yes |
In Bight of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany. Collision with T 156 during torpedo practice. * Three other crew members were not on board at time of mishap. |
25 July 1935 |
Soviet Union |
B-3 |
1915 |
1,318 |
200 |
55 |
None |
Yes |
In Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Collided with Soviet Battleship Marat while surfacing. |
8 July 1932 |
France |
Promethee |
1930 |
2,060 |
230 |
66 |
7 |
No |
Off Cherbourg Harbor, France. Flooded due to failure of hydraulic MBT vents. |
26 January 1932 |
Great Britain |
M-2 (ex- HMS K.19) |
1918 |
1,950 |
106 |
60 |
None |
No |
Seven miles west of Portland Bill, England. Flooded. Hatch inside hanger leading to interior of submarine was left open. |
24 October 1931 |
Soviet Union |
L-55 (ex- HMS L-55) |
1918 |
1,150 |
— |
50 |
None |
Yes |
In Gulf of Finland 35 miles west of Leningrad, Russia. Collision with German steamer Grattia. Submarine emerged directly in path of steamer. |
9 June 1931 |
Great Britain |
Poseidon |
1930 |
1,475 |
130 |
20 |
35 |
No |
About 21 miles off Wei Hai Wei on north shore of Shantung Peninsula, China. Collision with Chinese merchant steamer Yuta. |
22 May 1931 |
Soviet Union |
Rabotchi No. 9 |
1917 |
784 |
540 |
35 |
None |
Yes |
In Gulf of Finland 100 miles southeast of Helsingfors, Baltic Sea. Failed to surface after making a dive during naval maneuvers. Cause unknown. |
11 May 1931 |
Greece |
Nereus |
1927 |
930 |
— |
— |
None |
— |
Off Pyrgos, Greece. Accident due to a misunderstanding of a maneuver order. Whole crew lost. |
9 July 1929 |
Great Britain |
H-47 |
1919 |
550 |
330 |
21 |
3 |
No |
In St. George’s Channel off Pembroke, Wales. Collision with British submarine L-12. Two men of L-12 were lost and another died of injuries. |
3 October 1928 |
France |
Ondine |
1925 |
787 |
5,000 to |
43 |
None |
No |
Off Vigo, Spain. Collision with Greek steamer Aikoterini M. Goulandris while cruising on the surface at night. |
6 August 1928 |
Italy |
F-14 |
1917 |
318 |
140 |
27 |
None |
Yes |
Seven miles west of Brioni Island off Pola in the Adriatic Sea. Collision with Italian destroyer Giuseppe Missori. Was struck by prow of destroyer when she emerged on surface. |
17 December 1927 |
United States |
S-4 (SS-109) |
1919 |
1,092 |
102 |
40 |
None |
Yes |
Off Provincetown, Massachusetts. Collision with U. S. Coast Guard destroyer Paulding, which struck her on starboard side just forward amidship. |
9 August 1926 |
Great Britain |
H-29 |
1917 |
500 |
32 |
6 |
— |
Yes |
Dockside Devonport Basin, England. Flooded while trimming on the surface with open hatches due to mistaken orders. |
12 November 1925 |
Great Britain |
M-1 (ex- HMS K.18) |
1918 |
1,950 |
225 |
69 |
None |
No |
In English Channel off Start Point, England. Collision with Swedish steamer Vidar while running submerged. |
25 September 1925 |
United States |
S-51 (SS-162) |
1922 |
1,230 |
132 |
33 |
3 |
Yes |
Off Block Island, Rhode Island. Collision with passenger-cargo vessel City of Rome. Rammed forward of her conning tower portside in middle of battery room. |
26 August 1925 |
Italy |
Sebastiano Veniero |
1919 |
925 |
300 |
54 |
None |
No |
In Mediterranean Sea between Syracuse and Cape Passero, Sicily. Collision with SS Capena while running submerged. |
19 March 1924 |
Japan |
Ro-25 (ex- No. 43) |
1921 |
1,100 |
156 |
46 |
None |
Yes |
Ten miles off Sasebo Harbor, Japan. Collision with Japanese cruiser Tatsuta. |
10 January 1924 |
Great Britain |
L-24 |
1920 |
1,080 |
180 |
43 |
None |
No |
Ten miles southwest of Portland Bill, England. Rammed by British battleship HMS Resolution. Submarine broke surface in front of her bow. |
29 October 1923 |
Japan |
Ro-52 (ex- No. 26) |
1920 |
1,082 |
48 |
0 |
— |
Yes |
Kure Harbor, Japan. Flooded via torpedo tube during repairs alongside Japanese cruiser Yahagi. |
29 October 1923 |
United States |
O-5 (SS-66) |
1918 |
624 |
42 |
3 |
18 |
Yes |
Limon Bay, Cristobel, Panama Canal Zone. Collided with United Fruit steamer Abangarez. |
21 August 1923 |
Japan |
Ro-31 (ex- No. 70) |
1923 |
1,000 |
160 |
88 |
5 |
Yes |
In Osaka Bay, Japan. Flooded due to premature opening of hatch before securely surfaced. |
18 August 1923 |
Great Britain |
L-9 |
1918 |
1,080 |
38 |
|
4 |
Yes |
In Hong Kong Harbor, United Kingdom. L-9 broke away from her moorings and foundered during the great typhoon. Only three men and an officer were aboard at the time. |
17 July 1923 |
United States |
S-38 (SS-143) |
1923 |
1,062 |
102 |
0 |
|
Yes |
In Anchorage Bay, Alaska. Sank by the stern due to accidental flooding of the motor room. Cover of sea valve located below waterline had been removed by crew member. |
23 March 1922 |
Great Britain |
H-42 |
1919 |
500 |
3,000 |
26 |
None |
No |
Off Europa Point, Gibraltar. Rammed by British destroyer HMS Versatile. |
7 December 1921 |
United States |
S-48 (SS-159) |
1922 |
1,230 |
60 |
0 |
41 |
Yes |
In Long Island Sound off Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut. Failure to replace the hatch cover on the after ballast tank, resulting in flooding of stern compartments. |
October 1921 |
Netherlands |
O-8 (ex- HMS H-6) |
1917 |
440 |
— |
0 |
— |
Yes |
In Den Helder Harbor, The Netherlands. Sank from water filling her after section as the result of a sea cock being left open. |
26 September 1921 |
United States |
R-6 (SS-83) |
1919 |
680 |
35 |
2 |
18 |
Yes |
Sank while moored in San Pedro Harbor, California, alongside tender Camden. Sinking due to opening of inner torpedo tube door while outboard shutter was opened. |
25 June 1921 |
Great Britain |
K-15 |
1918 |
2,565 |
— |
0 |
6* |
Yes |
In Portsmouth Harbor, England. Flooded. Oil in hydraulic system expanded and contracted causing drop in oil pressure sufficient to slacken vents allowing air to escape. As air pressure in tanks dropped sea water rose. *Remainder of crew was ashore. |
20 January 1921 |
Great Britain |
K-5 |
1917 |
2,565 |
3,000 |
57 |
None |
No |
In Bay of Biscay, 120 miles southwest of the Scilly Islands, England. Submerged and never rose to surface again while practicing with four other "K” class submarines. Cause unknown. |
1 September 1920 |
United States |
S-5 (SS-110) |
1920 |
1,092 |
172 |
0 |
38 |
No |
40 miles east by south off Delaware Capes. Flooded by open main induction. Crew raised stern and hole was cut by crews of steamers Atlantis and General Goethals for escape. |
12 March 1920 |
United States |
H-1 (SS-28) |
1913 |
467 |
50 |
4 |
— |
No |
Off Redendo [sic] Point near entrance to Magdalena Bay, Lower California. Foundered during salvage operations after grounding. |
— |
United States |
C-5 (SS-16) |
1910 |
275 |
|
— |
— |
Yes |
At Submarine Base, Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone. Sunk at pier when men who watered the batteries, on leaving boat forgot to turn off valve in the water line. |
2 July 1919 |
United States |
G-2 (SS-27) |
1915 |
516 |
80 |
3 |
1 |
Yes |
In Two Tree Channel, Long Island Sound east of Niantic Bay, Connecticut. Flooded by rip current washing over the main engine hatch. |
2 June 1919 |
Chile |
H-3 (No. 53) Rucumilla |
1917 |
434 |
100 |
0 |
25 |
Yes |
Off Talcahuano in Concepcion Bay, Chile. Crew opened battery ventilation exhaust valves instead of shutting them before she dived thereby partially flooding boat. |
22 February 1919 |
Germany |
U-21 |
1913 |
837 |
— |
0 |
Unknown |
— |
In North Sea. Foundered en route to surrender. |
21 February 1919 |
Germany |
UC-40 |
1916 |
480 |
— |
0 |
Unknown |
Yes |
In North Sea. Foundered en route to surrender. |
20 February 1919 |
Germany |
UC-71 |
1916 |
508 |
— |
0 |
Unknown |
— |
In North Sea. Foundered en route to surrender. |
10 February 1919 |
Germany |
UC-91 |
1918 |
571 |
— |
0 |
Unknown |
— |
In North Sea. Foundered en route to surrender. |
8 February 1919 |
Germany |
U-16 |
1911 |
627 |
— |
0 |
Unknown |
— |
In the Elbe. Foundered en route to surrender. |
22 November 1918 |
Great Britain |
G-11 |
1918 |
975 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
21 November 1918 |
Germany |
U-97 |
1917 |
998 |
— |
0 |
Unknown |
— |
In North Sea. Foundered en route to surrender. |
9 October 1916 |
Denmark |
Dykkeren |
1909 |
132 |
28 |
1 |
8 |
Yes |
Off Copenhagen, Denmark. Sunk in collision with Norwegian merchant ship Vesla of Bergen. |
25 March 1915 |
United States |
F-4 (SS-23) |
1913 |
400 |
306 |
21 |
None |
Yes |
1½ miles off Honolulu, Hawaii. Corrosion of the lead lining of the battery tank had permitted seepage of sea water into battery compartment causing loss of control of submarine. |
7 July 1914 |
France |
Calypso |
1908 |
491 |
177 |
3 |
23 |
No |
Off Cape Lardier. Calypso rammed by Circe while both were cruising on the surface during naval exercises due to damaged rudder on the Calypso. |
March 1914 |
Russia |
Minoga |
1909 |
147 |
42 |
0 |
20 |
Yes |
Off Libau, Latvia. Took sudden plunge while maneuvering. Defective or improperly closed ventilator. Water leaked through until trim was affected and she plunged to bottom. |
31 January 1914 |
Netherlands |
O-5 |
1914 |
149 |
— |
1 |
19 |
Yes |
Sunk at Scheldt Quay, The Netherlands. Safety mechanism failed. Both ends of torpedo tube opened at the same time. |
16 January 1914 |
Great Britain |
A-7 |
1905 |
204 |
200 |
11 |
None |
No |
In Whitesand Bay, off Plymouth, England. Failed to surface after submerged run. Cause unknown. |
10 December 1913 |
Great Britain |
C-14 |
1908 |
320 |
72 |
0 |
20 |
Yes |
Between Drake’s Island and Devil’s Point in Plymouth Sound, England. While running on surface in squadron was rammed by Government hopper, No. 27. |
11 October 1912 |
United States |
F-1 (SS-20) |
1912 |
330 |
— |
2 |
— |
Yes |
Port Watsonville, Monterey Bay, California. Broke her moorings during a heavy sea. |
4 October 1912 |
Great Britain |
B-2 |
1905 |
313 |
120 |
15 |
1 |
No |
Four miles from Dover Breakwater, England. Rammed while surfaced at night and cut in two by Hamburg-American liner Amerika. |
8 June 1912 |
France |
Vendemiaire |
1910 |
550 |
350 |
24 |
None |
No |
Off Cape De La Hague between Aurigny Island and Cape Hague in the Race of Alderney. Cut in half by French battleship St. Louis during maneuvers. |
2 February 1912 |
Great Britain |
A-3 |
1904 |
204 |
66 |
14 |
None |
Yes |
On the Princess Shoal off Isle of Wight. Rammed by gunboat HMS Hazard while running partially submerged. |
17 January 1911 |
Germany |
U-3 |
1909 |
421 |
30 |
3 |
27 |
Yes |
In Kiel Harbor, Germany. Flooded due to ventilator being left open. |
1 June 1910 |
Russia |
Forel |
1904 |
17 |
— |
0 |
— |
Yes |
Sunk while being towed. |
26 May 1910 |
France |
Pluviose |
1907 |
550 |
180 |
27 |
None |
Yes |
Two miles from Calais Harbor, France. Rammed by cross-channel steamer Pas de Calais as submarine was rising from a dive. |
15 April 1910 |
Japan |
No. 6 |
1907 |
85 |
52 |
11 |
None |
Yes |
In Hiroshima Bay, Japan. Foundered while maneuvering. Defective valves in ballast tanks or ventilators left open. |
14 July 1909 |
Great Britain |
C-11 |
1907 |
314 |
108 |
13 |
3 |
Yes |
One and a quarter miles north of the Hasbrough lightship off Cromer, England. Sunk in collision with cargo steamer SS Eddystone. |
12 June 1909 |
Russia |
Kambala |
1907 |
240 |
168 |
20 |
4 |
No |
In Black Sea, five miles from Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia. Rammed and cut in half by Russian battleship Rostislav while running on surface. |
26 April 1909 |
Italy |
Foca |
1908 |
230 |
— |
14 |
— |
Yes |
In Bay of Naples, Italy. Sank as a result of the blast of a gasoline container. 12 injured. |
15 October 1908 |
France |
Fresnol |
— |
— |
— |
0 |
— |
Yes |
— |
6 August 1907 |
France |
Castor |
1904 |
— |
— |
0 |
— |
Yes |
— |
5 July 1907 |
France |
Bonite |
1904 |
73 |
— |
— |
— |
Yes |
Filled with water in dock during tightness tests. Presumably a valve was left open |
19 June 1907 |
France |
Gymnote |
1888 |
31 |
— |
2 |
— |
Yes |
Toulon, France. Sunk at dock from admission of water while ballast tanks were being filled due to confusion of orders. |
11 January 1907 |
France |
Algerien |
1901 |
160 |
40 |
0 |
— |
Yes |
In Cherbourg Dockyard, France. Due to carelessness in moorings boat tilted until water rushed in through half opened hatch of conning tower sinking vessel. All the crew were ashore. |
17 October 1906 |
France |
Lutin |
1903 |
202 |
120 |
14 |
None |
Yes |
Off Bizerte, Tunisia. Sank stern first while practicing. Sinking result of leaks in hull plating. |
13 August 1906 |
France |
Esturgeon |
1904 |
73 |
— |
0 |
— |
Yes |
Sunk at dock at Saigon. |
16 October 1905 |
Great Britain |
A-4 |
1904 |
180 |
90 |
0 |
— |
Yes |
In Portsmouth Harbor, England. Sank due to water entering through open ventilator. Crew was ordered off submarine for fear of explosion. |
6 July 1905 |
France |
Farfadet |
1901 |
202 |
100 |
14 |
3 |
Yes |
Off Bizerte, Tunisia. Conning tower hatch was found leaking having been improperly closed and opened when an attempt was made to secure it. |
8 June 1905 |
Great Britain |
A-8 |
1905 |
207 |
180 |
14 |
4 |
Yes |
In Plymouth Sound, England. Caused by lack of longitudinal stability and exceeding critical speed. Sank suddenly while running on surface before hatches could be closed. |
20 June 1904 |
Russia |
Delfin (No. 150) |
1903 |
150 |
— |
26 |
6 |
Yes |
In the Neva River off the Baltic shipbuilding yard, Kronstadt, Russia. Foundered by wash penetrating the open hatches from a passing tug. |
18 March 1904 |
Great Britain |
A-1 |
1903 |
180 |
42 |
11 |
None |
Yes |
A mile east of Nab Lightship, Spithead, England. While running submerged was struck by Union-Castle liner SS Berwick Castle. Disaster caused by faulty periscope. |