The list of shipwrecks in 1952 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1952.
January
9 January
10 January
12 January
13 January
14 January
List of shipwrecks: 14 January 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Taxiarchis
|
Greece
|
The cargo ship ran aground at Redcar, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. All 37 crew rescued.[7]
|
17 January
20 January
22 January
24 January
28 January
February
1 February
11 February
12 February
13 February
List of shipwrecks: 13 February 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Paolina
|
United States
|
The 60.39-gross register ton, 32.3-foot (9.8 m) fishing vessel was lost in the vicinity of Nantucket Lightship ( United States) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. Paolina was last heard from by radio at about 7:00 P.M. on 12 February 1952. At that time it was established vessel had on board about 30,000 pounds of mixed fish and was about 32 miles (51 km) south-southwest of Nantucket Lightship and was planning to head for New Bedford, Massachusetts at midnight to arrive on 13 February to make the 14 February fish market. The U.S. Coast Guard was first notified at 9:15 A.M. on 15 February that Paolina was overdue. An extensive U.S.Coast Guard surface and air search took place until abandoned on the morning of 18 February, due to a bad northeast storm, the improbability of Paolina being afloat, and the need for the services of Coast Guard resources in connection with the then-ongoing operations off Chatham, Massachusetts involving the tankers Fort Mercer and Pendleton.[16]
|
15 February
18 February
19 February
25 February
March
3 March
12 March
21 March
List of shipwrecks: 21 March 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Lepar
|
Netherlands
|
The Design 381 cargo ship burned off Djambi after an explosion.[25]
|
22 March
List of shipwrecks: 22 March 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Leok
|
Netherlands
|
The Design 381 class cargo ship caught fire, burned in the River Siak near Pakan Baru.[26]
|
April
3 April
5 April
13 April
23 April
26 April
Unknown date
May
4 May
List of shipwrecks: 4 May 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Heathery Brae
|
United Kingdom
|
The 86-foot (26 m), 90-ton salvage vessel was engaged in salvage work over the wreck of Clarrie ( United Kingdom), wrecked in 1921, off Bordeaux harbour, Guernsey Channel Islands. Timed explosive charges were placed on the wreck but she could not move clear in time and was severely damaged by the explosion. She launched her lifeboat and the four crew pulled clear before the vessel foundered.[32][33][34][35]
|
7 May
8 May
10 May
11 May
12 May
15 May
20 May
21 May
30 May
June
3 June
5 June
27 June
30 June
July
6 July
10 July
12 July
List of shipwrecks: 12 July 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
Lompoc, and Victor H. Kelly
|
United States
|
The tanker Victor H. Kelly caught fire at Oleum, California and exploded, setting fire to the T2 tanker Lompoc. Victory H. Kelly consequently sank. Lompoc was later repaired and returned to service. Victor H. Kelly was declared a constructive total loss, but was sold and converted to a bulk carrier, returning to service as Spruce Woods.
|
14 July
22 July
25 July
Unknown date
August
1 August
3 August
5 August
6 August
List of shipwrecks: 6 August 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| HDMS Y 340
|
Royal Danish Navy
|
The cutter collided with the ferry Broen ( Denmark) and sank in the Nyborg Fjord. Later salvaged, repaired, and returned to service.[64]
|
8 August
List of shipwrecks: 8 August 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Ariana
|
Finland
|
The cargo ship ran aground in the Scheldt, Belgium and broke in two.[65]
|
10 August
15 August
17 August
20 August
List of shipwrecks: 20 August 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Magnolia
|
United Kingdom
|
The 125.3-foot (38.2 m), 259.76-ton fishing trawler sprung a leak in heavy swells 45 miles (72 km) northeast of the Spurn Lightship on 19 August. She was later taken under tow by the trawler Rose of England ( United Kingdom). Nineteen hours later on 20 August she suddenly foundered with the loss of three of her crew. Survivors were rescued by Rose of England.[69][70][71]
|
| Western Farmer
|
United States
|
The Liberty ship collided with the tanker Bjorgholm ( Norway) near the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom and broke in two. Her crew were rescued by the Dover and Ramsgate lifeboats.[69][72]
|
28 August
Unknown date
September
1 September
4 September
5 September
7 September
9 September
15 September
19 September
22 September
23 September
List of shipwrecks: 23 September 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Joacosta
|
Portugal
|
The three-masted sailing trawler sank in the Atlantic 56 nautical miles (104 km) north of Saõ Miguel Island, Azores. Twelve crew were rescued by Compass ( United States). Thirty five were rescued by Steel Executive ( United States) and the remaining 27 were rescued by Henriette Schulee ( West Germany).[83][84]
|
24 September
25 September
28 September
29 September
List of shipwrecks: 29 September 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Crusader
|
United Kingdom
|
Piloted on Loch Ness in Scotland by John Cobb in an attempt to set a new world water speed record, the jet-powered speedboat struck a wake at an estimated speed of 210 miles per hour (340 km/h) and disintegrated, killing Cobb, whose body was thrown 50 yards (46 m).[87] The boat′s wreckage was discovered on 5 July 2002 on the bottom of Loch Ness at a depth of 200 metres (656 ft).[88]
|
30 September
Unknown date
October
1 October
2 October
3 October
4 October
5 October
List of shipwrecks: 5 October 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Braconlea
|
United Kingdom
|
The 115.5-foot (35.2 m), 200-ton trawler foundered 170 miles (270 km) south of Iceland. Five crew were killed while the survivors were rescued by an Icelandic trawler.[94][71]
|
8 October
List of shipwrecks: 8 October 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Heemskerk
|
Netherlands
|
The cargo ship ran aground at Osthammar, Sweden and was damaged. Later refloated and towed into Oregrund.[95]
|
11 October
18 October
23 October
List of shipwrecks: 23 October 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Loch Lomond
|
United Kingdom
|
The 131-foot (40 m), 310-ton trawler bottomed in the harbour in heavy swells at Aberdeen damaging her rudder. She was then swept onto the apron of the North Pier and wrecked. She was declared a total loss and broken up in place.[98][99]
|
| Wyre Law
|
United Kingdom
|
The 135.2-foot (41.2 m), 313-ton trawler was wrecked on rocks in Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis.[100]
|
November
4 November
5 November
6 November
List of shipwrecks: 6 November 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Antioche II
|
France
|
The out of service trawler, a sold off Castle-class trawler, while being towed to the breakers yard, broke loose and stranded on the Isle D'Quessant. Scrapped in place.[102][103]
|
| Faustus
|
Panama
|
The cargo ship ran aground north of Hook of Holland, South Holland, Netherlands. Her 26 crew were rescued by Jan Lels ( Netherlands). Faustus was driven through the breakwater and sank the following day. She was on a voyage from the Hampton Roads, Virginia, United States to Rotterdam, South Holland.[104][105]
|
| Bakir
|
Turkey
|
The cargo ship ran aground off Ameland, Netherlands.[104]
|
| Sac Badalone
|
Spain
|
The cargo ship ran aground off the Wadden Islands, Netherlands.[104]
|
18 November
21 November
24 November
Unknown date
December
3 December
10 December
11 December
15 December
17 December
18 December
21 December
22 December
23 December
24 December
List of shipwrecks: 24 December 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Virginia
|
Panama
|
The cargo ship ran aground off Atherfield, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. Refloated on 23 January 1953, but declared a constructive total loss and subsequently scrapped.[125][126]
|
27 December
List of shipwrecks: 27 December 1952
| Ship |
State |
Description
|
| Merino
|
Australia
|
The 550-ton interstate cargo ship, owned by L. W. Smith Pty. Ltd., Launceston, ran aground in Wineglass Bay, Swansea, Tasmania, Australia.[127]
|
28 December
29 December
Unknown date
References
- ^ "Fire in Ship's Hold". The Times. No. 52207. London. 12 January 1952. col. F, p. 6.
- ^ "British Ship Aground". The Times. No. 52208. London. 14 January 1952. col. E, p. 4.
- ^ "untitled". The Times. No. 52246. London. 27 February 1952. col. D, p. 3.
- ^ "Shipping in Distress". The Times. No. 52212. London. 18 January 1952. col. F, p. 4.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (C)
- ^ a b "1946-62". St. Ives Trust. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
- ^ "Crew Rescued From Sinking Ship". The Times. No. 52214. London. 21 January 1952. col. F, p. 5.
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 52217. London. 24 January 1952. col. C, p. 2.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Damage in Fiji Islands". The Times. No. 52221. London. 29 January 1952. col. F, p. 3.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (N)
- ^ "Tug's Vain Attempt To Save German Ship". The Times. No. 52233. London. 12 February 1952. col. D, p. 3.
- ^ a b c alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (D)
- ^ Marine Board of Investigation into disappearance of fishing vessel PAOLINA with all persons on board, off Atlantic Coast, 13 February 1952, P. A. Overden, Chief, Merchant Vessel Inspection Division, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (K)
- ^ "Cracks in Ship's Deck". The Times. No. 52239. London. 19 February 1952. p. 4B.
- ^ "American Shipping Casualties". The Times. No. 52240. London. 20 February 1952. col. G, p. 9.
- ^ "Crew Fight Storm For Seven Days". The Times. No. 52241. London. 21 February 1952. p. 6.
- ^ "Pendleton". Hunting New England Shipwrecks. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Blizzard in U.S.". The Times. No. 52240. London. 20 February 1952. col. G, p. 4.
- ^ "Damaged U.S. Freighter Calls For Aid". The Times. No. 52250. London. 3 March 1952. col. C, p. 4.
- ^ "Cunard Liner Aground". The Times. No. 52259. London. 13 March 1952. col. E, p. 3.
- ^ "Lepar (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Leok (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Liberty Ships – A". Mariners. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Ship Aground Near Tokyo". The Times. No. 52287. London. 16 April 1952. col. F, p. 6.
- ^ "British Ship Sinks in Scheldt Collision". The Times. No. 52294. London. 24 April 1952. col. C, p. 3.
- ^ a b "The Orcades Aground". The Times. No. 52305. London. 7 May 1952. col. C, p. 6.
- ^ "SS Heathery Brae (+1952)". wrecksite.eu.
- ^ Yves Dufiel (2008), Dictionnaire des naufrages dans la Manche
- ^ "S. T. Heathery Brae M170". fleetwood-trawlers. 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Clarrie (+1921)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ Castrillón, Ernesto G; Casabal, Luis (20 October 2002). "Rio Santa Cruz". La Nación (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ "Stranding of H.M.S. Tenacious". The Times. No. 52360. London. 10 July 1952. col. E, p. 3.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (L)
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (M)
- ^ "LIBERTY SHIPS - G". Mariners List. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "70,000 Gallons of Petrol in Flames". The Times. No. 52313. London. 16 May 1952. col. C, p. 5.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (E)
- ^ a b "Liberty Ships – N - O". Mariners. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Perseusz (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ "S. T. Nautilus O160". fleetwood-trawlers. 11 October 2025.
- ^ "Fighter Crashes on British Launch". The Times. No. 52331. London. 6 June 1952. col. F, p. 5.
- ^ a b c alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (A)
- ^ "Liberty Ships – E". Mariners. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ "Mahenge (2245475)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "British Ship Reported Sunk in Typhoon". The Times. No. 52357. London. 7 July 1952. col. A, p. 3.
- ^ "Ships in Collision in Fog". The Times. No. 52361. London. 11 July 1952. col. C, p. 3.
- ^ a b c alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (S)
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (I)
- ^ "Mystery of Danish Ship". The Times. No. 52373. London. 25 July 1952. col. B, p. 5.
- ^ a b c alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (W)
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (H)
- ^ "Torpedo Explosion at Boulogne". The Times. No. 52380. London. 2 August 1952. col. F, p. 4.
- ^ a b alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (P)
- ^ a b "Sea Accidents and Losses". Danish Naval History. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "Stranded Finnish Ship Breaks in Two". The Times. No. 52386. London. 9 August 1952. col. D, p. 3.
- ^ "Week-end Gale And Floods". The Times. No. 52387. London. 11 August 1952. col. A, p. 3.
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 52407. London. 3 September 1952. col. C, p. 7.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (F)
- ^ a b "U.S. Ship Breaks Up Near Goodwins". The Times. No. 52396. London. 21 August 1952. col. F, p. 4.
- ^ "Magnolia (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ a b "S. T. Magnolia GY482". fleetwood-trawlers. 12 October 2025.
- ^ "Efforts To Save U.S. Ship's Cargo". The Times. No. 52398. London. 25 August 1952. col. G, p. 4.
- ^ "USS Magpie II (YMS-400)". Naval heritage & History Command. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Democratic People's Republic of Korea Naval Battles". Sovietempire.com. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "USS Sarsi (ATF-111)". NavSource. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ Toda, Gengoro S. "第百九十四號驅潜特務艇の艦歴 (No. 194 submarine chaser - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy -Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese).
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 52408. London. 4 September 1952. col. D, p. 2.
- ^ wrecksite.eu SS Foundation Star
- ^ "Ninety Drowned in Danube". The Times. No. 52413. London. 10 September 1952. col. C, p. 4.
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 52432. London. 2 October 1952. col. D, p. 4.
- ^ "80 Missing From Sailing Ship". The Times. No. 52430. London. 30 September 1952. col. E, p. 6.
- ^ "Crew of Portuguese Trawler Rescued". The Times. No. 52430. London. 1 October 1952. col. G, p. 6.
- ^ "bayonnaise Rocks Volcano" at volcanodiscovery.com (Retrieved 10 October 2012)
- ^ "Loss of La Sibylle". The Times. No. 52429. London. 29 September 1952. col. C, p. 8.
- ^ Pathe Newsreel report of the crash, September 1952. Published on YouTube 18 June 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYrafKbTqV4
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "'Crusader', remains of speedboat in Loch Ness, near Achnahannet (SM11070)". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Shipping Lost in September". The Times. No. 52441. London. 13 October 1952. col. C, p. 10.
- ^ "Vessel Breaks Back on Mud Bank". The Times. No. 52432. London. 2 October 1952. col. D, p. 6.
- ^ "Dutch Ship Sinks in Channel". The Times. No. 52433. London. 3 October 1952. col. C, p. 4.
- ^ Gardiner, Robert, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1947–1982 Part I: The Western Powers, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1983, ISBN 0870219189, p. 139.
- ^ "Sardius II (+1918)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ "Crew of Dutch Ship Rescued". The Times. No. 52438. London. 9 October 1952. col. C, p. 5.
- ^ a b "Chinese Naval Battles (Civil War and later) (redone)". Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (T)
- ^ "Loch Lomond (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ "S. T. Lune FD59". fleetwood-trawlers. 13 October 2025.
- ^ "Wyre Law (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Four Rescued From Sinking Yacht". The Times. No. 52461. London. 5 November 1952. col. G, p. 8.
- ^ "Antioche II (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "S. T. Clixby GY180". fleetwood-trawlers. 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b c "Ship Sunk During Gale". The Times. No. 52464. London. 8 November 1952. col. F, p. 6.
- ^ De schipbreuk van de 'Faustus' bij Hoek van Holland [the Shipwreck of the 'Faustus' off Hook of Holland] (in Dutch). Polygoon Hollands Nieuws. 7 November 1952. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "SS Home (+1952)".
- ^ "Tugs photos". Loucas G Matsos. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 52472. London. 18 November 1952. col. B, p. 3.
- ^ "Euroland (6106536)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Helicopter Rescue From Gunboat". The Times. No. 52486. London. 4 December 1952. col. D, p. 8.
- ^ "German Tanker Sinks". The Times. No. 52492. London. 11 December 1952. col. A, p. 6.
- ^ "Escapes From Sinking Ship". The Times. No. 52493. London. 12 December 1952. col. E, p. 8.
- ^ "Liberty Ships – J to Ji". Mariners. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Merchant ships totally lost, broken up, ect., 31 March- 14 September, 1953" (PDF). lloyds-production.s3.amazonaws.com. 20 November 2025.
- ^ "Melanie Schulte (+1952)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ^ "Rescuer". Papahānaumokuākea Maritime National Monument. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Liner Aground Off Beirut". The Times. No. 52502. London. 23 December 1952. col. E, p. 6.
- ^ "Wrecked Liner Abandoned". The Times. No. 52503. London. 24 December 1952. col. C, p. 6.
- ^ "Effort To Refloat Finnish Ship". The Times. No. 52502. London. 23 December 1952. col. E, p. 6.
- ^ "Finnish Cargo Ship Refloated". The Times. No. 52506. London. 30 December 1952. col. C, p. 2.
- ^ "Visitors to Mount's Bay. The Last days of HMS WARSPITE". Hearts of Oak. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "British Ship Aground in Rotterdam Canal". The Times. No. 52503. London. 24 December 1952. col. C, p. 6.
- ^ "Virginia (2215715)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Hope of Salving Finnish Ship". The Times. No. 52504. London. 27 December 1952. col. D, p. 2.
- ^ "Art Treasures From Stranded Ship". The Times. No. 52509. London. 2 January 1952. col. E, p. 6.
- ^ "U.S. Freighter Refloated". The Times. No. 52505. London. 29 December 1952. col. D, p. 2.
- ^ "Admiral Byrd's Flagship". The Times. No. 52507. London. 31 December 1952. col. D, p. 5.
- ^ "Vessel Aground Off Guernsey". The Times. No. 52506. London. 30 December 1952. col. F, p. 5.
- ^ a b "U.S. Army Coastal Freighters (F, FS) Built During WWII". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland OR". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Levant II ~ Cable Ship / Cable Layer". Subway Dive Centre. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Merchant ships totally lost, broken up, ect., 31 March- 14 September, 1953" (PDF). lloyds-production.s3.amazonaws.com. 21 November 2025.
Sources
- Chernyshev, Alexander Alekseevich (2012). Погибли без боя. Катастрофы русских кораблей XVIII–XX вв [They died without a fight. Catastrophes of Russian ships of the XVIII-XX centuries] (in Russian). Veche.
- Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant Ships 1939. London: Chatham House. ISBN 1-86176-023-X.
- Lane, Anthony (2009). Shipwrecks of Kent. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-1720-2.
- Larn, Richard; Larn, Bridget (2006). Wreck & Rescue round the Cornish coast. Redruth: Tor Mark Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-85025-406-8.
- Mitchell, WH; Sawyer, LA (1990). The Empire Ships (Second ed.). London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. 193. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- Sawyer, L. A.; Mitchell, W. H. (1974). Victory Ships and Tankers. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN 0 7153 6036 1.
- Sawyer, L. A.; Mitchell, W. H. (1985). The Liberty Ships (2nd ed.). London: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 1-85044-049-2.
- Thompson, Michael; Newton, Dave; Robinson, Richard; Lofthouse, Tony (1999). Cook, Welton & Gemmell. Beverley: Hutton Press. ISBN 1-902709-02-0.