Passenger ships lost in WW2 as a result of enemy action

Here is a list of large passenger ships lost over WW2 as a result of enemy action.

Hostilities – World War 2
This includes all large passenger ships (10,000 tons and over) that were lost as a result of hostilities during the
Second World War. It excludes passenger ships that were lost during the war from causes other than hostilities. It also excludes passenger ships that were lost after they had been converted into armed merchant cruisers, or other types of vessel. It does however, include passenger ships acting as troop ships and hospital ships.

World War 2
The world passenger ship fleet suffered the loss of 144 vessels through hostilities during in the six years of the
Second World War. This was more than the entire peacetime losses for all reasons in a century. A further 30
passenger ships that were converted into naval vessels were either sunk, or retained for military duties. Over
three times as many large passenger ships were lost in World War 2 than were sunk in the four years of World War 1

1. The main reasons for this carnage were: -

a.. The much greater geographical spread of hostilities in WW2 

b.. In WW1 passenger ship losses were largely confined to the Allies; in WW2 both sides suffered 

c.. Aircraft joined submarines as the major attackers. Once again surface warships were largely irrelevant as predators on the merchant fleets.

d.. Many more passenger liners played an active part in directly transporting troops to the battlefields and rescuing refugees from hostilities 

e.. Many passenger ships were sunk in home ports during air raids

f.. Germany’s conquest of most of continental Europe provided an effective launch pad for submarine and aircraft attacks on ships in the Atlantic and Mediterranean 

g.. Japan’s failure to organise a defence against US submarine attacks, resulted in the loss of all bar one ship in its passenger vessel fleet 

h.. The destructive effect of advances in military technology 

i.. From 1941 onwards Germany carried out unrestricted attacks on passenger vessels


Empress of Britain ablaze off Ireland.


A pre-war photograph of the German cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff in Hamburg.
Astern of her is the liner Cap Arcona.
Both ships were sunk in 1945 with a combined loss of over 16,000 lives.

During the war the Allies lost 15,619,853 GRT of merchant shipping of all types. Japan lost 8,141,591 GRT of its
shipping. The intensity of the submarine war can be gauged from the following statistics: -

Germany commissioned 1,149 U-boats plus 21 captured units, giving a total of 1,170, compared with 343 in WW1. During WW2 630 U-boats were lost in action, 81 were lost in harbour because of air attacks, 42 lost in
accidents, 38 were written-off because of severe damage and 11 were interned or taken over by other countries
(including 4 by Japan). The total losses were therefore 802, leaving 368 survivors, of which 215 were scuttled
at the end of the war on the orders of Admiral Dönitz.

USA commissioned 262 submarines of which 52 were lost. US submarines were largely employed in a highly
successful campaign against Japan. The US submarine construction programme was wound down towards the end of
the war, as there were virtually no Japanese ships left in service.

USSR had 210 submarines in service at the outbreak of the war, but only completed a further 29 during the war because its shipyards were captured by Germany. During the war USSR lost 109 boats.

UK commissioned 220 submarines and lost 75.

Italy commissioned 172 submarines and lost 82.

Large Passenger Ships sunk in World War 2

Lost Name when Lost Name when Built Owner when Lost Built GRT Casualties
1939 Athenia Athenia Donaldson 1923 13,465 112
1939 Yorkshire Yorkshire Bibby 1920 10,184 58
1939 Columbus Columbus North German Lloyd 1922 32,354 0
1939 Bretagne Flandria CGT 1922 10,108 7
1939 Terukuni Maru Terukuni Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1930 11,930 0
1939 Canada Canada East Asiatic 1935 11,108 0
1939 Pilsudski Pilsudski Gdynia-America 1935 14,294 10
1940 Aeneas Aeneas Blue Funnel 1910 10,049 19
1940 Remuera Remuera NZSC 1911 11,276 0
1940 Roturoa Shropshire NZSC 1911 11,911 20
1940 Niagara Niagara Union SS Co 1913 13,415 0
1940 Patria Patria Messageries Maritimes 1914 11,885 279
1940 Mexique Lafayette CGT 1915 11,953 0
1940 Vandyke Vandyke Lamport & Holt 1921 13,233 7
1940 Ville de Bruges Lone Star State Soc Maritime Anversoise 1922 13,869 3
1940 Lancastria Tyrrhenia Cunard 1922 16,243 3,000+
1940 Sardegna Sierra Ventana Lloyd Triestino 1923 11,392 ?
1940 Foucauld Hoedic Chargeurs Reunnis 1923 11,028 0
1940 Brazza Camranh Chargeurs Reunnis 1924 10,193 0
1940 Orama Orama Orient 1924 19,840 20
1940 Carinthia Carinthia Cunard 1925 20,277 4
1940 Commissaire Ramel Commissaire Ramel Messageries Maritimes 1926 10,061 3
1940 Orford Orford Orient 1928 20,043 14
1940 Albertville Albertville Cie Maritime Belge 1928 11,047 0
1940 Statendam Statendam Holland America 1929 28,291 0
1940 Rangitane Rangitane NZSC 1929 16,712 16
1940 Western Prince Western Prince Furness, Withy 1929 10,926 16
1940 Dunbar Castle Dunbar Castle Union-Castle 1930 10,002 9
1940 Empress of Britain Empress of Britain Canadian Pacific 1931 42,348 49
1940 Victoria Victoria Lloyd Triestino 1931 13,098 249
1940 Champlain Champlain CGT 1932 28,124 0
1940 Highland Patriot Highland Patriot Royal Mail 1932 14,157 3
1940 Dunvegan Castle Dunvegan Castle Union-Castle 1936 15,007 27
1940 City of Benares City of Benares Ellerman 1936 11,081 248
1940 Oslofjord Oslofjord Norwegian America 1938 18,673 0
1941 Chrobry Chrobry Gdynia-America 1939 11,442 12
1941 Anchises Anchises Blue Funnel 1911 10,046 12
1941 Ixion Ixion Blue Funnel 1912 10,221 0
1941 Katori Maru Katori Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1913 10,513 0
1941 Liguria Melita Lloyd Triestino 1918 15,183 0
1941 California Albania Lloyd Triestino 1920 12,951 0
1941 Oropesa Oropesa PSNC 1920 14,072 113
1941 Calchas Calchas Blue Funnel 1921 10,304 31
1941 Esperia Esperia Adriatica 1921 11,398 31
1941 Pennland Pittsburg Holland America 1922 16,332 4
1941 Conte Rosso Conte Rosso Italia 1922 17,856 1,212
1941 City of Nagpur City of Nagpur Ellerman 1922 10,146 14
1941 Slamat Slamat Rotterdam Lloyd 1924 11,636 650
1941 Colombo Colombo Lloyd Triestino 1924 11,762 0
1941 Almeda Star Almeda Blue Star 1926 14,953 360
1941 Northern Prince Northern Prince Furness, Withy 1929 10,917 0
1941 Europa Europa East Asiatic 1931 10,224 0
1941 Dnepr Cabo San Agustin Soviet State Shipping 1931 11,868 40
1941 Neptunia Neptunia Italia 1932 19,475 192
1941 Oceania Oceania Italia 1933 19,507 192
1942 Savoie Araguaya CGT 1906 10,196 0
1942 Tayio Maru Cap Finisterre Nippon Yusen KK 1911 14,503 817
1942 Ulysses Ulysses Blue Funnel 1913 14,499 0
1942 Empress of Asia Empress of Asia Canadian Pacific 1913 16,909 19
1942 Ceramic Ceramic Shaw, Savil & Albion 1913 18,481 655
1942 Porthos Porthos Messageries Maritimes 1915 12,633 0
1942 Subiaco Sphinx Messageries Maritimes 1915 11,375 0
1942 Narkunda Narkunda P&O 1920 16,118 31
1942 Laconia Laconia Cunard 1922 19,680 1,649
1942 Tilawa Tilawa British India 1924 10,006 280
1942 Monte Sarmiento Monte Sarmiento Hamburg-South America 1924 13,625 0
1942 Oronsay Oronsay Orient 1925 20,043 5
1942 Llandaff Castle Llandaff Castle Union-Castle 1926 10,786 3
1942 Andalucia Star Andalucia Blue Star 1927 14,943 7
1942 Avila Star Avila Blue Star 1927 14,443 62
1942 Duchess of Athol Duchess of Athol Canadian Pacific 1928 20,119 4
1942 Nieuw Zeeland Nieuw Zeeland KPM 1928 11,069 15
1942 Viceroy of India Viceroy of India P&O 1929 19,627 4
1942 Warwick Castle Warwick Castle Union-Castle 1931 20,107 63
1942 President Coolidge President Coolidge Dollar 1931 21,936 5
1942 President Doumer President Doumer Messageries Maritimes 1933 11,898 260
1942 Jagersfontein Jagersfontein Holland Africa 1934 10,077 0
1942 Abosso Abosso Elder Dempster 1935 11,330 137
1942 Awatea Awatea Union SS Co 1936 13,482 0
1942 Orcades Orcades Orient 1937 23,456 48
1942 Ettrick Ettrick P&O 1938 11,279 24
1942 Strathallan Strathallan P&O 1938 23,722 11
1942 Zaandam Zaandam Holland America 1938 10,909 135
1942 Brazil Maru Brazil Maru Osaka Shosen 1939 12,733 366
1943 Kasima Maru Kashima Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1913 10,599 ?
1943 Suwa Maru Suwa Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1914 10,927 ?
1943 Husimi Maru Fushimi Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1914 10,940 ?
1943 Lombardia Brabantia Lloyd Triestino 1920 19,692 0
1943 Piemonte Minnedosa Lloyd Triestino 1918 15,186 0
1943 Windsor Castle Windsor Castle Union-Castle 1922 19,141 1
1943 California California Anchor 1923 16,792 46
1943 Empress of Canada Empress of Canada Canadian Pacific 1922 21,517 392
1943 Hakone Maru Hakone Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1921 10,423 ?
1943 General Artigas Westphalia Hamburg-South America 1923 11,254 0
1943 Stuttgart Stuttgart North German Lloyd 1924 13,387 ?
1943 Teibi Maru Bernardin de Saint Pierre Japanese 1926 10,268 ?
1943 Duchess of York Duchess of York Canadian Pacific 1929 20,021 11
1943 Tatuta Maru Tatsuta Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1930 16,975 1,400
1943 Kamakura Maru Chichibu Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1930 17,526 ?
1943 Hie Maru Hiye Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1930 11,622 ?
1943 Marnix van St Aldegonde Marnix van St Aldegonde Nederland 1930 19,355 ?
1943 Strasburg Baloeran Rotterdam Lloyd 1930 17,001 ?
1943 Amerika Amerika East Asiatic 1930 10,218 86
1943 Conte di Savoia Conte di Savoia Italia 1932 48,502 ?
1943 Gneisenau Gneisenau North German Lloyd 1935 18,160 ?
1944 Giulio Cesare Giulio Cesare Italia 1922 21,900 0
1944 Dulio Duilo Italia 1923 24,281 0
1943 Conte Verde Conte Verde Lloyd Triestino 1923 18,765 0
1944 Perseus Perseus Blue Funnel 1923 10,276 0
1944 Hakusan Maru Hakusan Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1923 10,380 ?
1944 Mariette Pacha Mariette Pacha Messageries Maritimes 1925 12,239 0
1944 Teiko Maru D’Artagnan Japanese? 1925 15,105 ?
1944 Explorateur Grandidier Explorateur Grandidier Messageries Maritimes 1925 10,268 0
1944 Teibe Maru Bernardine de St Pierre Japanese? 1926 10,268 ?
1944 Virgilio Virgilio Italia 1928 11,718 0
1944 Leopoldville Leopoldville Cie Maritime Belge 1929 11,509 763
1944 Asama Maru Asama Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1929 16,975 ?
1944 Heien Maru Heien Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1930 11,616 ?
1944 Yasukuni Maru Yakusuni Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1930 11,930 ?
1944 Monte Pascole Monte Pascole Hamburg-South America 1931 13,870 0
1944 Jean Laborde Jean Laborde Messageries Maritimes 1931 11,414 0
1944 Dempo Dempo Rotterdam Lloyd 1931 17,024 0
1944 Teia Maru Aramis Japanese? 1932 17,537 ?
1944 Rex Rex Italia 1932 51,062 ?
1944 Lindau Baudouiville German Africa Lines 1939 13,761 ?
1944 Aikoku Maru Aikoku Maru Osaka Shosun 1940 10,437 ?
1944 Sabaudia Stockholm Italia 1941 29,307 0
1944 Gokoku Maru Gokoku Maru Osaka Shosun 1941 10,438 ?
1944 Miike Maru Miike Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1941 11,739 18
1944 Aki Maru Aki Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1941 11,409 41
1945 Transbalt Belgravia Far East State Shipping 1899 11,397 5
1945 Hakozaki Maru Hakozaki Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1922 10,413 ?
1945 Cuba Cuba CGT 1923 11,420 0
1945 Steuben München North German Lloyd 1923 14,690 3,608
1945 Deutschland Deutschland HAPAG 1923 21,046 ?
1945 Monte Olivia Monte Olivia Hamburg-South America 1925 13,750 ?
1945 New York New York HAPAG 1927 22,337 ?
1945 Cap Arcona Cap Arcona Hamburg-South America 1927 27,560 5,000
1945 Christiaan Huygens Christiaan Huygens Nederland 1928 15,637 1
1945 General Osorio General Osorio Hamburg-South America 1929 11,500 ?
1945 Hamburg Hamburg HAPAG 1926 22,117 ?
1945 Wilhelm Gustloff Wilhelm Gustloff Hamburg-South America 1938 25,484 9,400
1945 Robert Ley Robert Ley HAPAG 1939 27,288 0
1945 Awa Maru Awa Maru Nippon Yusan KK 1943 11,249 2,003

Note: Ships are grouped in the above table by the year of their loss; they are not arranged in chronological order of sinking within each year. The “Casualties” figures in the table are in many cases not available or are merely approximate numbers.

The U-Boat Captain Lempe who sank the liner Athenia on day one of WW2. remained in the German submarine service and went on to be promoted to the rank of Kapitänleutnant. He was awarded the Iron Cross (First Class) in January 1940 and the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in August of that year.


Kapitänleutnant Lemp & Admiral Dönitz

 Lemp lost his life when in command of U-110, which was  captured on 9 May 1941 south of Iceland by the destroyers HMS Bulldog, HMS Broadway and the corvette HMS Aubretia. After being forced to the surface by depth charges,  and then shelled, Lemp ordered the crew to abandon ship but was not among the 34 survivors rescued by the British warships.


Cunard liner Lancastria.


City of India sinking off Oran.


 I must acknowledge my debt to URL:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/guides/Passenger_Ship_Disasters_-_Part_7 for a great deal of this information.


   

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