List of shipwrecks in May 1939

The list of shipwrecks in May 1939 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during May 1939.

May 1939
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31
References

1 May

List of shipwrecks: 1 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Bengt Sture	Sweden	The cargo ship ran aground at Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, United Kingdom. Later refloated undamaged.[1]

4 May

List of shipwrecks: 4 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Bardaland	Sweden	The cargo ship ran aground off Danzig, Germany owing to failure of her steering gear.[2] Refloated later that day.[3]

5 May

List of shipwrecks: 5 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Mayon	United States	The cargo ship ran aground south of the Apo Lighthouse, Negros Island, Philippines.[3] Refloated on 22 May and sailed to Manila, Philippines for repairs.[4]

6 May

List of shipwrecks: 6 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Seisho Maru	Japan	The cargo ship ran aground in Tokyo Bay.[5] Refloated undamaged later that day.[6]
Vathy of Samos	Greece	The cargo ship ran aground at Kalloni.[5]

7 May

List of shipwrecks: 7 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Kalipso	Australia	The coaster caught fire and sank in the Clarence River, New South Wales.[7]

9 May

List of shipwrecks: 9 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Alsia	Denmark	The cargo liner caught fire 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of Barberyn Island, Ceylon. The crew abandoned ship and were taken on board Canton ( United Kingdom).[8] She came ashore still burning at Uduwata Point, Galle on 11 May.[6] The gutted ship broke her back and was a total loss.[9]
Arantzazu Mendi	Spain	The cargo ship ran aground at Kearney Point, County Down, Northern Ireland.[8] She broke her back on 14 May,[10] and was consequently scrapped.[11]
Dorothy Luckenbach	United States	The tanker ran aground in the Crocket Channel.[12] Refloated undamaged on 11 May.[13]
Hochelaga	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.[12] Refloated the next day.[6]
Lindenbank	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground on the Arena Islands, Philippines. She was refloated but then sank.[14]
Malacca Maru	Japan	The cargo ship ran aground on Wood Island whilst on a voyage from Singapore to Osaka and broke her back. She was declared a total loss.[8]
HMAS Tattoo	Royal Australian Navy	The S-class destroyer was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off New South Wales.[15]

10 May

List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Lindenbank	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground on a reef off Arena Island, Sulu Sea, Philippines. She was refloated, but foundered after 5 nautical miles (9.3 km). All crew rescued by USS Pope ( United States Navy).[16]
Medee	France	The cargo ship ran aground at Ouistreham, Calvados.[12]
Villa Franca	Portugal	The cargo ship ran aground at Le Havre, Seine-Inférieure, France.[12] Refloated the next day.[6]

11 May

List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Pikepool	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground in the Uruguay River 6 nautical miles (11 km) downstream of Fray Bentos, Uruguay.[13] Refloated on 18 May.[9]

12 May

List of shipwrecks: 12 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Comol Rico	United States	The tanker ran aground at Port Eads, Louisiana. Refloated the next day.[10]

13 May

List of shipwrecks: 13 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Prestatyn Rose	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. Refloated later that day.[10]

15 May

List of shipwrecks: 15 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Fjeld	Norway	The cargo ship ran aground at Nantes, Loire-Aquetaine, France. Refloated later that day with severe damage.[17]
Signfred	Sweden	The cargo ship ran aground at Kalmar.[17] She was refloated damaged on 17 May and sailed to Oscarhamn for repairs.[9]

16 May

List of shipwrecks: 16 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Colne	United Kingdom	The Thames barge collided with San Andres ( Norway) in the River Thames at Blackwall Point and was severely damaged. She was beached at Point Wharf, Greenwich.[18]

17 May

List of shipwrecks: 17 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Aden	United Kingdom	The dredger capsized at 55°38′N 1°20′W whilst under tow.[19]

18 May

List of shipwrecks: 18 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Benjamin F. Packard	United States	The full-rigged ship was scuttled off Long Island, New York.[20]

19 May

List of shipwrecks: 19 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Rosedene	United Kingdom	The coaster ran aground at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Somme, France.[9] Refloated undamaged the next day.[21]

20 May

List of shipwrecks: 20 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Aquarius	United States	The cargo ship caught fire whilst laid up at New Orleans, Louisiana and was severely damaged.[21]
Gunny	Sweden	The cargo ship ran aground at Gisslan and was severely damaged.[21] Refloated on 22 May and sailed to Gefle.[4]
Silver Sword	United States	The cargo ship ran aground at Port Eads, Louisiana.[21] Refloated the next day.[4]

21 May

List of shipwrecks: 21 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Consul Hintz	Germany	The cargo ship ran aground on Someri, Finland.[21] Refloated the next day.[4] Arrived on 28 May at Helsinki for drydocking.[22]
Eha	Estonia	The cargo ship ran aground on Märket, Baltic Sea and was waterlogged. The crew abandoned ship.[21]
Saimaa	Finland	The cargo ship ran aground on Someri.[21]

22 May

List of shipwrecks: 22 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Dicky	United Kingdom	The cargo ship collided in the River Thames at Rainham, Essex with Valparaiso ( Sweden) and was extensively damaged. She was beached to prevent her sinking.[4] Refloated on 24 May.[23]
Kankyo Maru	Japan	Tsunchiko Maru ( Japan) collided with Kankyo Maru at Shimonoseki, damaging her severely. She then collided with Zuiko Maru ( Japan). Kankyo Maru sank with the loss of sixteen crew.[4]

23 May

List of shipwrecks: 23 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Souvenir	United States	The 19-gross register ton, 39.7-foot (12.1 m) fishing vessel foundered in Dixon Entrance on the border between the Territory of Alaska and British Columbia, 30–35 nautical miles (56–65 km; 35–40 mi) south-southeast of Duke Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska. The motor vessel Mary Ellen (flag unknown) rescued both people on board.[24]
USS Squalus	United States Navy	The Sargo-class submarine sank off the Isles of Shoals with the loss of 26 crew. She was refloated, repaired, and recommissioned as USS Sailfish ( United States Navy).

26 May

List of shipwrecks: 26 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
Huasco	Chile	The passenger ship capsized and sank in Talcahuano Bay.[25]

27 May

List of shipwrecks: 27 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
France	United Kingdom	The cargo ship foundered in the Caribbean Sea off Georgetown, British Guiana.[26]
Polzella	United Kingdom	The cargo ship became stranded on the Payung Reef, off Batavia (Jakarta), Dutch East Indies.[22] Refloated on 1 June.[27]
Yewmount	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground at Deauville, Lower Normandy, France. Refloated undamaged later that day.[22]

28 May

List of shipwrecks: 28 May 1939

Ship	Country	Description
En Min	Manchukuo Imperial Navy	The On Min-class river patrol launch was lost.[28]
Yi Min	Manchukuo Imperial Navy	The On Min-class river patrol launch was lost.[29]

References

1. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48294). London. 2 May 1939. col G, p. 10.
2. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48297). London. 5 May 1939. col G, p. 26.
3. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48298). London. 6 May 1939. col G, p. 18.
4. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48312). London. 23 May 1939. col F, p. 21.
5. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48299). London. 8 May 1939. col D, p. 25.
6. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48303). London. 12 May 1939. col G, p. 28.
7. "SS Kalipso (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
8. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48301). London. 10 May 1939. col F, p. 25.
9. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48310). London. 20 May 1939. col F, p. 23.
10. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48305). London. 15 May 1939. col F, p. 22.
11. "WWI Standard Built Ships L - W". Mariners. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
12. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48302). London. 11 May 1939. col G, p. 24.
13. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48304). London. 13 May 1939. col G, p. 25.
14. "SS Lindenbank (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
15. "HMAS Tattoo (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
16. "Loss Of British Steamer". The Times (48302). London. 11 May 1939. col B, p. 13.
17. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48306). London. 16 May 1939. col B, p. 24.
18. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48307). London. 17 May 1939. col E, p. 26.
19. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48308). London. 18 May 1939. col E, p. 28.
20. "Benjamin F. Packard (+1939)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
21. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48311). London. 22 May 1939. col F, p. 20.
22. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48317). London. 29 May 1939. col E, p. 17.
23. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48314). London. 25 May 1939. col F, p. 28.
24. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (S)
25. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48316). London. 27 May 1939. col D, p. 23.
26. "News in Brief". The Times (48316). London. 27 May 1939. col G, p. 11.
27. "Casualty Reports". The Times (48321). London. 2 June 1939. col E, p. 26.
28. "On Min River patrol launches (1933), Coastal Forces, Manchurian Navy (Manchukuo)". Navypedia. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
29. "On Min River patrol launches (1933), Coastal Forces, Manchurian Navy (Manchukuo)". Navypedia. Retrieved 20 August 2018.

Ship events in 1939
Ship launches:	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944
Ship commissionings:	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944
Ship decommissionings:	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944
Shipwrecks:	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944