List of shipwrecks in December 1939

The list of shipwrecks in December 1939 includes all ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during December 1939. Most of the ships listed here were lost in connection with World War II.

1 December
For the loss of MV Realf on this day, see the entry for 30 November 1939
 * SS Arcturus (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by GS U-21 (1936) with the loss of nine of her 24 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Eva (1929) (🇳🇴 Norway) and SS Ivar (🇩🇰 Denmark).
 * SS Dalryan (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2.5 nmi south west of the Tongue Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) (51.51667°N, 1.31806°W).
 * SS Floride (🇫🇷 France): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Dunkerque, Nord. She was beached at Malo-les-Bains, Nord but broke in two and was declared a total loss.
 *  Grethe (🇩🇰 Denmark): The schooner ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent and was wrecked. The seven crew were rescued by a Royal Navy destroyer.
 * SS Mercator (1904) (🇫🇮 Finland): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea south east of Aberdeen (57.65°N, -0.6°W) by GS U-31 (1936) with the loss of one of her 32 crew. Some survivors were rescued by the fishing vessel Bread Winner (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) and the Peterhead lifeboat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution) with the rest reaching Boddam, Aberdeenshire in a lifeboat.

2 December

 * SS Chancellor (1916) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HXF 11: The cargo ship collided with SS Athelchief (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nmi off Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (44.5°N, -61.85°W and sank. All 42 crew survived.
 * SS Doric Star (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the South Atlantic (-19.25°N, 5.08333°W) by Admiral Graf Spee.
 * SS Eskdene (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HN 3: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea (56.5°N, -1.66667°W) by GS U-56 (1938) and was abandoned by her 29 crew, who were rescued by SS Hild (1919) (🇳🇴 Norway). Eskdene drifted for five days before she was taken in tow by ST Bulger (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) and beached at South Shields, Co Durham on 8 December.
 * SS San Calisto (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The tanker struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2.5 nmi south west of the Tongue Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) with the loss of six of her 42 crew.
 * SS Watussi (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The passenger ship was scuttled in the South Atlantic 50 nmi south of Cape Agulhas, South Africa after being spotted by a Junkers Ju 86 aircraft of the South African Air Force and approached by HMS Sussex (96), which rescued the 196 people on board. Watussi was shelled by HMS Renown (1916) to quicken her sinking.

3 December

 * SS Hamsterley (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with SS Accrington (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) in the North Sea off Happisburgh, Norfolk and sank with the loss of one crew member.
 * SS Manchester Regiment (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HXF 11: The cargo ship collided with SS Oropesa (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) and sank with the loss of nine of her 74 crew. Survivors were rescued by Oropesa.
 * SS Moortoft (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship foundered in the North Sea with the loss of all 13 crew.
 * SS Ove Toft (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (55.6°N, 0.76667°W) by GS U-31 (1936) with the loss of six of her 21 crew.
 * SS Rudolf (1922) (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Firth of Tay (56.25°N, -1.41667°W) by GS U-56 (1938) with the loss of nine of her 23 crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawlers Cardew (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) and HMT Firefly  and the cargo ship SS Gunlög (🇸🇪 Sweden).
 * SS Tairoa (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the South Atlantc (-21.5°N, 3°W) by Admiral Graf Spee.

4 December

 * SS Gimle (1916) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57.25°N, 1.83333°W) by GS U-31 (1936) ( with the loss of three of her nineteen crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Rudolf (1893) (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Horsted (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (53.8°N, 0.26667°W) with the loss of five crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Jackal (F22).
 * SS Primula (1918) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 125 nmi east of Aberdeen (57.25°N, 1.83333°W) by GS U-31 (1936) with the loss of eight of her fifteen crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Wm. Th. Malling (🇩🇰 Denmark.
 * GS U-36 (1936) : World War II: The Type VIIA submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea off Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway (57°N, 5.03333°W) by HMS Salmon (N65) with the loss of all 40 crew.
 * GERMAN SUBMARINE CHASER UJ-117 : World War II: The submarine chaser struck a mine and sank in The Belts, Denmark. She was salvaged in June 1940, repaired and returned to service.

5 December

 * SS Agu (🇪🇪 Estonia): The cargo ship foundered in the North Sea.
 * SS Navasota (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy OB 46: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Celtic Sea 50 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock (50.71667°N, -10.26667°W) by GS U-47 (1938) with the loss of 37 of her 82 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Clan Farquhar (1918) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) and HMS Escapade (H17).
 * SS Ussukama (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled by her crew in the South Atlantic (-39.41667°N, -57.25°W) when intercepted by HMS Ajax (22) and HMS Cumberland (57) (both ). All 107 crew were rescued by HMS Ajax.

6 December

 * SS Agu (🇪🇪 Estonia): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by GS U-31 (1936) with the loss of all eighteen crew.
 * SS Britta (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nmi south west of the Longships Lighthouse by GS U-47 (1938) with the loss of six of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Memlinc (🇧🇪 Belgium).
 * SS Føina (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea north west of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by GS U-20 (1936) with the loss of eighteen crew.
 * SS Paralos (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 7 nmi north east of North Foreland, Kent (51.51667°N, 1.61667°W) with the loss of three of her 25 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Roek (🇬🇧 United Kingdom.
 * SS Ussukuma ( Nazi Germany): World War II: The passenger ship was scuttled in the South Atlantic (100 nmi off the coast of Argentina when intercepted by HMS Ajax (22) . All 107 crew were rescued and interned for the duration of the war.
 * SS Vinga (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (56.41667°N, 1.13333°W) by GS U-31 (1936) . The 22 crew were rescued by SS Transporter (🇩🇰 Denmark).
 * HMT Washington : World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk with the loss of seven of her eight crew.

7 December

 * SS Eskedebe (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was damaged by a mine 70 nmi off the mouth of the River Tyne. She was beached at South Shields, Co Durham. Later repaired and returned to service.
 * SS Louis Sheid (🇧🇪 Belgium): World War II: The cargo ship ran aground off Thurlestone, Devon, United Kingdom while escaping from GS U-47 (1938).
 * SS Scotia (1924) (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57.51667°N, 2.28333°W) by GS U-23 (1936) with the loss of nineteen of her 21 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Hafnia (🇩🇰 Denmark).
 * SS Streonshalh (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Trinidad (-25.01667°N, -27.83333°W) by Admiral Graf Spee.
 * SS Tajandoen (🇳🇱 Netherlands): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 40 nmi north of Ouessant, Finistère, France (49.15°N, -4.85°W) by GS U-47 (1938) with the loss of six  of her 68 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Louis Sheid (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * SS Thomas Walton (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea south of Svolvær, Nordland, Norway (67.88333°N, 14.48333°W) by GS U-38 (1938) ( with the loss of thirteen of her 44 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Irma (1905) (🇳🇴 Norway and SS Sebu (🇩🇪 Germany).
 * SS Whintown (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with Leo (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) in the North Sea 4 nmi south of the Haisboro' Lightship and sank.

8 December

 * SS Adour (1898) (🇧🇪 Belgium): The cargo ship ran aground on rocks at Îles de Glenan, Brest, France and sank.
 * SS Brandon (1917) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy OB 48: The cargo ship straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Celtic Sea 120 nmi off Land's End, Cornwall (50.46667°N, -8.46667°W) by GS U-48 (1939) with the loss of nine crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawlers Marie Jose Rosette (🇧🇪 Belgium) and  Tritten (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * SS Corea (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Cromer, Norfolk. with the loss of eight of her fifteen crew. The survivors were rescued by CROMER LIFEBOAT H F Bailey III (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
 * SS Dinard (1921) (🇫🇷 France): The coaster collided with SS Swynfleet (🇬🇧 United Kingdom and sank in the North Sea off Deal, Kent.
 * SS Merel (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in The Downs, Kent west of the Gull Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) with the loss of sixteen of her eighteen crew.
 * SS Middlesbro' (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck the wreck of SS Goodwood (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea 1 nmi off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. The crew were rescued by SS Runeborg (🇸🇪 Sweden).

9 December

 * SS Adolf Leonhardt (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled by her crew in the South Atlantic off Portuguese West Africa when intercepted by HMS Shropshire (73), which rescued the 25 crew.
 * SS Magnus (1906) (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57.8°N, -0.58333°W) by GS U-20 (1936) with the loss of eighteen of her nineteen crew. The survivor was rescued by the trawler Philippe (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * MV San Alberto (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy OB 48: The tanker was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Cornwall (49.33333°N, -9.75°W) by GS U-48 (1939) with the loss of one of her 37 crew. The ship broke in two, with the bow section sinking. The survivors wer rescued by SS Alexandre Andre (🇧🇪 Belgium) but later reboarded the stern section and attempted to reach port. It was later scuttled by HMS Mackay (D70).

10 December

 * SS Bolheim (1913) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Gulf of Bothnia off Mäntyluoto, Finland, by S-1.
 * SS Fire King (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The coaster collided with RMS Duke of Lancaster (1928) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) in the Irish Sea off the Point of Ayre, Isle of Man and sank. The wreck was dispersed in 1940.
 * SS Føina (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 160 nmi west north West of Rattray Head, Perthshire United Kingdom by GS U-20 (1936) with the loss of all eighteen crew.
 * MV Immingham (🇳🇱 Netherlands): World War II: The coaster struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Callantsoog, North Holland. She sank the next day. All seven crew were rescued.
 * SS Jotun (🇳🇴 Norway): The coaster ran aground south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland and was wrecked.
 * SS Kabinda (🇧🇪 Belgium): The cargo ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent and broke in two. She was declared a total loss.
 * SS Kassari (🇪🇪 Estonia): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea off Utö by S-323 with the loss of one crew member.
 * HMT Ray of Hope : World War II: The auxiliary mineswseeper struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Ramsgate, Kent with the loss of nine of her twelve crew. Survivors were rescued by HMT Silver Dawn.
 * SS Reinbeck (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Finland by S-322.
 * SS Stanwood (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The collier's cargo of coal caught fire. She was beached in the Carrick Roads but capsized and was declared a total loss. The wreck was dispersed by explosives.
 * SS Willowpool (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea east of the Newarp Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) by GS U-20 (1936) All 36 crew were rescued by the Gorleston lifeboat Louise Stephens (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

11 December

 * SS Garoufalia (🇬🇷 Greece): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea (64.6°N, 10.7°W) by GS U-38 (1938) with the loss of four of her 29 crew. Survivors were rescued by MV Tellus (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Storfjeld (1899) (🇳🇴 Norway): The cargo ship ran aground on the Seaton Rocks, Northumberland, United Kingdom (55.0875°N, -1.46667°W) and was wrecked.

12 December

 * HMS Duchess (H64) : The D-class destroyer collided with HMS Barham (04) 9 nmi off the Mull of Kintyre and sank with the loss of 124 of her 145 crew.
 * SS Marwick Head (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The coaster struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk with the loss of five of her ten crew.
 * SS Torö (1922) (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea (55.33333°N, 13.06667°W).
 * SS Vidovodan ( undefined): The cargo ship ran aground off Natuna Island and was wrecked.
 * SS Wilpas (🇫🇮 Finland): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk by S-311.

13 December

 * MV Algol, (🇸🇪) :World War II: The cargo ship hit a mine between Trelleborg and Falsterbo (55.31667°N, 12.46667°W) and sank Six crew were rescued. She was salvaged in 1940, repaired and returned to service.
 * SS Ashkabad ( Soviet Union): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Dunkerque, Nord, France by GS U-57 (1938) with the loss of seventeen crew.
 * SS Deptford (1930) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea off Honningsvåg, Finnmark, Norway by GS U-38 (1938) with the loss of 32 of her 37 crew. Survivors were rescued by HNOMS Firda  and SS Nordnorge (1923) (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Indigirka, : The Dalstroi passenger ship ran aground when trying to enter the La Perouse Strait with a loss of 741 lives, most of them from the Gulag prison.
 * MV King Egbert (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy FS 53: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (4.5 nmi off Happisburgh, Norfolk with the loss of one of her 33 crew.
 * HSWMS Manligheten The ship suffered an onboard explosion which killed six crew.
 * SS Mina (🇪🇪 Estonia): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by GS U-56 (1938) ( with the loss of all seventeen crew.
 * SS Rosa (1919) (🇧🇪 Belgium): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 6.5 nmi off the mouth of the Tyne with the loss of one crew member.
 * HMT William Hallett : World War II: The naval trawler was sunk by a mine 3.5 nmi off the mouth of the Tyne with the loss of eight of her nine crew. The survivor was rescued by the trawler Ben Arthur (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).

14 December

 * F9 : World War II: The F-class escort ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk off Heligoland, Schleswig-Holstein by HMS Ursula (N59) . Fifteen survivors were rescued by GERMAN DESTROYER Z4 Richard Beitzen.
 * MV Inverlane (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy FN 54: The tanker was sunk by a mine in the North Sea off Sunderland, Co Durham (55.08333°N, -1.11667°W) with the loss of 37 of her 40 crew. Her bow section was salvaged, converted to a blockship and sunk at Scapa Flow.
 * HMS James Ludford (T16) : World War II: The Mersey-class Naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland (55.04167°N, -1.27083°W) with the loss of seventeen of her eighteen crew.

15 December

 * SS Germaine (🇬🇷 Greece): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (51°N, -12.3°W) by GS U-48 (1939) . The crew were rescued by HMS Wanderer.
 * SS Harfry (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with SS Luso (🇵🇹 Portugal in the North Sea off Dunkerque, Nord, France and was beached.
 * SS H C Flood (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (55.03333°N, -1.2°W) with the loss of four of her 21 crew.
 * SS Rosa (🇧🇪 Belgium): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off St Mary's Island (55.02833°N, -1.21667°W).
 * SS Ragni (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off the mouth of the Tyne (55.03333°N, -1.2°W) with the loss of six of her nineteen crew.
 * SS Strindheim (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off the mouth of the Tyne (55.04361°N, -1.29306°W) with the loss of nine of her eleven crew.
 * SS Ursus (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea north of North Foreland, Kent (51.58333°N, 1.6°W with the loss of nine of her twenty crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Brindus (🇳🇱 Netherlands).

16 December

 * SS Amble (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The tanker struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Sunderland, Co Durham. The crew were rescued by HMS Wallace (1918) . Amble came ashore between Sunderland and Whitburn. She was refloated on 25 December but declared a constructive total loss and scrapped.
 * HMT Evelina : World War II: The ship was sunk by a mine off the mouth of the River Tyne with the loss of all nine crew.
 * SS Glitrefjell (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (56.23333°N, 1.06667°W by GS U-59 (1939) at with the loss of five of her eighteen crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Icarion (🇬🇷 Greece) and HMS Icarus (D03).
 * SS Lister (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (56.35°N, 0.63333°W) off Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom by GS U-59 (1939) 130 nmi. Some survivors were rescued by HMS Eclipse (H08) with other reaching the Danish coast in a lifeboat.
 * HMS Sedgefly : World War II: The ship struck a mine and sank off the mouth of the Tyne with the loss of all sixteen crew.

17 December

 * Admiral Graf Spee : World War II: Battle of the River Plate: The Deutschland-class cruiser was scuttled off Montevideo, Uruguay rather than engage with the Allies or be interned.
 * SS Bogö (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 75 nmi east of the Isle of May, Fife, United Kingdom (56.2°N, -0.28333°W) by GS U-59 (1939) with the loss of seventeen of her twenty crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawer River Earn (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * Compagnus (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The fishing vessel was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 150 nmi east by north of the Isle of May by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by Colleague (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * Eileen Wray (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and damaged in the North Sea off Hartlepool, Co Durham by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. She was towed into port but sank.
 * Isabella Greig (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 145 nmi east by north of the Isle of May by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. All crew were rescued.
 * SS Jaegersborg (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by GS U-59 (1939) with the loss of all eighteen crew.
 * Pearl (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 65 nmi east by south of the Inner Dowsing Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe with the loss of one crew member.
 * Serenity (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk 8 nmi east north east of Whitby, Yorkshire by Luftwaffe aircraft. All eight crew were rescued by a lifeboat.
 * Zelos (🇬🇧 United Kingdom: World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 110 nmi east by north of the Isle of May by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe.

18 December

 * Active (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the Moray Firth 30 nmi north by west of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by Caribineer II (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * Trinity N B (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire (57.83333°N, -1.5°W) by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe, with the loss of two crew. Survivors were rescued by Smart (🇩🇰 Denmark).

19 December

 * SS Columbus (1924) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The passenger ship was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean 450 nmi east of Cape May, New Jersey, United States by HMS Hyperion (H97) and was scuttled by her crew with the loss of two lives.
 * SS City of Kobe (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy FS 56: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea near the Cross Sands Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) (52.58333°N, 1.98333°W) with the loss of one of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMT Tumby (FY850).
 * Daneden (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea east south east of the Shetland Islands by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe.
 * SS Jytte (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 18 nmi off Souter Point, Northumberland, United Kingdom with the loss of ten of her eighteen crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Avance (🇩🇰 Denmark).
 * River Earn (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea east north east of Kinnaird Head (58.5°N, 2.01667°W) by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. All on board were rescued by SS Rogaland (1920) (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Uko (🇫🇮 Finland): World War II: The coaster was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 80 nmi south of Utsire, Rogaland, Norway by Luftwaffe aircraft. All on board were rescued by SS Sir Ernest Cassel (🇸🇪 Sweden).

20 December

 * SS Adolph Bratt (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Terschelling, Friesland Netherlands (53.46667°N, 5.13333°W) with the loss of five of the 22 people on board. Survivors were rescued by SS Auskelis (🇱🇻 Latvia)).
 * SS Mars (1920) (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1 nmi east of St Mary's Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom), off Blyth, Northumberland (55.06333°N, 1.39972°W) with the loss of seven of her 22 crew.
 * HMS Napia (: World War II: The tug struck a mine and sank in The Downs, off Deal, Kent (51.2625°N, 1.41667°W) with the loss of all eight crew.
 * SS Vega (1897) (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was damaged by a mine off Terschelling. She was beached on 21 December near IJmuiden, North Holland but was declared a total loss. The seventeen crew were rescued by SS Venern (🇸🇪 Sweden).

21 December

 * HMS Bayonet : World War II: The boom defence vessel struck a mine and sank in the Firth of Forth off Leith, Midlothian with the loss of three of her 31 crew.
 * SS Carl Henckel (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 90 nmi off Aberdeen, Scotland (57°N, 0.28333°W) with the loss of ten crew and eighteen of the nineteen crew of SS Mars (1898) (🇸🇪 Sweden). The survivors were rescued by SS Hop (1916) (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Comitas ( undefined): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium. She was beached off Vlissingen, Zeeland, Netherlands. She later broke in two, a total loss.
 * ST Danube IV (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The tug collided with SS Southern Prince (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) in the Clyde and sank. Southern Prince was beached: She was refloated on 23 December, repaired and returned to service.
 * SS Mars (1882) (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the Isle of May, Fife (57°N, 0.33333°W) by GS U-21 (1936) . All nineteen crew were rescued by SS Carl Henckel (🇸🇪 Sweden).
 * SS Rudolf (1893) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (58.11667°N, 1.53333°W) by GS U-46 (1938) with the loss of six of her thirteen crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Biarritz and SS Bjerka (both 🇳🇴 Norway).

22 December

 * HMT Dromio : The naval trawler collided in the North Sea off Whitby, Yorkshire with SS Valentino ( undefined) and sank.
 * SS Gryfevale (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Whitby. She was beached in the Tyne.
 * SS Longships (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on the Seven Stones reef. All crew were rescued by the St Mary's lifeboat RNLB Cunard (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution). She broke in two a week later.

23 December

 * HMS Glen Albyn : World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in Loch Ewe.
 * HMS Dolphin (1914) : World War II: The repair ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (55.10139°N, -1.4525°W) whilst under tow to be sunk as a blockship. All seven crew were rescued.
 * SS Kizilrmak (🇹🇷 Turkey): The cargo ship sank in the Black Sea 6 nmi off the Sinop Lighthouse.
 * HMT Promotive : World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine and sank in Loch Ewe.

24 December

 * SS Pegu (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The passenger ship ran aground off Southport, Lancashire. All 103 passengers rescued by lifeboats. The ship was declared a total loss.

25 December

 * MV Edenwood (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The collier collided with HMS Derbyshire (N90) and sank in the English Channel east of Bembridge, Isle of Wight.
 * SS Stanholme (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Bristol Channel (51.33333°N, -3.65°W) with the loss of thirteen of her 24 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Liv (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Lappen (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was sunk by an explosion in the Norwegian Sea 10 nmi off Bergen, Hordaland. The crew were rescued by HNOMS Fridtjof Nansen (1930) . The explosion was later attributed to barratry.
 * HMT Loch Doon : World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 8 nmi off Blyth, Northumberland with the loss of all fifteen crew.
 * SS Tanger (🇩🇪 Germany): The cargo ship collided with another vessel and sank in the North Sea off Brunsbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein.
 * SS Torwood (1921) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The coaster struck a mine in the Nort Sea west of Karmøy, Rogaland and was damaged. She sank the next day with the loss of four of her eleven crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Hild (1919) (🇳🇴 Norway).

26 December

 * SS Glücksburg (1920) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was intercepted by HMS Wishart and deliberately ran aground by her crew near the Chipiona Lightship (🇪🇸 Spain) at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain. All crew were rescued by the fishing boat Ciudad de Melilla (🇪🇸 Spain). Glücksberg broke up on 4 January 1940, a total loss.

27 December

 * SS Stanholme (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the coast of Norway with the loss of fourteen of her 25 crew. The survivors were rescued by a Norwegian ship.

28 December

 * HMT Barbara Robertson : World War II: The Mersey-class Naval trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by GS U-30 (1936) 35 nmi north west of the Butt of Lewis with the loss of one of her seventeen crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Isis (D87).
 * SS Hanne (1905) (🇩🇰 Denmark): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1 nmi east of Blyth, Northumberland at 55.10694°N, 1.48722°W with the loss of fifteen of her 40 crew.
 * HMT Reschercho (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 6 nmi off Flamborough Head. All ten crew were rescued.
 * SS Wilpas (🇫🇮 Finland): World War II: The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Bothnia by SC-311 off Vaasa.

29 December

 * MV Cabo San Antonio (🇪🇸 Spain): The cargo liner caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean 400 nmi west of Conakry, French Guinea and was abandoned with the loss of five passengers. Survivors were rescued by a French ship. Cabo San Antonio was scuttled by a French warship as she was a danger to navigation.
 * Neptun (🇩🇪 Germany): The coaster ran aground in the Kattegat off Varberg, Halland County, Sweden and was wrecked.

30 December

 * SS Telma (🇫🇮 Finland): The cargo ship foundered in the Gulf of Bothnia off Oulu.
 * GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT V-704 : World War II: The vorpostenboot struck a mine and sank.

31 December

 * Adeline (🇧🇪 Belgium): World War II: The fishing vessel was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off the Noordhinder Lightship.
 * SS Box Hill (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Humber Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) (53.53333°N, 0.4°W) with the loss of twenty of her 32 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Ivanhoe (D16) and another ship.
 * SS Luna (1911) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (58.8°N, 2.33333°W) by GS U-32 (1937) . The crew were rescued by SS Colombia (1893) (🇳🇴 Norway).

Unknown date

 * SS Halle (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled sometime in September or October to prevent capture by the French.
 *  Maud Mary (🇵🇱 Poland): The schooner sank in Poole Bay.