Canadian Merchant Ship Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1945by Rob Fisher (Revised June 2001) |
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The Canadian Merchant Marine had only forty-one ocean-going merchant ships at the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war this fleet underwent tremendous expansion as Canadian shipyards produced 403 merchant vessels. Most of these were taken over by Great Britain and the United States but a significant number sailed under the Canadian flag. The cost of the war was high, fifty-eight Canadian-registry merchant ships were lost to enemy action, or probable enemy action, and 1,146 Canadian merchant sailors perished at sea or in Axis prison camps. In addition, six Canadian Government owned, but British-registered, merchant ships and eight Newfoundland-registered merchant ships were lost to enemy action. Many other vessels serving the war effort were lost at sea to marine causes or accident.
The following tables record the wartime losses of Canadian merchant ships. They are broken down by place of registry (Canada, Britain, Newfoundland), cause of loss (enemy action, marine accident), and extent of damage (total loss, repaired and returned to service). The lists provide the date, position, and cause of loss, the owner, gross registered tonnage (GRT), and whether the ship was sailing independently or in convoy. Information regarding crew size and casualties is included when it is available. The quality of the sources for casualty and crew figures, however, is uneven and they must be used with caution. Discrepancies abound. Dates also must be used carefully. Axis forces generally used their own time zones when recording attacks. Merchant crew survivors may have used local time zones or GMT when reporting the details of enemy attacks to naval authorities. Moreover, ships may not have sunk until several hours (or even days) after the initial attack. It is not always clear which time has been recorded. The lists are as complete as possible but it is recognized, of course, that new information may still come to light and some merchant ships may have slipped through the cracks of official records. Mystery still surrounds the fate of some of the vessels listed below.
Date | Ship | Owner | GRT | Cause of Loss | Position | Area | Casualties & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 June 1940 | Erik Boye(1) | Canadian Government | 2,238 | Torpedoed by U-38 from convoy HX 47. | 50-37N 08-44W | South of Ireland | There were no casualties. |
5 July 1940 | Magog | Canada Steamships | 2,053 | Torpedoed and shelled by U-99 after leaving convoy HX 52. | 50-31N 11-05W | Southwest of Ireland | There was no loss of life. |
10 July 1940 | Waterloo | Canada Steamships | 1,905 | Bombed by German aircraft. | 52-53N 02-19E | North Sea | There were no casualties among the 20 crew. |
22 Aug 1940 | Thorold | Quebec & Ontario Transportation | 1,689 | Bombed by German aircraft. | 51-46N 05-38W | Irish Sea | Ten men were killed and five wounded of the 23 crew. |
15 Sep 1940 | Kenordoc | Paterson Steamships | 1,780 | Shelled by U-99 while straggling from convoy SC 3. | 57-42N 15-02W | North Atlantic | Seven men were killed and thirteen survived. It is not clear which U-boat was responsible but some sources credit U-48. |
12 Oct 1940 | Saint Malo(2) | Canadian Government | 5,779 | Torpedoed by U-101 while straggling from convoy HX 77. | 57-58N 16-32W | North Atlantic | Twenty-nine of the forty-four crew were lost with the ship. |
16 Oct 1940 | Trevisa(3) | Canadian Lake Carriers | 1,813 | Torpedoed by U-124 while straggling from convoy SC 7. | 57-28N 20-30W | North Atlantic | Seven of the 21 crew were killed. |
6 Feb 1941 | Maplecourt | United Towing & Salvage | 3,388 | Torpedoed by U-107 while straggling from convoy SC 20. | 55-39N 15-56W | North Atlantic | All 37 crew and DEMS gunners were lost with the ship. |
21 Feb 1941 | Canadian Cruiser(4) | Canadian Tramp Shipping | 7,178 | Sunk by German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer. | 06-36S 47-18E | Indian Ocean | All of the 36 crew were taken prisoner. One man later escaped from the POW camp to Spain. |
22 Feb 1941 | A. D. Huff | Atlantic Transportation | 6,219 | Sunk by German battlecruiser Gneisenau | 47-12N 40-13W | North Atlantic | Two of the crew were killed and the rest, 40 men, were taken prisoner. |
16 Mar 1941 | J. B. White | Atlantic Transportation | 7,375 | Torpedoed by U-99 from convoy HX 112. | 60-57N 12-27W | North Atlantic | There were 38 survivors. Two men were killed. |
25 Mar 1941 | Canadolite(5) | Imperial Oil | 11,309 | Captured by German raider Kormoran. | 02-30N 23-48W | Central Atlantic | The 44 crew were taken prisoner. |
7 Apr 1941 | Portadoc(6) | Paterson Steamships | 1,746 | Torpedoed by U-124. | 07-17N 16-53W | Off Sierra Leone | The survivors landed at French Guinea and were taken prisoner. |
3 May 1941 | Europa(7) | Canadian Government | 10,224 | Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | Liverpool, UK | There were no casualties. |
13 July 1941 | Collingdoc | Paterson Steamships | 1,780 | Struck mine. Salvaged and sunk as block ship at Scapa Flow. | Not known | Thames River, UK (off Southend) | Two men, the First and Second Engineers, were killed. |
15 Oct 1941 | Vancouver Island(8) | Canadian Government | 9,472 | Torpedoed by U-558. | 53-37N 25-37W | North Atlantic | There were no survivors. Sixty-four crew, 6 DEMS gunners, and 32 passengers died. |
12 Dec 1941 | Shinai(9) | George L. Shaw | 2,410 | Seized by Japanese forces. | Not known | Kuching, North Borneo | At least one man, the Chief Engineer, died as a Japanese prisoner-of-war. |
19 Jan 1942 | Lady Hawkins(10) | Canadian National Steamships | 7,998 | Torpedoed by U-66. | 35-00N 72-30W | Off North Carolina | Seventy-one persons survived of the 321 passengers and crew. See footnote. |
4 Feb 1942 | Montrolite(11) | Imperial Oil | 11,309 | Torpedoed by U-109. | 35-14N 60-05W | Northeast of Bermuda | There were 20 survivors. Twenty-seven crew and one DEMS gunner perished. |
5 Feb 1942 | Empress of Asia | Canadian Pacific | 16,909 | Bombed by Japanese aircraft. | Not known | Off Singapore | Fourteen persons were killed and 153 taken prisoner out of 2,651 on board. |
10 Feb 1942 | Victolite | Imperial Oil | 11,410 | Torpedoed and shelled by U-564. | 36-12N 67-14W | Northwest of Bermuda | All on board were killed: 45 crew and 2 DEMS gunners. |
22 Feb 1942 | George L. Torian(12) | Upper Lakes | 1,754 | Torpedoed by U-129. | 09-13N 59-04W | Off Guyana | Four survivors of the 19 crew were rescued by a US Navy flying boat and taken to Trinidad. |
23 Feb 1942 | Lennox(13) | Canada Steamships | 1,904 | Torpedoed by U-129. | 09-15N 58-30W | Off Guyana | Two men were killed and there were 18 survivors. |
14 Mar 1942 | Sarniadoc(14) | Paterson Steamships | 1,940 | Torpedoed by U-161. | 15-45N 65-00W | Caribbean Sea | There were no survivors. |
1 Apr 1942 | Robert W. Pomeroy(15) | Upper Lakes | 1,750 | Struck mine off Cromer, England in convoy FN 70. | 53-10N 01-10E | North Sea | One man was killed and two injured of the 21 crew and 2 DEMS gunners. |
20 Apr 1942 | Vineland(16) | Markland Shipping | 5,587 | Torpedoed by U-154. | 23-05N 72-20W | Caribbean Sea | There were thirty-six survivors and one man was killed. |
1 May 1942 | James E. Newsom | Zwicker & H. O. Emptage | 671 | Shelled by U-69. | 35-50N 59-40W | Northeast of Bermuda | The nine-man crew survived and landed at Bermuda. |
5 May 1942 | Lady Drake(17) | Canadian National Steamships | 7,985 | Torpedoed by U-106. | 35-43N 64-43W | North of Bermuda | Six passengers and 6 crew were killed out of 272 persons on board. |
7 May 1942 | Mildred Pauline | A.G. Thornhill | 300 | Shelled by U-136. | 39-40N 55-00W | North Atlantic | There were no survivors. It was carrying a cargo of molasses from Barbados to St. John's. |
8 May 1942 | Mont Louis | Hall Corporation | 1,905 | Torpedoed by U-162. | 08-23N 58-44W | Off Guyana | Thirteen of the 21 crew were killed. The 8 survivors landed at Georgetown, Guyana. |
9 May 1942 | Calgarolite(18) | Imperial Oil | 11,941 | Torpedoed and shelled by U-125. | 19-24N 82-30W | Caribbean Sea | All forty-five crew survived. See footnote. |
21 May 1942 | Torondoc(19) | Paterson Steamships | 1,927 | Torpedoed by U-69. | 14-45N 62-15W | Caribbean Sea | There were no survivors of the 23 crew. |
21 May 1942 | Troisdoc(20) | Paterson Steamships | 1,925 | Torpedoed by U-558. | 18-15N 79-20W | Caribbean Sea | All nineteen crew were rescued by HMS Clarkia. |
22 May 1942 | Frank B. Baird(21) | Upper Lakes | 1,748 | Shelled by U-158 | 28-03N 58-50W | Southeast of Bermuda | All 23 crew were rescued by SS Talisman. |
30 May 1942 | Liverpool Packet(22) | Markland Shipping | 1,188 | Torpedoed by U-432. | 43-20N 66-20W | Off Nova Scotia | Two persons were killed. The 19 survivors rowed to Seal Island. |
28 June 1942 | Mona Marie | Lemuel J. Ritcey | 126 | Shelled by U-126. | 12-22N 60-10W | Caribbean Sea | The crew survived. |
25 July 1942 | Lucille M. | Frederick Sutherland | 54 | Shelled by U-89. | 42-02N 65-38W | Off Cape Sable | The 11 crew escaped, including 4 wounded, and rowed 100 miles to shore at Shelburne, Nova Scotia. |
29 July 1942 | Prescodoc(23) | Paterson Steamships | 1,938 | Torpedoed by U-160. | 08-50N 59-05W | Off Guyana | Five of the 21 crew survived. |
17 Aug 1942 | Princess Marguerite | Canadian Pacific | 5,875 | Torpedoed by U-83. | 32-03N 32-47E | Mediterranean Sea | Forty-nine persons were killed out of over 1,000 on board. HMS Hero rescued the survivors. |
3 Sep 1942 | Donald Stewart | Canada Steamships | 1,781 | Torpedoed by U-517 from convoy NL 6 (while passing convoy LN 7). | 50-32N 58-46W | Belle Isle Strait | Three persons were killed out of 19 crew and 1 passenger. HMCS Shawinigan, Weyburn, and Trail rescued 17 survivors. |
5 Sep 1942 | Lord Strathcona(24) | Dominion Shipping | 7,335 | Torpedoed by U-513. | 47-35N 52-59W | Conception Bay | There was no loss of life. |
6 Sep 1942 | John A. Holloway | Upper Lakes | 1,745 | Torpedoed by U-164. | 14-10N 71-30W | Caribbean Sea | One man died. Two lifeboats of 23 survivors reached Colombia safely on 12 and 13 September. |
7 Sep 1942 | Oakton(25) | Gulf & Lake Navigation | 1,727 | Torpedoed by U-517 from convoy QS 33. | 48-50N 63-46W | Gulf of St. Lawrence | Some sources state that 3 lives were lost. Escorts rescued 19 crew. |
18 Sep 1942 | Norfolk(26) | Canada Steamships | 1,901 | Torpedoed by U-175. | 08-36N 59-20W | Off Guyana | Six men were killed. |
9 Oct 1942 | Carolus(27) | Canadian Government | 2,375 | Torpedoed by U-69 from convoy NL 9. | 48-47N 68-10W | St. Lawrence River | There were 19 survivors of the 30 crew on board. See footnote. |
29 Oct 1942 | Bic Island(28) | Canadian Government | 4,000 | Torpedoed by U-224 while straggling from convoy HX 212. | 55-05N 23-27W | North Atlantic | Lost with all hands and survivors picked up from SS Gurney E. Newlin and SS Sourabaya. |
2 Nov 1942 | Rose Castle(29) | Dominion Shipping | 7,803 | Torpedoed by U-518. | 47-36N 52-58W | Conception Bay | Sources vary. See footnote. |
3 Nov 1942 | Chr. J. Kampmann(30) | Canadian Government | 2,260 | Torpedoed by U-160 from convoy TAG 18. | 12-06N 62-42W | Caribbean Sea | USS Lea rescued 8 survivors from the 27 crew and landed them at Curaçao. |
19 May 1943 | Angelus(31) | Canadian Government | 255 | Shelled by U-161. | 38-40N 64-00W | North of Bermuda | USS Turner rescued two survivors from the nine crew. |
6 July 1943 | Jasper Park(32) | Park Steamship Company | 7,129 | Torpedoed by U-177. | 32-52S 42-15E | Indian Ocean | Four of the crew were killed. HMS Quiberon and Quickmatch rescued 45 crew and 6 DEMS gunners. |
22 Mar 1944 | Watuka(33) | Nova Scotia Steel & Coal | 1,621 | Torpedoed by U-802 from convoy SH 125. | 44-30N 62-51W | Off Halifax | HMS Anticosti rescued 25 survivors of the 26 crew. |
18 June 1944 | Albert C. Field | Upper Lakes | 1,764 | Torpedoed by German aircraft while in convoy EBC 14. | 50-28N 01-46W | English Channel | There were 29 survivors of the 33 crew, most of them rescued by HMS Herschell. |
3 Dec 1944 | Cornwallis(34) | Canadian National Steamships | 5,458 | Torpedoed by U-1230. | 43-59N 68-20W | Gulf of Maine | Seven DEMS gunners and 36 crew were lost. Fishing vessel Notre Dame rescued 5 survivors. |
23 Feb 1945 | Point Pleasant Park | Park Steamship Company | 7,136 | Torpedoed and shelled by U-510. | 29-42S 09-58E | South Atlantic | Nine men were killed. HMSAS Africana and the fishing vessel Boy Russel rescued 49 survivors. |
13 Mar 1945 | Taber Park | Park Steamship Company | 2,878 | Torpedoed by Seehund midget submarine while in convoy FS 1753. | 52-22N 01-53E | North Sea | Four DEMS gunners and 24 crew were killed out of the 32 persons on board. The crew was British. |
7 May 1945 | Avondale Park | Park Steamship Company | 2,878 | Torpedoed by U-2336 while in convoy EN 91. | 56-05N 02-32W | Firth of Forth | Two men were killed and there were 39 survivors. The crew was British. Avondale Park was the last Allied ship lost during the war. |
Date | Ship | Owner | GRT | Cause of Loss | Position | Area | Casualties & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 July 1940 | Humber Arm | Bowater | 5,758 | Torpedoed by U-99 from convoy HX 53. | 50-36N 09-24W | South of Ireland | There was no loss of life. |
4 Aug 1940 | Geraldine Mary | Anglo-Newfoundland Steamship Co. | 7,244 | Torpedoed by U-52 from convoy HX 60 | 56-46N 15-48W | North Atlantic | Two crew were lost and one passenger. |
9 May 1941 | Esmond | Anglo-Newfoundland Steamship Co. | 4,976 | Torpedoed by U-110 from convoy OB 318 | 60-45N 33-02W | North Atlantic | There was no loss of life. |
20 May 1941 | Rothermere | Anglo-Newfoundland Steamship Co. | 5,356 | Torpedoed by U-98 after dispersal of convoy HX 126. | 57-48N 41-36W | North Atlantic | Twenty-two men were killed and one was wounded. |
10 May 1942 | Kitty's Brook (35) | Bowater | 4,031 | Torpedoed by U-588. | 42-56N 63-59W | Off Cape Sable | Nine of her crew were lost of 32 on board. The survivors rowed into Lockeport, Nova Scotia. |
11 Oct 1942 | Waterton(36) | Bowater | 2,140 | Torpedoed by U-106 from convoy BS 31. | 47-07N 59-54W | Cabot Strait | There was no loss of life. HMCS Vison rescued 27 survivors. |
14 Oct 1942 | Caribou | Newfoundland Government | 2,222 | Torpedoed by U-69 while under escort between Sydney and Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland | 47-19N 59-29W | Cabot Strait | HMCS Grandmere rescued 101 survivors of 238 persons on board the passenger ferry. In total, 137 persons (31 crew and 106 passengers) died. |
3 Sep 1944 | Livingston | Bowater Paper | 2,140 | Torpedoed by U-541. | 46-15N 58-05W | Off Cape Breton | One DEMS gunner and 13 crew were killed. There were 14 survivors. |
Date | Ship | GRT | Cause of Loss | Position | Area | Casualties & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Dec 1943 | Fort Athabasca | 7,132 | Explosion of ammunition ship bombed by aircraft | Not known | Bari harbour, Italy | Thirty-six crew and 3 DEMS gunners were killed. |
26 Jan 1944 | Fort Bellingham | 7,153 | Torpedoed by U-360 and U-957 while in convoy JW 56A. | 73-25N 25-10E | Barents Sea, Arctic Ocean | Seven DEMS gunners, 21 crew, and two of the convoy commodore's staff were killed out of 75 persons on board. |
15 Feb 1944 | Fort St. Nicholas | 7,154 | Torpedoed by U-410. | 40-34N 14-37E | Mediterranean Sea | There were no casualties among the 63 persons on board. |
19 May 1944 | Fort Missanabie | 7,147 | Torpedoed by U-453 while in convoy HA 43. | 38-20N 16-28E | Mediterranean Sea | Forty-nine survived out of the 61 crew. |
24 June 1944 | Fort Norfolk | 7,131 | Struck mine off assault beaches, Normandy. | Not known | English Channel | Eight crew were killed and 5 were wounded. |
15 Dec 1944 | Fort Maisonneuve | 7,128 | Struck mine in the Scheldt estuary. | Not known | Netherlands |
Date | Ship | Owner | GRT | Cause of Loss | Position | Area | Casualties & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 Mar 1940 | Thordoc | Paterson Steamships | 2,158 | Stranded on Wingham Point, near Louisbourg, Nova Scotia; declared total loss. | Not known | Off Cape Breton Island | |
27 Nov 1940 | Lisieux | Canadian Government | 2,594 | Lost in gale. | 48-08N 47-50W | North Atlantic | There were 17 survivors of the 29 crew. |
6 Dec 1940 | Watkins F. Nisbet (37) |
Upper Lakes | 1,747 | Ran ashore, wrecked. Stern section was salvaged. | Not known | Bristol Channel | |
5 Oct 1941 | Mondoc(38) | Paterson Steamships | 1,926 | Struck submerged object and sank. | Not known | Caribbean Sea | Mondoc probably struck Darien rock off the east coast of Trinidad. |
25 Nov 1941 | Proteus(39) | Saguenay Terminals | 10,653 | Foundered in heavy seas. | Not known | Caribbean Sea | All 58 crew were lost. |
12 Dec 1941 | Nereus(40) | Saguenay Terminals | 10,647 | Foundered in heavy seas. | Not known | Caribbean Sea | All 61 persons on board were lost. |
15 Jan 1942 | R.J. Cullen | Atlantic Transportation | 6,993 | Wrecked 2 miles off Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. | Not known | Sea of Hebrides | There was no loss of life. |
23 Oct 1942 | Canatco(41) | Canada Atlantic Transit | 2,415 | Ran aground on Gannet rock and sank while in convoy LN 11. | 53-56N 56-25W | Labrador coast | SS Canatco sank on 25 October. HMCS Arrowhead recovered the entire crew. |
12 Nov 1942 | Lillian E. Kerr(42) | James L. Publicover | 521 | Collision with SS Alcoa Pilot. | 42-27N 68-35W | Gulf of Maine | |
1 Jan 1943 | Hamildoc(43) | Paterson Steamships | 1,926 | Foundered in heavy seas; total loss. | 09-10N 60-30W | Off Trinidad | There was no loss of life. |
Date | Ship | Owner | GRT | Cause of Damage | Position | Area | Casualties & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 Nov 1940 | Sherbrooke | Canada Steamships | 2,052 | Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | North Sea (off Orfordness) | |
16 Dec 1940 | Bic Island* | Canadian Government | 4,000 | Bombed by German aircraft. | 54-12N 17-45W | North Atlantic | |
21 Dec 1942 | Europa* | Canadian Government | 10,224 | Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | Liverpool, UK | |
13 Feb 1941 | Westcliffe Hall | Hall Corporation | 1,900 | Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | North Sea (off Whitby) | |
12 Aug 1941 | Eaglescliffe Hall | Hall Corporation | 1,900 | Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | North Sea (off Sunderland) | |
17 Aug 1941 | Kindersley | Canada Steamships | 1,999 | Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | North Sea (off Blyth) | |
11 Dec 1941 | Colborne | Canadian National Steamships | 6,230 | Bombed by Japanese aircraft. | Not known | Penang, Malaysia | |
7 Feb 1942 | Maurienne | Canadian Government | 3,259 | Caught fire and sank. Salvaged and repaired. | Not known | Halifax harbour (Pier 27/28) | There was no loss of life. MV Maurienne re-entered service in 1943. |
10 Mar 1942 | Lady Nelson | Canadian National Steamships | 7,970 | Torpedoed by U-161. Salvaged and repaired. | Not known | Port Castries, St. Lucia. | Fourteen passengers and 3 crew were killed. Eleven others were hospitalized. |
11 Sep 1942 | Cornwallis* | Canadian National Steamships | 5,458 | Torpedoed by U-514. | 13-05N 59-36W | Bridgetown,Barbados | |
4 Jan 1945 | Nipiwan Park(44) | Park Steamship Company | 2,373 | Torpedoed by U-1232 from convoy SH 194. | 44-28N 62-59W | Off Halifax | Two members of the 31 crew were killed and 3 others injured. HMCS Kentville rescued the 29 survivors. |
6 Mar 1945 | Green Hill Park | Park Steamship Company | 7,168 | Explosion and fire. Declared constructive total loss. Sold, repaired and renamed Phaeax II. | Not known | Vancouver harbour | Two crew and 6 longshoremen were killed. The initial explosion occurred on 6 March but it burned for several days. |
12 Apr 1945 | Silver Star Park | Park Steamship Company | 7,243 | Collision and fire. Hulk sold, repaired and renamed Santa Cecilia. | Not known | Off New York |
Date | Ship | GRT | Cause of Damage | Position | Area | Casualty Data & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 Apr 1944 | Fort Crevier | 7,130 | Severely damaged by explosion of Fort Stikine. Used as a hulk, scrapped in 1948. | Not known | Bombay, India | |
14 May 1944 | Fort Fidler | 7,127 | Torpedoed by U-616 from convoy GUS 39. | 36-45N 00-55E | Mediterranean Sea | |
11 June 1944 | Fort McPherson | 7,132 | Bombed by German aircraft. | 50-02N 00-36W | English Channel | There was no loss of life. |
26 July 1944 | Fort McPherson | 7,132 | Struck by flying bomb while under repair from the previous bombing. | Not known | Victoria Dock, London, UK | |
18 Aug 1944 | Fort Gloucester | 7,127 | Torpedoed by German E-boat while in convoy FTM 70. | Not known | English Channel | There was no loss of life. |
Date | Ship | GRT | Cause of Loss or Damage | Position | Area | Casualties and Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 Feb 1940 | Beaverburn | 9,874 | Lost. Torpedoed by U-41 while in convoy OA 84. | 49-20N 10-07W | North Atlantic | |
18 June 1940 | Niagara | 13,415 | Lost. Struck mine and sank. | 35-53S 174-53E | Off New Zealand | |
28 Oct 1940 | Empress of Britain | 42,348 | Lost. Torpedoed by U-32 after being bombed by German aircraft. | 55-16N 09-50W | Off Ireland | |
5 Nov 1940 | Beaverford | 10,042 | Lost. Sunk by German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer from convoy HX 84. | 52-26N 32-34W | North Atlantic | |
9 Nov 1940 | Empress of Japan | 26,032 | Damaged. Bombed by German aircraft. | 53-54N 14-28W | North Atlantic | |
2 Dec 1940 | Montrose | 16,402 | Lost. Torpedoed by U-99 after detaching from convoy HX 90 to go to convoy OB 251. | 54-35N 18-18W | North Atlantic | Montrose had been converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser and was serving in the Royal Navy as HMS Forfar when lost. |
25 Mar 1941 | Beaverbrae | 9,956 | Lost. Bombed by German aircraft. | 60-12N 09-00W | North Atlantic | |
1 April 1941 | Beaverdale | 9,957 | Lost. Torpedoed and shelled by U-48. | 60-50N 29-19W | North Atlantic | Twenty-one persons were killed. |
5 Feb 1942 | Empress of Asia | 16,909 | Lost. Bombed by Japanese aircraft. | Not known | Off Singapore | Seven persons were killed and 153 taken prisoner of 2,200 on board. |
17 Aug 1942 | Princess Marguerite | 5,875 | Lost. Torpedoed by U-83. | 32-03N 32-47E | Mediterranean Sea | Forty-nine persons were killed out of over 1,000 on board. HMS Hero rescued the survivors. |
10 Oct 1942 | Duchess of Atholl | 20,119 | Lost. Torpedoed by U-178. | 07-03S 11-12W | South Atlantic | |
13 Mar 1943 | Empress of Canada | 21,517 | Lost. Torpedoed by Italian submarine Da Vinci. | 01-13S 09-57W | Central Atlantic | US Navy records state that there were 1,477 survivors of 1,892 persons on board. British sources state that 392 persons died. HMS Corinthian rescued the survivors. |
14 Mar 1943 | Duchess of York | 20,021 | Damaged. Bombed by German aircraft. | Not known | Off Cape Finisterre | |
11 July 1943 | Duchess of York | 20,021 | Lost. Bombed by German aircraft while in convoy OS 51. | 41-18N 15-24W | North Atlantic | There were 819 survivors out of 908 persons on board. HMCS Iroquois picked up 628 of the survivors. |
Date | Ship | Former Owner | GRT | Cause of Loss | Position | Area | Casualties and Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 July 1941 | Lady Somers | Canadian National Steamships | 8,194 | Torpedoed by the Italian submarine Morosini | 36-00N 21-00W | North Atlantic | Lady Somers was requisitioned by the Admiralty and was serving in the Royal Navy as an Ocean Boarding Vessel when lost. |
6 June 1942 | C.O. Stillman | Imperial Oil | 13,006 | Torpedoed by U-68. | 17-33N 67-55W | Caribbean Sea | |
28 Feb 1945 | Soreldoc(45) | Paterson Steamships | 1,926 | Torpedoed by U-775. | 52-15N 05-35W | Irish Sea | Fifteen persons were killed and 21 survived. |
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1. SS Erik Boye (ex-Danish) had been taken in prize by the RCN.
2. SS Saint Malo was a French vessel requisitioned by the Canadian Government. Sixteen survivors (13 Canadians and 3 Free French) escaped in one lifeboat. Two days later they were taken in tow by a lifeboat from MV Port Gisborne. The survivors of Saint Malo boarded the other lifeboat on 21 October. They were rescued by HM Tug Salvonia on the following day, after being adrift for ten days.
3. Some sources state that Keystone Transports Ltd. owned SS Trevisa. The survivors were rescued by HMCS Ottawa, HMS Bluebell, and Keppel.
4. Some sources state that Montreal Australia New Zealand Line Ltd. owned Canadian Cruiser.
5. The Germans renamed Canadolite the Sudetenland. The RAF bombed and sank it at Brest, France on 14 August 1944.
6. The Germans gave the crew provisions. After six days adrift on the water, the survivors landed at French Guinea where they were held prisoner for six months until exchanged for enemy prisoners. One man died while incarcerated and another died after being released while walking to Freetown. The ship was en route from Saint John, New Brunswick to Freetown, Sierra Leone carrying coal and miscellaneous cargo.
7. MV Europa (ex-Danish) had been taken in prize by the RCN.
8. MV Vancouver Island (ex-German Weser) had been captured by HMCS Prince Robert on 25 September 1940.
9. SS Shinai was renamed Shinai Maru by the Japanese. It was bombed or mined and sunk by American aircraft on 17 September 1944.
10. SS Lady Hawkins carried 212 passengers and 109 crew en route to the West Indies. The survivors escaped in three lifeboats. Two were never found. The third lifeboat had 76 persons in it but five of these died. SS Coamo rescued the seventy-one survivors on 24 January and landed them at San Juan, Puerto Rico. In total, 250 of the 321 persons on board were lost
11. A freighter rescued twenty survivors from the Montrolite and landed them at Halifax on 10 February.
12. The German U-boat had interrogated the survivors after the sinking and offered them directions, food and water.
13. SS Athelrill rescued the eighteen survivors. SS Lennox was en route from Paramaribo, Surinam to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
14. Sarniadoc had sailed from Trinidad on 11 March for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands with a cargo of bauxite.
15. Some sources state that Robert W. Pomeroy broke its back in heavy seas and then was intentionally sunk by Allied forces. This version is not confirmed by the official report of the interview with the Master.
16. SS Vineland was on provisional registry when sunk. The thirty-six survivors landed at Turks Island.
17. SS Lady Drake was en route from Bermuda to Saint John. USS Owl rescued the survivors and landed them at Bermuda.
18. The crew of MV Calgarolite escaped in two lifeboats. Twenty-three survivors landed at Isla Mujeres, Mexico, on 12 May. Twenty-two survivors in the other lifeboat reached Isla Pines, Cuba, on 13 May.
19. Torondoc was en route from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands to Trinidad when sunk.
20. Troisdoc was en route from Mobile, Alabama to Georgetown, Guyana when sunk. The survivors were landed at Mobile on 29 May by SS Lady Nelson, after being transferred from HMS Clarkia.
21. Frank B. Baird was en route from St. Lucia to Sydney, Nova Scotia when lost.
22. The nineteen survivors took to the boats and rowed to Seal Island, Nova Scotia. SS Liverpool Packet (ex Sonia) had sailed from New York bound for St. John's, Newfoundland via Halifax.
23. SS Predsednik Kopajtic rescued five survivors out of the twenty persons on board. Prescodoc was en route from Georgetown, Guyana to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad carrying a cargo of bauxite.
24. SS Lord Strathcona was lying at anchor off Bell Island after loading a cargo of iron ore at Wabana, Newfoundland. The crew abandoned ship before the torpedoes struck after witnessing the sinking of another ship at anchor.
25. SS Oakton had sailed from Montreal for Corner Brook, Newfoundland with a cargo of coal.
26. US Navy records state that 13 of 19 crew survived; British sources claim that 14 of 20 crew survived. The survivors were picked up by SS Indauchu. SS Norfolk had sailed from Surinam for Trinidad with a cargo of bauxite.
27. SS Carolus (ex-Finnish) had been taken in prize. It had thirty crew on board, including six Canadians. HMCS Arrowhead and Hepatica rescued the nineteen survivors.
28. SS Bic Island (ex-Italian Capo Noli) had been taken in prize.
29. SS Rose Castle was lying at anchor off Bell Island after loading iron ore at Wabana, waiting to sail with convoy WB 12 for Sydney, Nova Scotia. Sources vary as to the size of the crew and number of survivors. Three DEMS gunners and either forty or forty-three crew were on board. Most of the survivors were rescued by RCN Fairmile Motor Launches. Canadian records state that twenty-seven crew and one gunner were lost. British sources state that twenty-three crew and one gunner went down with the ship. American records maintain that sixteen crew and two gunners survived. The Canadian Book of Remembrance lists 28 crew deaths and two DEMS gunners.
30. SS Chr. J. Kampmann (ex-Danish) had been taken in prize by the RCN.
31. The survivors were landed at Portland, Maine on 27 May 1943. HMCS Prescott seized the French barquentine Angelus as a prize on the Grand Banks and sent her to Sydney, Nova Scotia, 11 May 1942, where she was turned over to the Canadian Government Merchant Marine. She was carrying molasses from Barbados to Halifax when sunk.
32. Jasper Park had sailed from Cochin, India bound for Durban, South Africa. The German U-boat interrogated the survivors in the lifeboats after the attack.
33. SS Watuka was carrying coal from Louisbourg, Nova Scotia to Halifax.
34. SS Cornwallis was carrying a cargo of molasses and sugar from Barbados to Saint John, New Brunswick.
35. SS Kitty's Brook was en route from New York to Argentia, Newfoundland.
36. SS Waterton was en route from Corner Brook, Newfoundland to Sydney, Nova Scotia.
37. The engines were removed from Watkins F. Nisbet and used in a new construction ship.
38. Mondoc was en route from Guyana to the British Virgin Islands when lost.
39. SS Proteus sailed from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on 23 November with a cargo of bauxite. It was lost without a trace. The Admiralty originally suspected sabotage because of the similar circumstances of the loss of SS Nereus (below) but never confirmed it in either case. Research by Rear Admiral George van Deurs, USN suggests that more probably these aging and poorly-constructed colliers broke up in heavy seas following a storm. He was familiar with this type of ship from their service in the USN; in other colliers of this type the acidic coal had seriously eroded the longitudinal support beams making them extremely vulnerable.
40. SS Nereus sailed from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on 10 December with a cargo of bauxite. It was lost without a trace. See SS Proteus above.
41. The crew of SS Canatco stated that an explosion had caused the accident.
42. SS Cyrus Field recovered one member of the crew who died without recovering consciousness. No others were found.
43. SS Hamildoc was en route from Georgetown, Guyana to Trinidad with a cargo of bauxite when lost.
44. The fore-part of MV Nipiwan Park sank, but the after-part was salvaged by the tug Security and towed into Halifax on 5 January. As a result, the ship was not considered "lost" for official purposes. It was repaired with a new bow and renamed Irvinglake. The name of the actual park is "Nipawin" but it was mis-spelled for the ship.
45. Soreldoc was en route from Liverpool, UK to Swansea when hit. The fishing boat Loyal Star rescued the survivors and landed them at Milford Haven, Wales. The US War Shipping Administration had acquired Soreldoc in 1943. It had an American crew and was registered in Panama when it was lost in 1945.