The list of shipwrecks in August 1914 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during August 1914.

3 August

List of shipwrecks: 3 August 1914
Ship State Description
George H. Van Vleck  United States The steamer burned at Duluth, Minnesota. Raised, repaired and returned to service.[1]
SMS S143  Imperial German Navy The S138-class torpedo boat suffered a boiler explosion and sank in the Baltic Sea. Raised, repaired, and returned to service.[2]
San Wilfrido  United Kingdom World War I: The tanker (6,458 GRT, 1914) struck a mine at Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony, Germany. Her crew were rescued but made prisoners of war.[3][4]

5 August

List of shipwrecks: 5 August 1914
Ship State Description
SMS Königin Luise  Imperial German Navy World War I: The auxiliary minelayer was scuttled in the Heligoland Bight following battle damaged inflicted by HMS Landrail and HMS Lance (both  Royal Navy). Forty-six of her 100 crew were rescued by HMS Amphion ( Royal Navy), HMS Landrail and HMS Lance.

6 August

List of shipwrecks: 6 August 1914
Ship State Description
HMS Amphion  Royal Navy World War I: The Active-class cruiser struck a mine and sank in the Heligoland Bight with the loss of about 170 lives, including eighteen survivors from SMS Königin Luise ( Imperial German Navy).
City of Winchester  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (6,601 GRT) was captured in the Arabian Sea 280 nautical miles (520 km) east of Aden by SMS Königsberg ( Imperial German Navy).[4] She was scuttled on 12 August.[5]

7 August

List of shipwrecks: 7 August 1914
Ship State Description
Annie Schmitz  United States The sloop sank near Fishers Island, New York. Later refloated.[6]
Tubal Cain  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (227 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west north west of Stalberg, Iceland, by the auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse ( Imperial German Navy).[7]

8 August

List of shipwrecks: 8 August 1914
Ship State Description
Tysla  Norway World War I: The vessel struck a Dutch mine off Vlissingen in the North Sea with the loss of three crew.[8][9]

9 August

List of shipwrecks: 9 August 1914
Ship State Description
SM U-15  Imperial German Navy World War I: The Type U 13 submarine was rammed by HMS Birmingham ( Royal Navy) and sunk off Fair Isle with the loss of all 23 crew.

12 August

List of shipwrecks: 12 August 1914
Ship State Description
SM U-13  Imperial German Navy The Type U 13 submarine was lost in the Heligoland Bight with the loss of all 25 crew.[10]

13 August

List of shipwrecks: 13 August 1914
Ship State Description
SMS Baron Gautsch  Austro-Hungarian Navy The troopship strayed off course, entered an Austro-Hungarian minefield in the Adriatic Sea 7 nautical miles south of the Brijuni Islands, struck two mines, and sank with the loss of 147 lives. The destroyers SMS Balaton, SMS Csepel, and SMS Triglav (all  Austro-Hungarian Navy) rescued 150 survivors.

14 August

List of shipwrecks: 14 August 1914
Ship State Description
Glenfarg  United Kingdom The cargo ship struck a rock and sank off Shirose, Japan. Her crew were rescued by Yawata Maru ( Japan).[11]

15 August

List of shipwrecks: 15 August 1914
Ship State Description
Hyades  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (3,352 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) east of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Dresden ( Imperial German Navy).[4][12][13]

16 August

List of shipwrecks: 16 August 1914
Ship State Description
Alice Stofen  United States The 18-gross register ton, 40.5-foot (12.3 m) schooner was wrecked on Herschel Island in the Beaufort Sea off the coast of Yukon Territory. Both people on board survived.[14]
Ellerbeck  United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground on the Hats and Barrels reef, in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued.[11]
Kaipara  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (7,392 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 170 nautical miles (310 km) south by west of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain by the auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse ( Imperial German Navy). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[4][15]
Nyanga  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (3,066 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) south of Tenerife by the auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse ( Imperial German Navy). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[4][15]
SMS Zenta  Austro-Hungarian Navy World War I: Battle of Antivari: The Zenta-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Adriatic Sea off Antivari, Montenegro by Royal Navy and French Navy warships with the loss of 179 of her 308 crew.

18 August

List of shipwrecks: 18 August 1914
Ship State Description
Bowes Castle  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (4,650 GRT, 1913) was captured and scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 350 nautical miles (650 km) north by west of Cape Orange, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Imperial German Navy).[4][5][13]

22 August

List of shipwrecks: 22 August 1914
Ship State Description
Alice H.  Netherlands World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine placed by the minelayer Deutschland ( Imperial German Navy) and sank in the Baltic Sea off the Kõpu Lighthouse, Estonia.[16]
Capricornus  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (194 GRT) was scuttled in the North Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) east by north of Spurn Point, Yorkshire by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]
Chr. Broberg  Denmark World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea.[8][16]
Houtdik  Netherlands World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine placed by the minelayer Deutschland ( Imperial German Navy) and sank in the Baltic Sea off the Kõpu Lighthouse.[16]
Marnay  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (153 GRT) was scuttled in the North Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) east by north of Spurn Point by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]
Maryland  Denmark World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued.[16]
Skirbeck  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (171 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by a Kaiserliche Marine cruiser. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]
Walrus  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (159 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by a Kaiserliche Marine cruiser. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]
Wigtoft  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (155 GRT) was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by a Kaiserliche Marine cruiser. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]

23 August

List of shipwrecks: 23 August 1914
Ship State Description
Flamingo  Austro-Hungarian Navy World War I: The torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Adriatic Sea.[2]
Titania  United Kingdom The four-masted barquentine was wrecked on Dumhéa Reef, south of Nouméa, New Caledonia (the captain was unaware that the Amadée Lighthouse had been extinguished due to the war).[17]

24 August

List of shipwrecks: 24 August 1914
Ship State Description
Walton  United Kingdom The tug sank in the Manchester Ship Canal.[18]

25 August

List of shipwrecks: 25 August 1914
Ship State Description
Kesteven  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (150 GRT) was scuttled in the North Sea 69 nautical miles (128 km) east north east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]
Lindsey  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (144 GRT) was scuttled in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east north east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]
Porpoise  United Kingdom World War I: The trawler (159 GRT) was scuttled in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east north east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.[7]

26 August

List of shipwrecks: 26 August 1914
Ship State Description
Admiral Sampson  United States The cargo ship collided with Princess Victoria ( United Kingdom) and sank in Puget Sound off Point No Point, Washington.[19]
SS Holmwood  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (4,223 GRT) was captured and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) east of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Dresden ( Imperial German Navy).[13]
SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse  Imperial German Navy
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse
World War I: Battle of Río de Oro: The armed merchant cruiser was scuttled off Rio de Oro, Spanish Sahara following a battle with HMS Highflyer ( Royal Navy)
SMS Magdeburg  Imperial German Navy
SMS Magdeburg

World War I: The Magdeburg-class cruiser ran aground in the Baltic Sea off Odensholm, Estonia. She was subsequently attacked by Admiral Makarov and Gromoboi (both  Imperial Russian Navy) and sank with the loss of 15 lives.

Skeatti Sogeli  Denmark World War I: The coaster struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom.[20]

27 August

List of shipwrecks: 27 August 1914
Ship State Description
Barley Rig  United Kingdom World War I: The drifter (70 GRT) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of five of her nine crew. The survivors were rescued by the trawler St. Clair ( United Kingdom).[7][8]
HMT Crathie  Royal Navy World War I: The naval trawler (210 GRT, 1911) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the mouth of the River Tyne.[21][22]
Ena  Norway World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued by a Royal Navy torpedo boat.[20]
Gaea  Denmark World War I: The three-masted schooner struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of three of her six crew.[8]
Gottfried  Norway World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Newcastle upon Tyne.[20]
HMT Thomas W. Irvin  Royal Navy World War I: The naval trawler (201 GRT, 1911) struck a mine and sank with the loss of three of her twelve crew.[23]

28 August

List of shipwrecks: 28 August 1914
Ship State Description
SMS Ariadne  Imperial German Navy World War I: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The Gazelle-class light cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by HMS Lion, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal (all  Royal Navy)
SMS Cöln  Imperial German Navy World War I: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The Kolberg-class light cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by HMS Lion, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal (all  Royal Navy) with the loss of 484 of her 485 crew.
SMS Mainz  Imperial German Navy
Mainz

World War I: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The Kolberg-class light cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by HMS Lion, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal (all  Royal Navy) with the loss of 89 of her 437 crew.

SMS V187  Imperial German Navy World War I: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The V180-class torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by Royal Navy warships.[2][24]

29 August

List of shipwrecks: 29 August 1914
Ship State Description
Dargai  United Kingdom The cargo ship ran aground on the English Bank, in the Atlantic Ocean off Montevideo, Uruguay and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued.[25]
SMS Gerda  Imperial German Navy The Vorpostenboot was lost on this date.

30 August

List of shipwrecks: 30 August 1914
Ship State Description
Rion  United Kingdom The tanker was run into by Serrana ( United Kingdom) and seriously damaged in the English Channel 9 nautical miles (17 km) south south west of Newhaven, Sussex. She was consequently beached 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) west of Newhaven.[25][26]

31 August

List of shipwrecks: 31 August 1914
Ship State Description
Floriston  United Kingdom The cargo ship struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and was beached at Point Riche, Newfoundland.[26]
Shirotae  Imperial Japanese Navy World War I, Siege of Tsingtao: The destroyer was wrecked in Kiaochow Bay off Tsingtao, China.[27]
Strathroy  United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship (4,336 GRT, 1909) was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) north-northeast of Cape São Roque, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Imperial German Navy).[4]

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1914
Ship State Description
No. 272  Imperial Russian Navy The torpedo boat sank on 9, 22, or 28 August (sources disagree) after colliding with the steamer SS Uspekh (flag unknown) off Hersones.[28]
Prince Albert  Canada The cargo ship was wrecked on the Butterworth Rocks, South Dundas Island, British Columbia. She was later salvaged, repaired and converted to a tug, re-entering service as J R Morgan.[29]

References

  1. ^ "George H. Van Vleck (Propeller), U150042, fire, 3 Aug 1914". maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Major Warships Sunk in World War 1 1914". World War I. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  3. ^ "San Wilfrido (1)". Helderline. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "British Merchant Ships Lost to Enemy Action Part 1 of 3 – Years 1914, 1915, 1916 in date order". Naval History. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  5. ^ a b "The fleets at sea". The Times. No. 40668. London. 17 October 1914. col D-E, p. 5.
  6. ^ "Records of the T. A. Scott co". mysticseaport.org. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "British Fishing Vessels Lost to Enemy Action Part 1 of 2 – Years 1914, 1915, 1916 in date order". Naval History. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d "North Sea mines". The Times. No. 40619. London. 29 August 1914. col A, p. 5.
  9. ^ ”Sjøforklaringer over norske skibes krigsforlis", (Official Norwegian list of War losses) Vol 1: 1914, 1915, 1916. Kristiania (Oslo) 1917
  10. ^ "U 13". Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  11. ^ a b "British steamer wrecked". The Times. No. 40607. London. 17 August 1914. col D, p. 11.
  12. ^ "Two British steamers reported sunk". The Times. No. 40614. London. 24 August 1914. col D, p. 2.
  13. ^ a b c "The fleets at sea". The Times. No. 40747. London. 9 January 1915. col E-F, p. 6.
  14. ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (A)
  15. ^ a b "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 40627. London. 6 September 1914. col E, p. 4.
  16. ^ a b c d "Mines in open sea". The Times. No. 40614. London. 24 August 1914. col D, p. 2.
  17. ^ Macandrew, Ruby (11 August 2018). "NZ's first WWI maritime casualty: Titania sinks off the coast of Noumea in 1914". The Dominion Post. Wellington NZ. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  18. ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 40616. London. 26 August 1914. col D, p. 11.
  19. ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 40618. London. 28 August 1914. col D, p. 11.
  20. ^ a b c "Five vessels mined". The Times. No. 40618. London. 28 August 1914. col E, p. 8.
  21. ^ "British Naval Vessels Lost at Sea Part 1 of 2 – Abadol (oiler) to Lynx (destroyer)". Naval History. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  22. ^ Historic England. "HMS CRATHIE (1002310)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  23. ^ "Drifters and Trawlers in RN Service)". GWPDA. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  24. ^ "Chivalry of British seamen". The Times. No. 40646. London. 25 September 1914. col B-C, p. 10.
  25. ^ a b "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 40621. London. 31 August 1914. col A, p. 12.
  26. ^ a b "Steamer wrecked off Montivideo". The Times. No. 40622. London. 1 September 1914. col A, p. 14.
  27. ^ Todaka, Kazushige; Fukui, Shizuo; Eldridge, Robert D. & Leonard, Graham B. (2020). Destroyers: Selected Photos from the Archives of the Kure Maritime Museum; the Best from the Collection of Shizuo Fukui's Photos of Japanese Warships. Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-59114-630-8.
  28. ^ Chesneau, Roger, and Eugene M. Kolesnik, Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1860-1905, New York: Mayflower Books, 1979, ISBN 0-8317-0302-4, p. 214.
  29. ^ Heaton, K E (8 July 2004). "Shipwrecks in British Columbia's Waters". Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
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