21,  Aug 12 1940, HMT  TAMARISK, Bombed, Sunk North of Margate. 7 crew lost.

22,  Aug 12 1940, HMT PYROPE, Minesweeper. Bombed, sank of Margate. 6 crew lost.

23,  Aug 7 1940, HMT Elizabeth Angela, Minesweeper. Bombed, sank, The Downs 51°19′57″N 1°33′03″E / 51.33250°N 1.55083°E / 51.33250; 1.55083. 1 crew lost.

24,  Sep 7 1940, HMT ABRONIA, Minesweeper, foundered in the Thames. 5 crew lost.

25,  Sep 24 1940, HMT LOCH INVER, Minesweeper, Mined, sank off Harwich, Essex. 23 crew lost.

​26,  Sep 24 1940, HMS MTB 15, Motor Torpedo boat. Mined, sank North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east of North Foreland, Kent.

27,  Oct  4 1940, SIRDAR, Tug. Bombed, sank in the Swale.

28,  Oct 7 1940, HMT REED, The naval trawler. Mined and sank south of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex (51°46′00″N 1°14′05″E / 51.76667°N 1.23472°E / 51.76667; 1.23472. All 15 crew lost.

29,  Oct  7 1940, SCOTCH THISTLE, Minesweeper. Grounded, Thames Estuary. Total loss.

30,  Oct 11 1940, HMY AISHA, Naval yacht. Mined, sank off Isle of Sheppey. All crew saved.

​31,  Oct 12  1940, HMT RESOLVO, Minesweeper. Mined, severely damaged NE of Sheerness. 2 crew lost.

32,  Oct 13 1940, DANUBE III, Rescue tug. Mined, sunk NE of Sheerness. 11 crew lost.

33,  Oct 16 1940, R.N. MTB 106, Motor Torpedo Boat. Mined, sank off Sheerness.

34,  Oct 16 1940, HMS DUNDALK, Minesweeper which rescued troops from Dunkirk. Mined taken under tow sank off Harwich, Essex 51°57′N 1°27′E / 51.950°N 1.450°E / 51.950; 1.450. 4 crew lost.

35,  Oct 19 1940, HMS VENETIA, Destroyer. Mined, sunk off Margate 51°33′N 1°10′E / 51.550°N 1.167°E / 51.550; 1.167. 34 crew lost.

​36,  Oct 19 1940, HMT VELIA, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk. Off  Kentish Knock Lightship  51°48′05″N 1°44′00″E / 51.80139°N 1.73333°E / 51.80139; 1.73333. All crew saved.

37,  Oct 21 1940, HMT WAVEFLOWER, Minesweeper. Mine and sank in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, Suffolk. 15 of her 22 crew lost.

38,  Oct 22 1940, JOSEPH BUTTON (Harwich) Minesweeper. Mined and sunk 5.75 nautical miles bearing 275 of Aldeburgh, Suffolk. 5 of her crew lost.

39,  Oct 31 1940, MTB 16, BPB 60 foot class motor torpedo boat. Mined and sank in the North Sea off Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

40,  Nov 7 1940. WILLIAM WESNEY, Minesweeper. Mined and sunk  off Orfordness. 6 crew lost.

41,  Nov 1 1940, HMT TILBURY NESS. (Skipper W. S. Hawes RNR) Minesweeper. Bombed, sunk, East Oaze Buoy in the Thames Estuary. 10 crew lost.

ROYAL NAVY AND MERCHANT SHIPS LOST AND THEIR LOCATION

.

Thames Estuary Chart, Harwich

Thames Estuary Chart, Sheppey.

MORE THAN 300

SHIPS WERE LOST IN THE THAMES ESTUARY DURING WORLD WAR TWO 1939 - 1945.

​HALF OF THESE WERE SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY.

1,Nov 13 1939,HMS BLANCH, Destroyer, Mined and severely damaged. Taken in tow by tug FABIA but capsized in position one mile north of Spit Buoy (51.29N 01.3) 1 crew dead 12 injured

2,  Nov 13 1939,HMS ADVENTURER, Mine laying cruiser, Mined and severely damaged. 3 crew killed, 62 injured.

3,  Nov  20 1939.HMS MASTIFF, Minesweeper 520 tons.  Mined, Sunk 1 mile off Tongue lightship, 6 crew lost.

4,  Nov 21 1939.HMS GIPSY, G-class destroyer, Mined and sank in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex. 30 of her 146 crew were lost.

5,  ​​Nov 22 1939, HMS ARAGONITE, Naval Trawler, Mined, sunk, off Deal, Kent.

​6,  Dec  10 1939, HMT RAY OF HOPE, Minesweeper, Mined and sank in the Thames Estuary, 9 crew lost.

7,  Dec 20 1939, HMS NAPIA, Tug. Mined, sunk, off Deal, Kent 51°15′45″N 1°25′00″E / 51.26250°N 1.41667°E / 51.26250; 1.41667. All 8 crew lost.

8,  Jan19  1940, HMS GRENVILLE, Destroyer, based at Harwich. Mined, sank. Thames Estuary, 51°39′N 2°17′E / 51.650°N 2.283°E / 51.650; 2.283, 77 crew lost.

9,  ​March 16 1940, HMT MAIDA, Minesweeper. Mined and sank, off Margate. 6  of her 12 crew lost.

10,  June 2 1940, HMT BLACKBURN ROVERS, Minesweeper, mine and sank in the North Sea 24 l miles east by south of North Foreland, Kent. 6 of her crew lost.

11,  June 4  1940, OCEAN LASSIE, 96 ton, Examination Drifter. Mined and sunk  off Harwich. 7 of her 13 crew lost.

12,  June 12 1940, HMT SISAPON, Minesweeper. Mined and sank off Felixtowe. 11 crew lost.

13,  June 14 1940, HMT MYRTLE. Anti submarine trawler, 550 tons.  Mined and Sunk off North Kent Coast. All 21 crew lost.

14,  July 24 1940, HMT FLEMING. Minesweeper. Bombed, sank Thames Estuary off Essex. 19 of her 22 crew lost.

15,  July 27 1940, HMS Wren, W-class destroyer. Bombed and sunk off Aldeburgh, Suffolk 52°10′N 2°06′E / 52.167°N 2.100°E / 52.167; 2.100. 35 of her crew lost.

16,  July 28 1940, HMT STAUNTON, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk Thames Estuary east of Bradwell-on-Sea. All 13 crew lost.

17,  Aug 2 1940, HMT CAPE FINISTERRE, Naval trawler. Bombed and sunk in the North Sea off Harwich. 1 crew lost.

18,  Aug 4 1940, HMT DRUMMER,  Naval  AP Trawler. Mined, sank off Brightlingsea, Essex. 4 crew lost.

19,  Aug 5 1940, HMT River Clyde.  Minesweeper. Mined, sank off Aldeburgh, Suffolk. 12 crew lost.

20,  Aug 11 1940, HMT EDWARDIAN, Minesweeper. Bombed, damaged, North Foreland. 3 crew lost, 3 wounded.

Thames Estuary Chart, North Foreland. (Ramsgate)

If you have any additional information about these ships, crew lists, stories, photographs  please contact us.

Thank you.

Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk

RETURN TO SHIP DATABASE.
Click here

RETURN TO FRONT PAGE.
Click here

ROYAL NAVY SHIPS LOST
(To find a ship press the "ctrl" and "f"  keys on your computer and type name in the box)

Red wreck symbols = Royal navy ships sunk.Blue wreck symbols = Merchant Navy ships sunk.
Wreck with yellow spot = the Richard Montgomery.

Numbers on the wreck symbols correspond to the numbers next to the vessels listed below.

In the Thames Estuary alone three hundred and one ships were lost.  (This will almost certainly be higher as research continues) 129 of these were Royal Navy vessels,172 were Merchant Navy ships, plus there were five enemy Motor Torpedo boats (Schnellboot) and Seehund midget submarines.  

Many of these were sunk with the loss of life!

In the Nore Command between 1939 and 1945, more than 600 ships were sunk due to enemy action.

In the early part of WW2 more ships were being sunk in the North Sea than in the Atlantic Ocean .

78,  ​July   1 1941, HMT DEVON COUNTY, Navel trawler. Mined, sunk Thames Estuary, 51°28′51″N 0°59′14″E / 51.48083°N 0.98722°E / 51.48083; 0.98722. 3 crew lost.

79,  July 3 1941, HMT RECEPTIVE, Navel trawler. Mined, sunk, North Sea. 51°20′50″N 0°54′35″E / 51.34722°N 0.90972°E / 51.34722; 0.90972. 1 crew lost.

80,  July 3 1941, HMT ROSME, Navel trawler. Mined, sunk, North Sea. 51°34′12″N 1°03′00″E / 51.57000°N 1.05000°E / 51.57000; 1.05000. 1 crew lost.

81,  July 30 1941, WHITESHED, Destroyer. Mined and severely damaged. Travelled back to Harwich stern first. 13 crew lost, 15 wounded.

82,  July 7 1941, HMT LORD ST VINCENT, Navel trawler. Mined, sunk off Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. 2 crew lost.

83,  Aug  7  1941, MMS 39, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk , Thames Estuary, near Longsand Head. 3 crew lost

84,  Aug 12 1941, HMT EXPRESS, Auxiliary patrol vessel. Mined, sunk  off Whitstable, Kent.

85,  Sep 20 1941, HMT MARCONI FY3304, Naval trawler. Collision during air raid  sank in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex.

86,  Oct  14  1941, HMT FORERUNNER, Navel trawler. Collision, sunk Thames Estuary.

87,  Oct  24  1941, HMT EMILION, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk, Thames Estuary off Essex. No loss of life.

88, Oct  24  1941, HMT LUCIENNE JEANNE. Navel trawler. Mined, sunk, Thames Estuary.

89,  Nov  8 1941, HMT MONARDA, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk, Thames Estuary off Sheerness, Kent.

91,  Jan 9 1942, HMS VIMIERA, V & W-class destroyer. Mined, sunk, Thames Estuary, off East Spile Buoy. Convoy FS 693. 96 crew lost. (of 110 crew)

92,  ​Mar  13 1942, SPARSHOLT, Sheerness boom mooring lighter. Mined. 6 crew lost. 

93,  April 20 1942, HMS COTSWOLD Convoy FS 80, Hunt-class destroyer. Mined, damaged off Aldeburgh, Suffolk beached off Shotley. 5 crew lost and 23 injured.

94,  June 16 1942, TRANQUIL, Minesweeper. Collision off Deal. 6 crew lost.

95, July 9 1942, MGB  14, 5th Motor Gun Boat Flotilla. Lost off of Lowerstoft.

96,  July 9 1942, TUNISIAN, Boom Trawler. Mined and sank off Landguard Point. All 29 crew lost.

97,  July  21 1942, HMMGB 328, Fairmile C motor gun boat. Sunk by Kriegsmarine surface ships in the Dover Strait. 8 crew lost. 

98,  Aug 7 1942, HMS MTB 44, White 73'-class motor torpedo boat, Sunk by Kriegsmarine surface vessels off Dover.

99,  Aug 18 1942, HMS MTB 218, Vosper 70'-class motor torpedo boat. Mine and sank in Dover Strait. 6 crew lost.

100, Aug 24  1942, HMS ML 103, Fairmile A motor launch. Mine and sank in Dover Strait. 2 crew lost.

101, Sep 10 1942, HMS MGB 335, Fairmile C motor gunboat. Shelled and sunk in the North Sea by Kriegsmarine surface vessels in the North Sea. 3 crew lost.

102, Oct 6 1942, HMMGB 76, BPB 72 foot-class motor gun boat. Shelled and sunk in the North Sea by Kriegsmarine Schnellboots. 1 crew lost.

103, Oct 6 1942. HMMTB 29, BPB 70 foot-class motor torpedo boat. Sunk in a collision in the North Sea  when in action with E-boats. 10 crew lost.

104, Aug 5 1943, HMT Red Gauntlet. Naval trawler. Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex by S-86. 
All 21 crew lost.

105, Sep 22  1943, HMT OCEAN RETRIEVER, Navel trawler harbour defence. Mined, sunk, Thames Estuary. All 11 crew lost.

106, Sep 21 1943,  ZEE MEEUW, Minesweeper. Sunk in collision Gravesend reach Thames.

107, Sep 25 1943, HMT DONNA NOOK, Naval trawler. Was rammed and sunk in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex by HMT Stella Rigel  while engaging  E-boats. All crew saved.

108, Sep 25 1943, HMT FRANC TIREUR, Naval trawler. Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Harwich by E-boats. 15 crew lost.

109, Sep 25 1943, S-96 German E-boat. Rammed and damaged in the North Sea off the Sunk Lightship by HMML 145 and HMML 150 and was abandoned. 13 crew rescued by HMML 145 and taken as prisoners of war.

110, Nov 9 1943, HMS MTB 230, Vosper 72 foot-class Motor Torpedo Boat. Sunk in the North Sea in a collision with HMMTB 222.

111, Nov 9 1943, HMMTB 222, Vosper 72 foot-class Motor Torpedo Boat. Sank from damage sustained in a collision in the North Sea with HMMTB 230. 

112, May 20 1944, HMT Wyoming, Naval trawler. Mined and sunk  20 nautical miles (37 km) east-north-east of Harwich, Essex. 5 crew lost.

113, May 20 1944, HMS MMS 227, Minesweeper. Mined and sank in the North Sea off Orfordness, Suffolk.

114, May 20 1944, HNLMS Marken Royal Netherlands Navy, MMS-class minesweeper. Mined and sank in the Thames Estuary.

115, Aug 18 1944, MTB 93, 22nd MTB Flotilla  Lowestoft, Motor Torpedo Boat. In a collision off Harwich with MTB 729. 1 dead, 1 badly injured.

116, Oct: 30 1944, LCT 936. Landing Craft Tank. Sunk in a storm off Lowestoft.

117, Nov 10 1944, HMS HYDRA, Algerine-class minesweeper. Mined in the North Sea off Ostend, Belgium and severely damaged. She was taken in to Sheerness, Kent. 6 crew lost.

118, Dec 1944, HMCS CHARLESTOWN Royal Canadian Navy, Wickes-class destroyer. The collided with Florizell in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex and was damaged. 

119, Dec 26 1940, MAC 5, Minesweeper Attendant Craft. Detonated a mine and sank in the North Sea off the coast of Essex in vicinity of Stad Maastricht.  4 of her crew lost.

120, Jan 16 1945, HMS LST-415, Landing Ship, Tank, Mk.2. Torpedoed  sunk off the Tongue Lightship. 6 crew lost.

121, Feb 22 1945, HMS LCVP-707, Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel. Torpedoed and sunk,  in the Thames Estuary.

122, Feb 22 1945, HMS LST-364, Landing Ship Tank. Torpedoed and sunk by midget submarine  off Ramsgate. 51°18′N 01°54′E / 51.300°N 1.900°E  / 51.300; 1.900

123, Feb 22 1945, S 193  (German) Type 1939/40 Schnellboot. Attacked a convoy in the Thames Estuary and was sunk by the escorts.

124, Feb 24 1945, HMS ALERT 2, Cable layer. Torpedoed, sunk east of Ramsgate. All 59 crew lost.

125, March 14 1945, HMT Moravia (FY1819) Minesweeper. Mined and sunk in the North Sea, reported position 52 15N /001 48.3E

126, March 26 1945, HMS Puffin Kingfisher-class sloop. Rammed and sank a German Seehund midget submarine.  The impact caused the U-boat's torpedoes to explode. Puffin was severely damaged taken in to Harwich, Essex. 

127, March 26 1945, Seehund midget submarine. Sank when rammed by HMS Puffin and the Torpedoes exploded. Both of her crew lost.

128, April 7 1945, HMMTB 494, BPB 72'-class motor torpedo boat. Rammed and sunk in the North Sea by  Schnellboot S 176. 15 crew lost.

129, April 7 1945, HMMTB 5001, Fairmile D (modified) motor torpedo boat. Sunk in the North Sea by gunfire by a Kriegsmarine Schnellboot or was rammed and sunk by S 177. 3 crew lost.

130, April 8 1945, S-202 German Schnellboot, sank in the North Sea whilst engaging Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats. 

131, April 8 1945, S-703 German Schnellboot, sank in the North Sea whilst engaging Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats. 

132, April 10 1945, HMML 102, motor launch. Torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Dover, Kent by a Kriegsmarine midget submarine.

42,  Nov 8 1940, HMS MURIA, Tug. Mined, sunk. off Margate, 51°26′30″N 1°27′00″E / 51.44167°N 1.45000°E / 51.44167; 1.45000. All crew lost.

43,  Nov 11 1940, HMT STELLA ORION, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk, N of Herne Bay. All crew saved.

44,  Nov 14 1940, HMT RISTANGO, Boom Defence Vessel, Fouled boom? Sunk N of Sheerness. 

45,  Nov 15 1940, HMS GUARDSMAN, Tug. Mined and sank off North Foreland, Kent. 2 crew lost. 

46,  Nov 18 1940, HMT GO AHEAD, Naval Trawler. Sunk, River Medway at Queenborough.

47,  Nov 21 1940, HMT XMAS ROSE, Naval AP Drifter. Mined and sank Thames Estuary 51°47′45″N 1°25′30″E / 51.79583°N 1.42500°E / 51.79583; 1.42500. 4 crew lost.

48,  Nov 22 1940, 22 ML 127, Fairmile B motor launch. Mined and sank off Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. 11 crew lost.

49,  Nov 25 1940, HMT AMETHYST, Anti submarine trawler. Mined , sunk, Thames Estuary.

50,  Nov  25 1940, HMT KENNYMORE, Navel Trawler. Mined , sunk, Thames Estuary. 4 Crew lost.

51,  Nov  25 1940, HMT CONQUISTADOR, Navel Trawler. Collision, sunk, Thames Estuary.

52,  Nov 30 1940, HMT CHESTNUT, Tree-class trawler. Mined and sank off North Foreland, Kent. All crew saved.

53,  Dec 7 1940, HMT CAPRICORNUS, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk NE of Sheerness, two miles 94° from Nore Light Vessel. 1 crew lost.

54,  Dec 17 1940, HMT CARRY ON, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk east of the Nore Sand Lightship. 7 crew lost.

​55,  Dec 17 1940, HMT THOMAS CONNOLLY, Boom Defence Vessel. Mined, sunk  north of Sheerness. 17 crew lost.

56,  Dec 18 1940, HMT REFUNDO, Naval Trawler. Mined, damaged in the Orwell Estuary off Harwich, Essex 51°56′06″N 1°21′02″E / 51.93500°N 1.35056°E / 51.93500; 1.35056 sunk under tow. 2 crew lost.

57,   Dec 21 1940, HMS SUN IX, Naval tug. Mined, sunk  north of Sheerness. 3 crew lost.

58,  Dec 26 1940, MAC 5, The Motor Attendant Craft. Mined and sank North Sea off the coast of Essex. 4 crew lost.

59,  Jan 3 1941, HMT NEW SPRAY, Sheerness Balloon barrage vessel. Foundered in a gale Thames Estuary off Sheerness, Kent.

60,  Jan 6 1941, HMT LION, Sheerness balloon barge-towing tug. Mined, sunk, River Medway. All crew lost.

61,  Jan 8 1941, STRATHEARN, Lighthouse tender. Sank in the North Sea 51°45′N 1°10′E / 51.750°N 1.167°E / 51.750; 1.167. 15 lives lost.

62,  Jan 14 1941, HMS FITZROY, Hunt-class minesweeper. Mined  in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex and was beached.

63,  Jan 16 1941, HMT DESIREE, Naval  M/S trawler. Mined and sank in the Thames Estuary. All crew saved.

64,  Jan 27 1941, HMT DAROGAH, Minesweeper. Mined Thames Estuary.

65,  Feb 3 1941, HMT ARCTIC TRAPPER, Armed Naval trawler. Bombed, sunk , east of Ramsgate. Possibly shot down two aircraft. 17 crew lost, 3 wounded.

66,  Feb 5 1941, TOURMALINE, Harwich A/S trawler. Bombed and sunk in the North Sea off North Foreland, Kent. 2 crew lost. 

67,  Feb 10 1941, HMT BOY ALAN, Minesweeper. Collision, sunk Thames Estuary.

68,  Feb 14 1941, MTB 41, Motor torpedo boat. Mined and sank in North Sea. 2 crew lost.

69,  March 6 1941, SUN VII, Tug. Mined, sunk, Thames Estuary. 5 crew lost.

70,  March 14  1941, HMT JEANNIE LEASK, Naval trawler. Mined, damaged in the North Sea 51°44′N 1°07′E / 51.733°N 1.117°E / 51.733; 1.117 beached Brightlingsea. Then bombed.

71,  April 6 1941, HMT DARCY COOPER, Harwich examination drifter. Bombed and sank Harwich, Essex, at Trinity pier. 3 crew lost.

72,  April 8 1941, HMS Marmion II. was  at Dunkirk. Paddle steamer. Bombed and sank Harwich, Essex. At Trinity pier. 

73,  May 5 1941, HMT FIDELIA, The boom defence vessel. Bombed and sunk at Lowestoft, Suffolk.

74,  June 4 1941, HMS VAN MEERLANT, AA convoy leader. Mined, sunk off the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. 42 crew lost.

75,  June 5 1941, HMT ASH, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk Thames Estuary. 2 crew lost, 8 injured.

76,  June 5 1941, HMT LAVINIA, Navel trawler. Mined, sunk, Sheerness.

77,  June 12 1941, HMT SISAPON, Minesweeper. Mined, sunk, in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex.