List of shipwrecks in December 1943

The list of shipwrecks in December 1943 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during December 1943.

1 December

 * SS Konei Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean by USS Peto (SS-265).

2 December

 * ITALIAN MINESWEEPER Ardito : World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The minesweeper was bombed and sunk at Bari, Italy by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Aube (1920) (🇫🇷 France): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * ITALIAN AUXILIARY CRUISER Barletta : World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The auxiliary cruiser was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Bollsta (1924) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of five of her 30 crew. She was raised in 1948, repaired and entered Italian service as Stefano M.
 * SS Cassala ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship bombed and damaged at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was declared a constructive total loss.
 * SS Corfu (1907) ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship bombed and damaged at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was declared a constructive total loss.
 * MV Devon Coast : World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The coaster was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Fort Athabasca (🇨🇦 Canada): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Fort ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Fort Lajoie (🇨🇦 Canada): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Fort ship was bombed and sunk by the Luftwaffe at Bari.
 * SS Frosinone ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Genespesca II ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Goggiam ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship bombed and damaged at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was declared a constructive total loss.
 * Inaffondabile ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The schooner was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS John Bascom (🇺🇸 United States):World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Liberty ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. The wreck was scrapped in 1948.
 * SS John Harvey (🇺🇸 United States): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Liberty ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. The wreck was scrapped in 1948.
 * SS John L. Motley (🇺🇸 United States):World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Liberty ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Joseph Wheeler (🇺🇸 United States): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Liberty ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. The wreck was scrapped in 1948.
 * SS Lars Kruse : World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * USS LCT-242 (LCT-242) : World War II: The Landing Craft, Tank was torpedoed and sunk off Naples, Italy.
 * SS Lom (1920) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of four of her 32 crew.
 * SS Luciano Orlando ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Lwów (🇵🇱 Poland): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * MB 10 13 : World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The boat was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Norlom (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was refloated in November 1946 and scrapped at Bari in 1947.
 * SS Porto Pisano ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The coaster was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Puck (🇵🇱 Poland): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Samuel J. Tilden (🇺🇸 United States): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The Liberty ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft. The wreck was scrapped in 1948.
 * SS Testbank : World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.
 * SS Volodda ( undefined): World War II: Air Raid on Bari: The cargo ship bombed and sunk at Bari by Luftwaffe aircraft.

3 December

 * SS Azuma Maru : World War II: The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Molucca Passage by USS Tinosa (SS-283).
 * SS Touchet : World War II: The Type T2-SE-A2 tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico (25.83333°N, -86.5°W) by GS U-193 with the loss of ten of her 80 crew. Survivors were rescued by USS Falgout (DE-234), USS Raven (AM-55) (both ) and SS Lillemor (🇳🇴 Norway).

4 December

 * JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Chūyō : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean by USS Sailfish (SS-192).
 * SS Daido Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean by USS Apogon (SS-308).
 * SS Hiyoshi Maru (1937) : World War II: The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean east of Honshū (29.6°N, 145.9°W) by USS Gunnel (SS-253).
 * SS Kembu Maru (1942) : The cargo ship was sunk at Kwajalein Atoll by aircraft based on USS Lexington (CV-16).
 * SS Libertad (🇨🇺 Cuba): World War II: Convoy KN 280: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (34.5°N, -74.56667°W) by GS U-129 (1941) with the loss of 25 of her 43 crew. Survivors were rescued by the convoy escorts, including USS Natchez (PF-2).

5 December

 * SS Hinteno Maru : World War II: The coaster was shelled and sunk in Alajacar Bay by USS Narwhal (SS-167).

8 December

 * MV Colombia (1939) (🇵🇦 Panama): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Caribbean 20 nmi north of San Blas Point (9.83333°N, -78.91667°W) by GS U-516 with the loss of four of her 27 crew.
 * HMT Rysa : World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean off La Maddelena, Sicily, Italy with the loss of eighteen of her nineteen crew.
 * SS Sansei Maru : World War II: The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Sea of Japan by USS Sawfish (SS-276).

9 December

 * SS Cap Padaran : World War II: Convoy HA 11: The troopship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean north east of Cape Spartivento, Italy (39.25°N, 17.5°W) by GS U-596 with the loss of five of her 197 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMT Sheppey (T292).

11 December

 * SS Lynghaug (1919, Wallace) (🇳🇴 Norway): The cargo ship ran aground at Preston, Lancashire. She was refloated, but later declared a constructive total loss.
 * HMS Cuckmere (K299) : World War II: Convoy KMS 34: The was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean off Bougie, Algeria with the loss of sixteen crew. She was towed into Algiers but was declared a total loss.

12 December

 * HMS Holcombe (L56) : World War II: Convoy KMS 34: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean off Bougie, Algeria (37.33333°N, 5.5°W) by GS U-593 with the loss of 84 of her 164 crew. Survivors were rescued by USS Niblack (DD-424).
 * SS Tosei Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Flores Sea by USS Tuna (SS-203).
 * HMS Tynedale (L96) : World War II: Convoy KMS 34: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Jijel, Algeria (37.16667°N, 6.08333°W) by GS U-593  with the loss of 73 of her 155 crew. Survivors were rescued by ST Hengist  and HMS Hyderabad (K212).
 * SS Valery Chkalov ( Soviet Union): World War II: The Liberty ship broke in two in the Pacific Ocean (54.36667°N, 164.06667°W). Both sections were salvaged and the ship was repaired and returned to service.

13 December

 * SS Friedrich Bischoff (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Bremen by Royal Air Force aircraft. She was later salvaged, repaired and returned to service.
 * GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT T-15 : World War II: The torpedo boat was bombed and sunk by aircraft while docked at the Deutsche Werke yard in Kiel, Germany.
 * SS Totai Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean south of Kyushu by USS Sailfish (SS-192).
 * GS U-172 : World War II: The Type IXC submarine was depth charged and sunk by Grumman TBF Avenger and Grumman F4F Wildcat aircraft based on USS Bogue (CVE-9) and also by USS Clemson (DD-186). USS Du Pont (DD-152), USS George E. Badger (DD-196) and USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255) (all ) with the loss of thirteen of her 59 crew.
 * GS U-391 : World War II: The German Type VIIC submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Bay of Biscay north west of Cape Ortegal, Spain (45.75°N, -9.63333°W) by a Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft of 53 Squadron, Royal Air Force with the loss of all 51 crew.
 * GS U-593 : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was depth charged, shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean north of Algiers, Algeria (37.63333°N, 5.96667°W) by HMS Calpe (L71) and USS Wainwright (DD-419) . All 51 crew survived and were rescued by USS Wainwright.

14 December

 * SS Hakozaki Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean by USS Herring (SS-233).
 * USS PT-239 (PT-239) : World War II: PT Boat burned in Lambu Lambu Cove, Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands (7.7°N, 156.78333°W),.

15 December

 * SS Borgsten (1921) (🇳🇴 Norway): The cargo ship collided with SS Pinguin (🇩🇪 Germany) and sank off Bastøy Island. Raised in 1947, repaired and re-entered service in 1949.
 * SS Nevada (1915) : The cargo ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina with the loss of 34 of her 63 crew. Survivors were rescued by USCGC Comanche (WPG-76) . Nevada subsequently foundered on 18 December.

16 December

 * SS McDowell : World War II: The Type T2-SE-A2 tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Caribbean 30 nmi north of Aruba, Netherlands Antilles (13.13333°N, -70.03333°W) by GS U-516 with the loss of three of her 73 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Fairfax  and USS YMS-56.
 * GS U-73 (1940) : World War II: The Type VIIB submarine was depth charged, shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean off Oran, Algeria by USS Edison (DD-439), USS Trippe (DD-403) and USS Woolsey (DD-437) (all ) with the loss of sixteen of her 48 crew.

17 December

 * USS APc-21 : World War II: The coastal transport was bombed and sunk by Japanese dive bombers off Arawe, New Britain. (-6.25°N, 149.01667°W)
 * SS Kingswood : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Guinea south west of Kotonu, French West Africa (5.95°N, 1.71667°W) by GS U-515 . All 48 crew survived.

18 December

 * HMS Felixstowe (J126) : World War II: The minesweeper was sunk off Capo Ferro, Sardinia (41.16667°N, 9.66667°W) by a mine.
 * SS Gyokurei Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the East China Sea by USS Grayback (SS-208).
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Numakaze : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the East China Sea east of Naha, Okinawa 26.48333°N, 128.43333°W by USS Grayback (SS-208)  with the loss of all 148 crew.

19 December

 * SS James Withycombe : The Liberty ship ran aground off Cristóbal, Colón, Panama (8.96667°N, -79.53333°W). She broke in two and was abandoned as a constructive total loss.

20 December

 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Fuyō : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the South China Sea off Subic Bay, The Philippines (14.75°N, 119.9°W)  by USS Puffer (SS-268).
 * SS Phemius : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Guinea 30 nmi south of Accra, Gold Coast (5.01667°N, 0.78333°W) by GS U-515 with the loss of 23 of the 116 people on board. Survivors were rescued by FRENCH CORVETTE Commandant Drogou.
 * SS Tsuneshima Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean north of the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea by USS Gato (SS-212).
 * GS U-850 : World War II: The Type IXD2 submarine was depth charged, torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (32.9°N, -37.01667°W) by Grumman TBM Avenger and Grumman F4F Wildcat aircraft based on USS Bogue (CVE-9) with the loss of all 66 crew.

21 December

 * SS Norhauk (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: the cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary with the loss of eleven of her 41 crew.
 * SS Terukawa Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off the Caroline Islands by USS Skate (SS-305).
 * SS Ugo Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bungo Channel by USS Sailfish (SS-192).
 * GS U-284 : The Type VIIC submarine suffered storm damage in the Atlantic Ocean south east of Greenland and was consequently scuttled. All 49 crew survived.

22 December

 * HMS BV 42 (BV42) : World War II: The was sunk by an explosion at Leith Docks, Edinburgh East Scotland.
 * MV Havelland (1921) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed by a submarine off Kobe, Japan. Wreck scrapped in Kobe in 1946.
 * SMS Niobe : World War II: The light cruiser was torpedoed and sunk by MTB 276 and MTB 298 (both )  off Silba, Yugoslavia. Wreck scrapped postwar.

23 December

 * JAPANESE GUNBOAT Nanyo : World War II: The gunboat was bombed and sunk by 14th Air Force B-25s at Matsu Island, off Foochow in the South China Sea (26.16667°N, 119.91667°W).
 * SS Raimo-Ragnar (🇫🇮 Finland): The cargo ship was wrecked south of Nygrundet, Sweden.

24 December

 * MV Dumana (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy STL 8: The seaplane tender straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nmi south west of Sassandra, Côte d'Ivoire (4.45°N, -6.96667°W) by GS U-515 with the loss of 39 of the 169 people on board. Survivors were rescued by HMT Arran (T06) and HMT Southern Pride (K249) (both ).
 * SS Heiwa Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Morotai Strait by USS Raton (SS-270).
 * HMS Hurricane (H06) : World War II: The was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean by GS U-415  with the loss of three of her 152 crew. She was scuttled the next day by HMS Watchman (D26).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-39 : World War II: The Type B1 submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal by USS Griswold (DE-7).
 * USS Leary (DD-158) : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by GS U-275  with the loss of 97 of her 176 crew. Survivors were rescued by USS Schenck (DD-159).
 * SS Seizan Maru No.2 : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean east of Honshū by USS Gurnard (SS-254).
 * SS Tofuku Maru : World War II: The cargo was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean east of Honshū by USS Gurnard (SS-254).
 * GS U-645 : World War II: The Type VIIC submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north east of the Azores, Portugal (45.33333°N, -21.66667°W) by USS Schenck (DD-159) with the loss of all 55 crew.

25 December

 * SS Frederick Bartholdi : World War II: Convoy HX 270: The Liberty ship ran aground off Skye (57.73333°N, -6.43333°W). All on board survived. She was later refloated but consequently scrapped.
 * HMT Kingston Beryl : World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the Irish Sea north of Ireland with the loss of all 28 crew.

26 December

 * SS Asian (1900) ( British Hong Kong):The cargo ship sunk in a collision with SS Harmatris (1932) ( undefined) in the Indian Ocean, south of Nagercoil, India (7.75°N, 77.66667°W).
 * USS Brownson (DD-518) : World War II: The was bombed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Cape Gloucester, New Britain (-5.33333°N, 148.41667°W) by Japanese aircraft with the loss of 108 of her 336 crew. Survivors were rescued by USS Daly (DD-519) and USS Lamson (DD-367) (both ).
 * SS Kyoku Maru : World War II: The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Tioro Strait by USS Ray (SS-271).
 * GERMAN BATTLESHIP Scharnhorst : World War II: Battle of North Cape: The was shelled and sunk in the Arctic Sea off North Cape, Norway by HMS Duke of York (17)  with the loss of 1,942 of her 1,968 crew.

27 December

 * MS Alsterufer (1939) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk by aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean, west of France (46.66667°N, -19.5°W).
 * SS José Navarro : World War II: The Liberty ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Laccadive Sea 175 nmi south west of Cochin, India (8.33333°N, 73.91667°W) by GS U-178 . All 166 people on board were rescued by HMIS Rajputana.
 * SS Kenyo Maru : World War II: The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean by USS Guardfish (SS-217).

28 December

 * ITALIAN SUBMARINE Axum : World War II: The was scuttled after running aground off Morea, Greece.
 * SS Oldenburg (1923) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk by a submarine off Ålesund, Norway.
 * SS Shuntai Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the East China Sea by USS Tambor (SS-198).
 * GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT T-25 : World War II: The torpedo boat was sunk in action with HMS Glasgow (C21) and HMS Enterprise (D52) (both ) in the Bay of Biscay.
 * GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT T-26 : World War II: The torpedo boat was sunk in action with HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise (both ) in the Bay of Biscay.
 * GERMAN DESTROYER Z27 : World War II: The destroyer was sunk in action with HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise (both ) in the Bay of Biscay.

29 December

 * FRENCH SUBMARINE Protée : World War II: The submarine was sunk by German aircraft in the Mediterranean (43.07111°N, 5.53722°W) off La Ciotat with the loss of all 85 crew.
 * SS Ryuto Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Palau by USS Silversides (SS-236).
 * SS Shichisei Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Palau by USS Silversides (SS-236).
 * SS Tenposan Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off Palau by USS Silversides (SS-236).

30 December

 * SS Empire Housman : World War II: Convoy ON 217: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean (60.5°N, -24.58333°W) by GS U-545 . She then straggled behind the convoy and was again torpedoed and damaged on 3 January 1944 at 60.83333°N, -22.11667°W by GS U-744 with the loss of one of her 46 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Elm and HMS Earner (W143) (both ). Empire Housman was taken in tow but sank on 5 January.

31 December

 * HMS Clacton (J151) : World War II: The struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean east of Corsica, France with the loss of 32 of her 60 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Polruan (J97).
 * SS Empire Livingstone : The cargo ship ran aground at Bizerta, Tunisia. Declared a total loss and scrapped in situ.
 * HMS HDML 1121 (HDML 1121) : World War II: The Harbour Defence Motor Launch foundered off Pantelleria Island.
 * SS Shoho Maru : World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off the Caroline Islands by USS Greenling (SS-213).

Unknown date

 * USS Capelin (SS-289) : World War II: The went missing of Halmahera Island,in  December.
 * SS Fernando Ybarra (🇪🇸 Spain): The cargo ship was driven ashore at Peniche, Portugal in a storm and was wrecked with the loss of 23 of her 33 crew.
 * SS Oscar Chappell : World War II: Convoy HX 271: The cargo ship collided with SS Charles C. Jones and was beached.
 * SOVIET SUBMARINE D-4 Revolutsyoner : World War II: The Dekabrist-class submarine was sunk in a minefield in the Black Sea off the west coast of The Crimea, Ukraine, USSR after Dec. 1 with a loss of all crew members.
 * SOVIET SUBMARINE S-55 : World War II: The S-class submarine was lost with all 52 crew members.