The list of shipwrecks in 1948 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1948.

table of contents
← 1947 1948 1949 →
Jan Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul Aug
Sep Oct Nov Dec
Unknown date
References

January

2 January

List of shipwrecks: 2 January 1948
Ship State Description
Silvia Onorato  Italy The cargo ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands and broke her back.[1]

3 January

List of shipwrecks: 3 January 1948
Ship State Description
Lynn Trader  United Kingdom The coaster ran aground in Bridlington Bay, Yorkshire.[2]

6 January

List of shipwrecks: 6 January 1948
Ship State Description
City of London  United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground 20 nautical miles (37 km) north west of Margate, Kent. Refloated the next day.[3]

7 January

List of shipwrecks: 7 January 1948
Ship State Description
Teasel  United Kingdom The coaster ran aground near Holyhead, Anglesey.[3]

9 January

List of shipwrecks: 9 January 1948
Ship State Description
Podolsk  Soviet Union The cargo ship ran aground on the Amhurst Rocks in the Yangtze Estuary 60 nautical miles (110 km) from Wusong, China. She sank two days later.[4]

11 January

List of shipwrecks: 11 January 1948
Ship State Description
Veni  Norway The cargo ship ran aground on Balach Rocks, Islay, Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom whilst on a voyage from Leith, Midlothian to Sfax, Tunisia.[5]

12 January

List of shipwrecks: 12 January 1948
Ship State Description
Joseph V. Connolly United States United States Army The Liberty ship caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean 900 nautical miles (1,700 km) east of New York and was abandoned. She sank on 29 January at 40°47′N 52°48′W / 40.783°N 52.800°W / 40.783; -52.800.[6]

16 January

List of shipwrecks: 16 January 1948
Ship State Description
Svein Jarl  Norway The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off Patras, Greece. Nine crew were killed.[5]

18 January

List of shipwrecks: 18 January 1948
Ship State Description
Sierra Cordoba  United Kingdom The passenger ship ran aground off Fanø, Denmark (55°50′N 7°33′E / 55.833°N 7.550°E / 55.833; 7.550).[7]

19 January

List of shipwrecks: 19 January 1948
Ship State Description
Oriana  United Kingdom The Modified-Stella type tug struck a mine and sank off Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. She was towing the minesweeper D. 366 ( Royal Navy) from Chatham, Kent to Brightlingsea, Essex.[8]

21 January

List of shipwrecks: 21 January 1948
Ship State Description
Argo  Norway The cargo ship struck a mine and sank whilst on a voyage from Venice, Italy to Rijeka, Yugoslavia. Eleven crew were killed.[5]

30 January

List of shipwrecks: 30 January 1948
Ship State Description
Toxteth  United Kingdom The tug collided with Basis ( Norway) in the River Mersey. She capsized and sank with the loss of all four crew.[9]

31 January

List of shipwrecks: 31 January 1948
Ship State Description
Samkey  United Kingdom The Liberty ship was presumed to have foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Last reported position 41°48′N 24°00′W / 41.800°N 24.000°W / 41.800; -24.000.[10]

February

3 February

List of shipwrecks: 3 February 1948
Ship State Description
USS Trippe  United States Navy The decommissioned Benham-class destroyer was sunk as a gunnery target in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
DD-934  United States Navy The captured Akizuki-class destroyer, formerly Hanazuki ( Imperial Japanese Navy), was sunk as a target by United States Navy forces off Japan's Gotō Islands.

6 February

List of shipwrecks: 6 February 1948
Ship State Description
Gertrude L. Thebaud  United States The fishing schooner sank off the coast of La Guaira, Venezuela.[11]

10 February

List of shipwrecks: 10 February 1948
Ship State Description
USS Pennsylvania  United States Navy
USS Pennsylvania sinking.
The decommissioned Pennsylvania-class battleship was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

12 February

List of shipwrecks: 12 February 1948
Ship State Description
Soegio  Netherlands The tug struck a mine and sank in Macassar Strait off Borneo 2°36′S 116°33′E / 2.600°S 116.550°E / -2.600; 116.550`.[12]

16 February

List of shipwrecks: 16 February 1948
Ship State Description
USS Banner  United States Navy The Gilliam-class attack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

18 February

List of shipwrecks: 18 February 1948
Ship State Description
Amoy  Tunisia The Tunis-registered cargo ship, converted from HMS Sandwich of 1928, foundered outside Port La Nouvelle, on a voyage from Oran to Sète with a cargo of oranges.[13][14]

23 February

List of shipwrecks: 23 February 1948
Ship State Description
D L Co. No. XLIX  United States The 297-gross register ton, 110.1-foot (33.6 m) scow was wrecked on Makchanik Island (56°20′N 157°49′W / 56.333°N 157.817°W / 56.333; -157.817 (Makchanik Island)) in Chignik Bay (56°17′44″N 158°24′05″W / 56.2956°N 158.4015°W / 56.2956; -158.4015 (Chignik Bay)) on the south coast of the Alaska Peninsula in the Territory of Alaska.[15]

24 February

List of shipwrecks: 24 February 1948
Ship State Description
Baltic Queen  United Kingdom The cargo ship collided with Hembury ( Brazil) in the River Mersey and sank. All 25 crew were rescued.[16]

27 February

List of shipwrecks: 27 February 1948
Ship State Description
Virtu  United Kingdom The cargo ship was driven ashore between Bardia and Tobruk, Libya. She was later refloated and towed to Tobruk, where she was scrapped.[17]

29 February

List of shipwrecks: 29 February 1948
Ship State Description
Cecil G. Sellers  United States The Liberty ship caught fire south west of the Cocos Islands and was abandoned. She was declared a total loss and was consequently scrapped in 1950.[18]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1948
Ship State Description
Gyeongsan  Republic of Korea Navy The Geumgagsan-class minesweeper grounded and was damaged beyond repair.
Samnethy  United Kingdom The Liberty ship ran aground near the Owers Lightship off Selsey Bill, Sussex. Refloated on 22 February.[19]

March

1 March

List of shipwrecks: 1 March 1948
Ship State Description
Harm Fritzen  United Kingdom The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (47°55′N 8°58′W / 47.917°N 8.967°W / 47.917; -8.967) with a cargo of obsolete chemichal ammunition.[20]

8 March

List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1948
Ship State Description
USS Ralph Talbot  United States Navy The decommissioned Bagley-class destroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
USS Wilson  United States Navy The decommissioned Benham-class destroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

9 March

List of shipwrecks: 9 March 1948
Ship State Description
USS SC-632  United States Navy The hulk of the SC-497-class submarine chaser, which had foundered at Okinawa on 16 September 1945, was destroyed.
Cowan  New Zealand A wooden steam trawler sunk after hitting rocks in Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand.

10 March

List of shipwrecks: 10 March 1948
Ship State Description
USS Bracken  United States Navy The decommissioned Gilliam-class attack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

14 March

List of shipwrecks: 14 March 1948
Ship State Description
VP 61..  French Navy The VP 51-class motor launch was lost at Tahiti.
VP 62  French Navy The VP 51-class motor launch was lost at Tahiti.
VP 63  French Navy The VP 51-class motor launch was lost at Tahiti.

22 March

List of shipwrecks: 22 March 1948
Ship State Description
USS Mugford  United States Navy The decommissioned Bagley-class destroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
USS Rhind  United States Navy The decommissioned Benham-class destroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein after use as a test target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

25 March

List of shipwrecks: 25 March 1948
Ship State Description
Memphis  Greece The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean at 33°50′N 27°34′E / 33.833°N 27.567°E / 33.833; 27.567.[21]

31 March

List of shipwrecks: 31 March 1948
Ship State Description
Estebeth  United States The 70-gross register ton, 55.1-foot (16.8 m) motor passenger vessel was destroyed by fire in Southeast Alaska off Point Couverden (58°11′25″N 135°03′10″W / 58.19028°N 135.05278°W / 58.19028; -135.05278 (Point Couverden)), 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) from Juneau, Territory of Alaska.[22]

April

3 April

List of shipwrecks: 3 April 1948
Ship State Description
Bernice  United States The 14-gross register ton, 35.1-foot (10.7 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Carroll Inlet (55°17′N 131°30′W / 55.283°N 131.500°W / 55.283; -131.500 (Carroll Inlet)) near Ketchikan, Territory of Alaska.[23]

4 April

List of shipwrecks: 4 April 1948
Ship State Description
USS Mayrant  United States Navy The decommissioned Benham-class destroyer was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

8 April

List of shipwrecks: 8 April 1948
Ship State Description
Strong  Norway The cargo ship sank off Egersund, Norway, with the loss of all nine crew.[5]

10 April

List of shipwrecks: 10 April 1948
Ship State Description
Bert Williams  United States The Liberty ship was driven ashore in the Gulf of Suez. Later refloated and towed to Port Said, Egypt.[24]

11 April

List of shipwrecks: 11 April 1948
Ship State Description
HMAS Barcoo  Royal Australian Navy The River-class frigate ran aground at Glenelg North, South Australia. She was undamaged and was later refloated.
Lino  Italy The schooner was destroyed by an explosion at Bari whilst under arrest for carrying illegal arms bound for Syria.[25]

18 April

List of shipwrecks: 18 April 1948
Ship State Description
USS Mustin  United States Navy The decommissioned Sims-class destroyer was sunk by gunfire in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

19 April

List of shipwrecks: 19 April 1948
Ship State Description
USS Dawson  United States Navy The decommissioned Gilliam-class attack transport was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, by gunfire from the heavy cruiser USS Helena ( United States Navy) after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.
Duke of Sparta  UK Bound for London from Liverpool she stranded on the Seven Stones Reef, between the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. She refloated on same day; the only ship to get off the reef in modern times.[26]
O'Boyle  United States Navy The floating drydock sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.[27]

24 April

List of shipwrecks: 24 April 1948
Ship State Description
USS Stack  United States Navy The decommissioned Benham-class destroyer was sunk by gunfire in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

Unknown April

List of shipwrecks: Unknown April 1948
Ship State Description
Heyong China People's Liberation Army Navy Chinese Civil War: The LCT was sunk by Nationalist Chinese Fighter-Bombers. 3 crew killed.[28]

May

6 May

List of shipwrecks: 6 May 1948
Ship State Description
USS Briscoe  United States Navy The decommissioned Gilliam-class attack transport was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, by gunfire from the light cruiser USS Duluth ( United States Navy) after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.
USS Catron  United States Navy The decommissioned Gilliam-class attack transport was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, by gunfire from the light cruiser USS Atlanta ( United States Navy) after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

8 May

List of shipwrecks: 8 May 1948
Ship State Description
Venture  United States The 54-gross register ton 63-foot (19.2 m) wooden fishing vessel sank 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) northwest of Tugidak Island in the Trinity Islands of the Kodiak Archipelago, Territory of Alaska.[29]

11 May

List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1948
Ship State Description
USS Barrow  United States Navy The decommissioned Gilliam-class attack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean just south of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

12 May

List of shipwrecks: 12 May 1948
Ship State Description
USS Butte  United States Navy The decommissioned Gilliam-class attack transport was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.
USS LST-545  United States Navy The decommissioned LST-542-class tank landing ship was sunk as a target at Enewetak Atoll in the Operation Sandstone atomic bomb tests.

14 May

List of shipwrecks: 14 May 1948
Ship State Description
Lady Rae  United States The 12-gross register ton, 32.4-foot (9.9 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Southeast Alaska at the southeastern end of Woronkofski Island in the Alexander Archipelago.[30]
Rutland  Norway The cargo ship ran aground west of Tjøme, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Bergen to Oslo.[5]

16 May

List of shipwrecks: 16 May 1948
Ship State Description
Polglen  United Kingdom The coaster hit a mine and sank off Borkum, Netherlands. All fourteen crew were rescued by Glory ( Netherlands).[31]

25 May

List of shipwrecks: 25 May 1948
Ship State Description
USS Salt Lake City  United States Navy
USS Salt Lake City sinking.
The decommissioned Pensacola-class heavy cruiser was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean 130 miles (210 km) off the coast of Southern California after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

31 May

List of shipwrecks: 31 May 1948
Ship State Description
Bobolink  United States The 16-gross register ton, 37.5-foot (11.4 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Naknek, Territory of Alaska.[23]

June

9 June

List of shipwrecks: 9 June 1948
Ship State Description
U-S-1  United States The 91-gross register ton, 71.6-foot (21.8 m) scow sank at the anchorage at Naknek, Territory of Alaska.[32]

11 June

List of shipwrecks: 11 June 1948
Ship State Description
Kjøbenhavn  Denmark The passenger ship struck a mine and sank 15 nautical miles (28 km) off the east coast of Jutland with the loss of 48 lives.[33]

16 June

List of shipwrecks: 16 June 1948
Ship State Description
Altalena Israel
Altalena on fire at Tel Aviv
Altalena Affair: The Irgun-operated converted tank landing ship was shelled by the Israel Defense Forces, grounded, and set on fire near Tel Aviv. She was towed out to sea and scuttled in 1949.

24 June

List of shipwrecks: 24 June 1948
Ship State Description
Fenris  Norway The tanker suffered a fire in her engine room whilst on a voyage from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela to Le Havre, France. Declared a constructive total loss.[5]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1948
Ship State Description
Batavia Road  Australia The tourist boat ran aground on Half Moon Reef, Western Australia.

July

2 July

List of shipwrecks: 2 July 1948
Ship State Description
USS Conyngham  United States Navy The decommissioned Mahan-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off California after use as target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
HMAS Vendetta  Royal Australian Navy The V-class destroyer was scuttled in the Tasman Sea off Sydney, Australia.

4 July

List of shipwrecks: 4 July 1948
Ship State Description
Kenudy  United States The 11-gross register ton, 32.3-foot (9.8 m) fishing vessel sank in Clarence Strait in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) off Tolstoy Point (55°40′10″N 132°23′10″W / 55.66944°N 132.38611°W / 55.66944; -132.38611 (Tolstoy Point)).[34]

5 July

List of shipwrecks: 5 July 1948
Ship State Description
Thalatta  Norway The cargo ship ran aground on the Siwadiwa Atoll in the Maldives. Refloated on 12 April 1949 and towed to Columbo, Ceylon where declared a total loss.[5]
Uranus  Norway The cargo ship ran aground in Stokksundet, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Bergen to Tromsø.[5]
USS Wainwright  United States Navy The decommissioned Sims-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Bikini Atoll after use as target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

8 July

List of shipwrecks: 8 July 1948
Ship State Description
USS New York  United States Navy The decommissioned New York-class battleship was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii following use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
Francois Tixier  France capsized and sank off Sheringham, England.[35]

17 July

List of shipwrecks: 17 July 1948
Ship State Description
Amstelstroom  Netherlands The coaster ran aground on Lundy Island, Devon, United Kingdom. All eleven crew scrambled ashore.[36]

18 July

List of shipwrecks: 18 July 1948
Ship State Description
Marie  Belgium The cargo ship collided with Bharatkhand ( United Kingdom) 8 nautical miles (15 km) north east of Ushant and sank.[36]
Marlene  United Kingdom The cargo ship struck a submerged object at Falmouth, Cornwall and was holed. She was beached in Great Molunan Cove to prevent her sinking.[36]

20 July

List of shipwrecks: 20 July 1948
Ship State Description
Cronenburgh  Netherlands Ran aground between Stockholm and Mäntyluoto, Finland. Refloated but leaking, repaired and returned to service.

21 July

List of shipwrecks: 21 July 1948
Ship State Description
USS Gasconade  United States Navy
Gasconade sinking.
The Gilliam-class attack transport was sunk as a torpedo target in the Pacific Ocean off California after use as a target in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests of 1946.

24 July

List of shipwrecks: 24 July 1948
Ship State Description
Kiska  United States The 48-gross register ton, 59.6-foot (18.2 m) fishing vessel sank after colliding with the motor vessel Mayflower ( United States) at the entrance to South Kaigani Harbor (54°45′30″N 132°43′00″W / 54.75833°N 132.71667°W / 54.75833; -132.71667 (South Kaigani Harbor)) on the south coast of Dall Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[34]

25 July

List of shipwrecks: 25 July 1948
Ship State Description
USS LST-661  United States Navy The LST-542-class tank landing ship was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Enewetak Atoll after use as a target in the Operation Sandstone atomic bomb tests.

27 July

List of shipwrecks: 27 July 1948
Ship State Description
Philip Heineken  Germany The cargo ship was scuttled in the Skagerrak with a cargo of poison gas munitions.[37]

28 July

List of shipwrecks: 28 July 1948
Ship State Description
A S P No. 3  United States The 40-gross register ton scow was wrecked on Salamatof Beach (60°37′15″N 151°20′30″W / 60.62083°N 151.34167°W / 60.62083; -151.34167 (Salamatof Beach)) on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska north of Kenai.[38]
River Swift  United Kingdom The cargo ship caught fire at Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was declared uneconomical to repair and was scrapped in 1949.[39]

29 July

List of shipwrecks: 29 July 1948
Ship State Description
TID 147  United Kingdom The TID-class tug foundered in the Hainan Strait during a typhoon. She was on a voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong.[40]

31 July

List of shipwrecks: 31 July 1948
Ship State Description
USS Nevada  United States Navy The decommissioned Nevada-class battleship was sunk as a target approximately 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
Penstone  United Kingdom The coaster was in collision with Villanger ( Norway) in Liverpool Bay and sank with the loss of four of the six people on board.[41]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in July 1948
Ship State Description
Bert Williams  Italy The Liberty ship broke in two whilst under tow from Port Said, Egypt to an Italian port. Bow section salvaged and subsequently joined to stern section of Nathaniel Bacon ( United States).[24]

August

1 August

List of shipwrecks: 1 August 1948
Ship State Description
Chippewa  United States The 11-gross register ton, 32.3-foot (9.8 m) fishing vessel was wrecked in Harris Cove (56°19′30″N 134°17′00″W / 56.32500°N 134.28333°W / 56.32500; -134.28333 (Harris Cove)) on the coast of Kuiu Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[42]

3 August

List of shipwrecks: 3 August 1948
Ship State Description
Kenai I  United States The 163-gross register ton, 82.3-foot (25.1 m) motor cargo vessel was destroyed by fire at the mouth of the Kasilof River in Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[34]
Maristella  Italy The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged off Borkum, Allied-occupied Germany. She was consequently sold for scrapping in May 1950.[43]

4 August

List of shipwrecks: 4 August 1948
Ship State Description
Marian M  United States The 34-gross register ton, 49.2-foot (15.0 m) fishing vessel was lost in Salisbury Sound in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) west of Sitka, Territory of Alaska, after she collided with an inactive naval mine.[44]

11 August

List of shipwrecks: 11 August 1948
Ship State Description
USS Skipjack  United States Navy The decommissioned Salmon-class submarine was sunk as a target by aircraft rockets off California after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

17 August

List of shipwrecks: 17 August 1948
Ship State Description
Dell  United States The 8-gross register ton, 36-foot (11.0 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Lynn Canal opposite the Chilkat River in Southeast Alaska near Haines, Territory of Alaska.[15]

19 August

List of shipwrecks: 19 August 1948
Ship State Description
Arleux Canada Canada The fishing vessel Arleux foundered off White Head Bay, Nova Scotia.[45]

22 August

List of shipwrecks: 22 August 1948
Ship State Description
Empire Success  United Kingdom The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay (47°16′30″N 30°09′24″W / 47.27500°N 30.15667°W / 47.27500; -30.15667) with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition.[46][20]

25 August

List of shipwrecks: 25 August 1948
Ship State Description
Moonlight  United Kingdom The barge capsized and sank off Ardlamont Point, Argyllshire with the loss of four of the five people on board.[47]

29 August

List of shipwrecks: 29 August 1948
Ship State Description
Hellenic Bulbul  United Kingdom The coaster ran aground on Domanik Island, Bay of Bengal, India and sank.[48]
Willard B  United States The 64-gross register ton, 73.3-foot (22.3 m) fishing vessel was wrecked in Lisianski Strait 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) north of Pelican City, Territory of Alaska.[49]

30 August

List of shipwrecks: 30 August 1948
Ship State Description
Prowess  Norway The ex-Portuguese-class naval trawler ran aground in Frøyskjæret, west of Florø whilst on a voyage from Poland to Vadsø, Norway. Refloated in 1951 and scrapped in 1954.[5]
HMS Worcester  Royal Navy The training ship sank in the Thames Estuary at Grays, Essex.[50]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1948
Ship State Description
Myra  United States The 10-gross register ton, 39.6-foot (12.1 m) motor cargo vessel was destroyed by fire in the harbor at Whittier, Territory of Alaska.[44]

September

5 September

List of shipwrecks: 5 September 1948
Ship State Description
Goose  United States The 12-gross register ton, 32.9-foot (10.0 m) fishing vessel was wrecked on the coast of the Territory of Alaska 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) west of Cape Spencer.[51]

6 September

List of shipwrecks: 6 September 1948
Ship State Description
Caledonia  United States The 164-gross register ton, 82.2-foot (25.1 m) fishing vessel sank in a storm off a location identified in the wreck report as "Icy Point" in Southeast Alaska. It is not clear to which of at least two locations of the name the wreck report refers.[42]

11 September

List of shipwrecks: 11 September 1948
Ship State Description
USS Mahackemo  United States Navy The tug sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina whilst under tow.[52]
USS Searaven  United States Navy The decommissioned Sargo-class submarine was sunk as a target after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

13 September

List of shipwrecks: 13 September 1948
Ship State Description
Imp  United States The 7-gross register ton, 29.4-foot (9.0 m) fishing vessel sank 0.5 nautical miles (0.9 km; 0.6 mi) south of False Point Retreat (58°22′10″N 134°58′15″W / 58.36944°N 134.97083°W / 58.36944; -134.97083 (False Point Retreat)) in Southeast Alaska.[53]

16 September

List of shipwrecks: 16 September 1948
Ship State Description
Leicester  United Kingdom The cargo ship was abandoned in the North Atlantic with the loss of six of her 45 crew. Located on 26 September by Foundation Lillian and towed to Bermuda By Foundation Josephine, arriving 3 October. Beached by a hurricane on 7 October, re-floated 19 October, and towed to Newport News, Virginia, arriving 31 October. Repaired and recommissioned 14 December.[54]

19 September

List of shipwrecks: 19 September 1948
Ship State Description
Lochmonar  United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground during a hurricane at Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. She was refloated on 30 September.[55][56]

20 September

List of shipwrecks: 20 September 1948
Ship State Description
Dubrovnik  United States The 31-gross register ton, 49-foot (14.9 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire at Klawock, Territory of Alaska.[15]

21 September

List of shipwrecks: 21 September 1948
Ship State Description
B F No. 9  United States The 46-ton, 60-foot (18.3 m) wooden scow was wrecked between Crooked Island (57°46′35″N 152°23′26″W / 57.7764°N 152.3906°W / 57.7764; -152.3906 (Crooked Island)) and Near Island opposite Kodiak, Territory of Alaska.[57]

24 September

List of shipwrecks: 24 September 1948
Ship State Description
USS Tuna  United States Navy The decommissioned Tambor-class submarine was sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Mare Island, California, after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

27 September

List of shipwrecks: 27 September 1948
Ship State Description
Mui Lee  Norway The cargo ship was driven ashore at Hoihow, China in a typhoon. Refloated in 1949 and sold.[5]

28 September

List of shipwrecks: 28 September 1948
Ship State Description
Maria Joana  Portugal The cargo ship was wrecked at the entrance to Fogo Harbour, Canada.[58]

October

2 October

List of shipwrecks: 2 October 1948
Ship State Description
Borgøy  Norway The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank off Lista, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Ålesund to Stockholm, Sweden.[5]

5 October

List of shipwrecks: 5 October 1948
Ship State Description
USS Skate  United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off California after serving as a target for the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

6 October

List of shipwrecks: 6 October 1948
Ship State Description
HDMS Alken  Royal Danish Navy The patrol boat was lost off Greenland with the loss of all eight crew.[59]
Nora  United States The 62-gross register ton, 68-foot (20.7 m) motor cargo vessel sank in the Gulf of Alaska off Middleton Island off the south-central coast of the Territory of Alaska.[60]
Takoradian  United Kingdom The cargo ship caught fire and sank at Copenhagen, Denmark.[61]

15 October

List of shipwrecks: 15 October 1948
Ship State Description
Skarstone  United States The 261-gross register ton, 98.6-foot (30.1 m) fishing vessel was wrecked on Yakataga Beach (60°03′40″N 142°26′00″W / 60.06111°N 142.43333°W / 60.06111; -142.43333 (Yakataga Beach)) 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) west of Yakutat, Territory of Alaska.[62]

16 October

List of shipwrecks: 16 October 1948
Ship State Description
USS Hughes  United States Navy The decommissioned Sims-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, after being used as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

17 October

List of shipwrecks: 17 October 1948
Ship State Description
P T & B Co. 1652  United States The 1,008-gross register ton, 202.4-foot (61.7 m) barge sank in the Bering Sea approximately 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) north of Seguam Island in the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands.[63]

22 October

List of shipwrecks: 22 October 1948
Ship State Description
El Amir Farouq Royal Egyptian Navy 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Operation Yoav: The El Amir Farouq-class sloop-of-war was sunk off the Gaza Strip by Israeli Navy MT explosive motorboats.[64]

25 October

List of shipwrecks: 25 October 1948
Ship State Description
Henny  Norway The cargo ship ran aground west of Rongevær, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Brevik to Namsos. Refloated on 2 April 1949, repaired and returned to service.[5]
Toby T  United States The 9-gross register ton, 29.9-foot (9.1 m) fishing vessel was destroyed by fire in Orca Inlet 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) from Cordova, Territory of Alaska.[65]

26 October

List of shipwrecks: 26 October 1948
Ship State Description
Empire Flamingo  United Kingdom The bow section of the Design 1022 ship sank in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south of the Longships Lighthouse, Cornwall whilst under tow. It was raised in 1949 and sunk off Gwennap Head, Cornwall.[66] Raised in 1949 and sunk off Gwennap Head, Cornwall.[67]
Wenche  Norway The cargo ship sank 100 nautical miles (190 km) south west of Kopervik, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to Kopervik.[5]

30 October

List of shipwrecks: 31 October 1948
Ship State Description
Unnamed luzzu  Malta 1948 Gozo luzzu disaster: The fishing boat which was overloaded with passengers capsized and sank in the Gozo Channel off Qala, Gozo, Malta, killing 23 of the 27 people on board.[68]

31 October

List of shipwrecks: 31 October 1948
Ship State Description
Tendringen  Norway The cargo ship ran aground and sank in the Namsenfjord, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Slemmestad to Namsos.[5]

November

1 November

List of shipwrecks: 1 November 1948
Ship State Description
St Guenole  France The tanker ran aground at Gribba Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom with the loss of eleven of her twelve crew.[69]

5 November

List of shipwrecks: 5 November 1948
Ship State Description
D. T. Sheridan  United States While towing barges in dense fog, the 110-foot (34 m) tug was wrecked on rocks at Lobster Point, Monhegan Island, Maine, at 43°45′21″N 069°19′24″W / 43.75583°N 69.32333°W / 43.75583; -69.32333 (D. T. Sheridan). Her crew survived.[70]
Esso Wheeling  United States The T2 tanker was wrecked at Quoin Point, South Africa.[71]

8 November

List of shipwrecks: 8 November 1948
Ship State Description
Arr 738  United States The 2,297-gross register ton barge was wrecked near Taylor Island (58°18′N 136°30′W / 58.300°N 136.500°W / 58.300; -136.500 (Taylor Island)) in Southeast Alaska.[38]

10 November

List of shipwrecks: 10 November 1948
Ship State Description
USS Pensacola  United States Navy
USS Pensacola sinking.
The decommissioned Pensacola-class heavy cruiser was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Washington after use as a target in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.

11 November

List of shipwrecks: 11 November 1948
Ship State Description
Grom  Norway The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of Kvistøy, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Rekefjord to Møre.[5]

13 November

List of shipwrecks: 13 November 1948
Ship State Description
Rene  Belgium The cargo ship ran aground on the Rocks of Mansonria off Fedala, French Morocco. Declared a constructive total loss.[72]

14 November

List of shipwrecks: 14 November 1948
Ship State Description
Hopestar  United Kingdom The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland, Canada with the loss of all 40 crew.

17 November

List of shipwrecks: 17 November 1948
Ship State Description
EK-3  Soviet Navy The Tacoma-class frigate ran aground off Petropavlosk, Soviet Union. She was declared a total loss.
USS U-1105  United States Navy The Type VIIC/41 submarine was deliberately sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Point No Point Lighthouse, Maryland. She was raised in the summer of 1949.

22 November

List of shipwrecks: 22 November 1948
Ship State Description
SS Southern Flyer  United Kingdom The 438 GRT whaler ran aground on rocks at Lazarete Beach, Cape Verde after calling in for bunkers while on delivery voyage to South Georgia.[73]

23 November

List of shipwrecks: 23 November 1948
Ship State Description
Famous  United States The 41-gross register ton, 57.5-foot (17.5 m) motor cargo vessel was wrecked in the Territory of Alaska at an unidentified location described by the wreck report as "Point Alba."[74]
HNoMS Hauk  Royal Norwegian Navy The motor torpedo boat was destroyed by fire.[75]

30 November

List of shipwrecks: 30 November 1948
Ship State Description
Alexandrouplis Unknown The merchant ship sank.

December

4 December

List of shipwrecks: 4 December 1948
Ship State Description
Kiangya  China
The wreck of Kiangya.
The passenger steamship exploded and sank at the mouth of the Huangpu River in China with the loss of at least 2,750 lives.

15 December

List of shipwrecks: 15 December 1948
Ship State Description
Eiholm  Norway The cargo ship sank off Kragerø, Norway, whilst on a voyage from Brevik to Etne.[5]

18 December

List of shipwrecks: 18 December 1948
Ship State Description
EK-3  Soviet Navy The EK-1-class escort was wrecked in a storm at Korsakov, Sakhalin Island. Later refloated and used as a depot/accomidations ship.

20 December

List of shipwrecks: 20 December 1948
Ship State Description
Bosphorus  Norway The cargo ship ran aground on Haisborough Sand, Norfolk, United Kingdom.[76] Refloated on 29 December.[77]

24 December

List of shipwrecks: 24 December 1948
Ship State Description
Alcyone Fortune  United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground at the Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire.[77] Refloated on 30 December.[78]

28 December

List of shipwrecks: 28 December 1948
Ship State Description
Farne  Norway The ex-Isles-class trawler sank off Halland, Sweden with the loss of all fourteen crew. She was on a voyage from Stettin, Poland to Larvik, Norway.[5]

30 December

List of shipwrecks: 30 December 1948
Ship State Description
Rojo  Norway The cargo ship sank in the North Sea whilst on a voyage from Middlesbrough, Yorkshire to Denmark.[5]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1948
Ship State Description
Akdamar  Soviet Union The ship foundered in Lake Van, Turkey.[79]
Alice L. Pendleton  United States The 228-foot (69 m), 1,349-gross register ton four-masted lumber schooner was abandoned at the Palmer Shipyard on the west side of the Mystic River in Noank, Connecticut, sometime during the 1940s, gradually rotted away, and settled on the river bottom in 10 feet (3.0 m) of water.[80]
HNLMS G-16  Royal Netherlands Navy The G-13-class torpedo boat was sunk was a target off Den Helder sometime in 1948.[81]
ROKS Ka Won  Republic of Korea Navy The YMS-1-class coastal minesweeper was lost.[82]
Koolama  Australia The war-damaged ship was scuttled off Wyndham, Western Australia.[83]
Schleswig-Holstein  Kriegsmarine The captured pre-dreadnought battleship was beached by the Soviet Navy in the Gulf of Finland near Osmussaar Island in the Soviet Union's Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic for use as a target. The hulk was used as a target until 1966, eventually becoming entirely submerged
Take  Imperial Japanese Navy The decommissioned training ship, a former destroyer, was scuttled as a breakwater at the Port of Akita, Honshu, Japan.

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See also

Categories