List of shipwrecks in October 1939

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

1 October

 * GERMAN MINESWEEPER M-85 : World War II: The minesweeper struck a mine in the Baltic Sea north of Jastarnia, Poland (54.75°N, 18.75°W) and sank with the loss of 24 of her 71 crew. The survivors were rescued by GERMAN MINESWEEPER M-122 and a number of R boats (all ).
 * SS Suzon (1913) (🇧🇪 Belgium): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 42 nmi north west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48.13333°N, -7.6°W) by GS U-35 (1936) . The crew were rescued by HMS Acheron (H45).

2 October

 *  Baltic (🇫🇮 Finland): World War II: The schooner struck a mine and sank in the Kattegat.
 * ORP Czajka : World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper was scuttled at Hel, Poland. Refloated the next day, salvaged and repaired and entered Kriegsmarine service as Westernplatte.
 * ORP Komendant Piłsudski : World War II: Invasion of Poland: The was scuttled at Hel. She was later salvaged by the Germans and entered Kriegsmarine service as Heisternest.
 * ORP Mewa : World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper was scuttled at Hel. Later salvaged by the Germans and entered Kriegsmarine service as Putzig.
 * ORP Rybitwa : World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper was scuttled at Hel. Later salvaged by the Germans and entered Kriegsmarine service as Rixhoft.
 * ORP Zuraw : World War II: Invasion of Poland: The minesweeper was scuttled at Hel. She was refloated the next day, repaired and entered Kriegsmarine service at Oxhoft.

3 October

 * SS Diamantis (1917) (🇬🇷 Greece): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nmi west of the Skellig Islands, County Kerry, Ireland (49.36667°N, -6.76667°W) by GS U-35 (1936) . All 28 crew were rescued by U-35, and later landed at Ventry, County Kerry.
 * MV Høegh Transporter (1935) (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine off Saint John's Island, Singapore and sank with the loss of one crew member. The ship was later salvaged.

4 October

 * SS Glen Farg (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nmi south south west of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands (58.86667°N, -1.51667°W) by GS U-23 (1936) with the loss of one of her seventeen crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Firedrake (H79).

5 October

 * SS Marwarri (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ships struck a mine and was damaged in the Bristol Channel. She was beached in Mumbles Bay. Later repaired and returned to service.
 * SS Newton Beech (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was captured in the Atlantic Ocean south of Freetown, Sierra Leone (-9.58333°N, -6.5°W) by GERMAN CRUISER Admiral Graf Spee . She was scuttled three days later.
 * SS Stonegate (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 400 nmi east south east of Bermuda (31.16667°N, -54°W) by GERMAN CRUISER Deutschland.

6 October

 * SS Lochgoil (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged in the Bristol Channel (5 nmi) off the Scarweather Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) (51.4°N, -4°W). She was beached in Mumbles Bay. Refloated on 28 November, repaired and returned to service.
 * SS Mahratta (1917) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HG 1: The cargo ship ran aground on Fork Spit, Goodwin Sands, Kent and was wrecked. All crew were rescued by the hoveller Lady Haig (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).

7 October

 * SS Ashlea (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was captured and sunk in the South Atlantic (-9°N, -3°W) by GERMAN CRUISER Admiral Graf Spee.
 * SS Binnendijk (🇳🇱 Netherlands): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged 2 nmi south east of the Shambles Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom). She sank 1 nmi north of the lightship (50.53333°N, -2.33333°W early the next day. The wreck was dispersed on 10 October.
 * GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT V-804 : World War II: The vorpostenboot struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Schiermonnikoog, Friesland, Netherlands.

8 October

 * SS Hansi (🇳🇴 Norway): The cargo ship sank off North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom.
 * GS U-12 (1935) : World War II: The Type IIB submarine struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Dover, Kent, United Kingdom (approximately 51.16667°N, 1.5°W) with the loss of all 27 crew.
 * SS Vistula (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nmi north of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of nine of her eighteen crew.

9 October

 * Indra (🇫🇮 Finland): The cargo ship sank in the North Sea off Terschelling, Friesland, Netherlands.
 * SS Mahratta (1917) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on Fork Spit, Goodwin Sands, Kent. All crew were rescued but the ship was declared a total loss.
 * SS Mount Ida (🇬🇷 Greece): The cargo ship ran aground on the Ower Bank in the North Sea. All 29 crew rescued by lifeboat but one later died from injuries sustained during the rescue.

10 October

 * SS Huntsman (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was captured in the South Atlantic (-8.5°N, -5.25°W) by GERMAN CRUISER Admiral Graf Spee . She was scuttled on 17 October at approximately -16°N, -17°W.
 * SS Marly (🇳🇴 Norway): The cargo ship foundered in a cyclone in the Indian Ocean (18.5°N, 72.35°W) with the loss of all 46 crew.
 * FV Saltaire (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The trawler ran aground at Spurn Point, Yorkshire. Salvage attempts failed and she was declared a total loss.

12 October

 * SS Aris (🇬🇷 Greece): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Ireland (53.46667°N, -14.5°W) by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of two crew of her 29 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Sicilien (🇳🇱 Netherlands).
 * MV Emile Miguet (🇫🇷 France): World War II: Convoy KJ 2S: The tanker straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 190 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock (50.25°N, -14.83333°W) by GS U-48 (1939) with the loss of two crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Black Hawk (🇺🇸 United States). Emile Miguet was scuttled by HMS Imogen (D44).

13 October

 * SS Gressholm (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The coaster struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 90 nmi north west of Texel, North Holland, Netherlands (53.91667°N, 2.91667°W) with the loss of three of her eleven crew. The survivors were rescued by SS Emmi (🇫🇮 Finland).
 * SS Heronspool (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy OB 17S: The cargo ship straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 260 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock (50.21667°N, -14.8°W) by GS U-48 (1939) . All crew were rescued by SS President Harding (🇺🇸 United States).
 * SS Louisiane (🇫🇷 France): World War II: Convoy OA 17: The cargo ship straggled behind the convoy. She was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock (50.23333°N, -15.08333°W) by GS U-48 (1939) with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by HMS Imogen (D44).
 * GS U-40 (1938) : World War II: The Type IXA submarine struck a mine in the English Channel (50.7°N, 0.25°W) and sank with the loss of 45 of her 48 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Boreas (H77) and HMS Brazen (H80) (both ).
 * GS U-42 (1939) : World War II: The Type IXA submarine was depth charged and sunk at 49.2°N, -16°W by HMS Imogen (D44) and HMS Ilex (D61) (both )with the loss of 26 of her 46 crew.

14 October

 * SS Bretagne (1922) (🇫🇷 France) World War II: Convoy KJF 3: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock (50.33333°N, -12.75°W) by GS U-45 (1938) with the loss of seven crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Ilex (D61) and HMS Imogen (D44) (both ).
 * MV Lochavon (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy KJF 3: The cargo liner was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 230 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock by GS U-45 (1938) with the loss of seven crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Isis (D87)  and Lochavon sank on 16 October.
 * SS Lorentz W Hansen (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 420 nmi east of Newfoundland (49.08333°N, -43.73333°W) by Deutschland with the loss of three of her 21 crew.
 * SS Marion Traber (🇩🇪 Germany): The cargo ship ran aground in the Baltic Sea off Nyköping, Södermanland, Sweden and was wrecked.
 * HMS Royal Oak (08) : World War II: The was torpedoed and sunk in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands by GS U-47 (1938)  with the loss of 833 of her 1,219 crew.
 * SS Sneaton (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nmi south west of the Fastnet Rock (49.08333°N, -13.08333°W) by GS U-48 (1939) with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by SS Alexandre Andre (🇧🇪 Belgium).
 * GS U-45 (1938) : World War II: The Type VIIB submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland (50.96667°N, -12.95°W) by HMS Icarus (D03), HMS Inglefield (D02), HMS Intrepid (D10) and HMS Ivanhoe (D16) (all ) with the loss of all 38 crew.

15 October

 * SS Vermont (🇫🇷 France): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nmisouth west of the Fastnet Rock (48.01667°N, -17.36667°W) by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of two of her 45 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Inglefield (D02).
 * SS Wanja (🇳🇴 Norway): The cargo ship ran aground off North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom and was wrecked.

16 October

 * SS Halle (1921) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The blockade running cargo ship was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Dakar, Senegal by FRENCH CRUISER Duguay-Trouin ( and was scuttled by her crew.
 * SS Ionic Star 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: The cargo ship ran aground in Liverpool Bay off Southport, Lancashire. Her cargo was salvaged but the ship was a total loss.

17 October

 * SS City of Mandalay (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) World War II: Convoy HG 3: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nmi west north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain (44.95°N, -13.6°W) by GS U-46 (1938) with the loss of two of the 80 people on board. Survivors were rescued by SS Independence Hall (🇺🇸 United States) and SS Skudd IV (🇳🇴 Norway)
 * SS Clan Chisholm (1937) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nmi north north west of Cape Finisterre (approximately 44.95°N, -13.66667°W) by GS U-48 (1939) with the loss of four of her 78 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Independence Hall (🇺🇸 United States).
 * SS Huntsman (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the South Atlantic (-16°N, -17°W) by GERMAN CRUISER Admiral Graf Spee.
 * HMS Iron Duke (1912) : World War II: The was attacked by Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 aircraft at Scapa Flow and was beached to prevent her sinking. Twenty five crew were killed. She was later repaired and returned to service.
 * SS Yorkshire (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HG 3: The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 700 nmi west of Bordeaux, Gironde, France (44.86667°N, -12.66667°W) by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of 58 of the 281 people on board. Survivors were rescued by SS Independence Hall (🇺🇸 United States)

18 October

 * SS Gonzenheim (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was intercepted in the Denmark Strait (63.41667°N, -12°W by HMS Rawalpindi and was scuttled by her crew.

19 October

 * SS City of London (1891) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The coaster collided in the River Thames with a Dutch vessel and was beached at World's End, Tilbury, Essex.
 * SS Gustaf Adolf (🇸🇪 Sweden):World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk by GS U-34 (1936).
 * SOVIET SUBMARINE SC-424 : The collided in Kola Bay with trawler RT-43 ( Soviet Union) and sank.
 * SS Sea Venture (🇬🇧 United Kingdom):World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk by GS U-34 (1936).

20 October

 *  Azariah (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): The Thames barge sank in the North Sea off Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.
 * SS Gustav Adolf (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nmi north of Sullom Voe, Shetland Islands (61°N, 0.8°W) by GS U-34 (1936) . Survivors were rescued by SS Biscaya (1939) (🇳🇴 Norway).
 * SS Sea Venture (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the North Sea east of the Shetland Islands (60.83333°N, 0.25°W) by GS U-34 (1936) . All 25 crew were rescued by the Lerwick lifeboat.
 * GERMAN PATROL VESSEL V-701 : World War II: The vorpostenboot struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Møn, Denmark with the loss of 70 of her 75 crew.

21 October

 * SS Capitaine Edmund Laborie (🇫🇷 France): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nmi east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) (53.33056°N, 0.63889°W). All crew were rescued by the Gorleston Lifeboat Louise Stephens (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution).
 * MV Deodata (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The tanker struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (53.35°N, 0.6025°W). All crew were rescued by the Gorleston Lifeboat Louise Stephens (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution).
 * SS Lake Neuchatel (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled as a blockship at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands.
 * SS New Mathilde (🇺🇸 United States ): The cargo ship foundered in the South China Sea 3 nmi off Kwangchowan, French Indo-China.
 * SS Orsa (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 15 nmi off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire with the loss of eleven of her fifteen crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Woolston (L49) (
 * SS Poseidon (1922) (🇩🇪 Germany): World War II: The cargo ship was captured in the Denmark Strait (67.13333°N, -21.3°W by HMS Scotstoun . She was taken in tow by HMS Transylvania on 25 October but scuttled by her two days later after the towline parted in a blizzard.

22 October

 * MV Trevanion (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the South Atlantic (-19.66667°N, -4.03333°W) by GERMAN CRUISER Admiral Graf Spee.
 * SS Whitemantle (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 5 to(-) off the Withernsea Lighthouse with the loss of 14 crew.

23 October

 * SS Albania (🇸🇪 Sweden): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 4 nmi off the Humber Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) with the loss of two crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Channel Fisher (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).
 * SS Emmy Friedrich (🇩🇪 Germany):World War II: The cargo ship was intercepted in the Gulf of Mexico by HMS Caradoc (D60) and was scuttled by her crew.

24 October

 * SS Konstantinos Hadjiperatas (🇬🇷 Greece): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Inner Dowsing Lightship (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) (53.34917°N, 0.615°W) with the loss of four of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by the Gorleston Lifeboat Louise Stephens (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution). The wreck was dispersed in 1947.
 * SS Ledbury (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nmi west of Gibraltar (36.01667°N, -7.36667°W) by GS U-37 (1938), while she was rescuing survivors of the Menin Ridge. All 31 crew were rescued by SS Crown City (🇺🇸 United States).
 * SS Menin Ridge (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk 100 nmi west of Gibraltar (36.01667°N, -7.36667°W) by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of 20 crew. Five survivors were rescued by SS Crown City (🇺🇸 United States). The first of three ships sunk this day by U-37.
 * SS Tafna (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 84 nmi west of Gibraltar (35.73333°N, -7.38333°W) by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of two of her 33 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Douglas (D90) . The last of three ships sunk this day by U-37.

25 October

 * GS U-16 (1936) : World War II: The Type IIB submarine was depth charged and sunk in the English Channel off Dover, Kent, United Kingdom by HMT Cayton Wyke and HMS Puffin (L52) (both ) with the loss of all 28 crew.

27 October

 * SS Bronte (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy OB 25: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland (49.5°N, -12.25°W) by GS U-34 (1936) She was taken in tow by ST Englishman (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) but was scuttled on 30 October by HMS Esk (1936)  at 50.11667°N, -10.6°W.
 * USC&GS Mikawe (Flag of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.svg United States Coast and Geodetic Survey): Hydrographic survey launch was destroyed by fire.

28 October

 * Lynx II (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkney Islands (59.83333°N, -4.33333°W) by GS U-59 (1939) . The crew, along with survivors from St. Nidan (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) were rescued by Lady Hogarth (🇬🇧 United Kingdom.
 * St Nidan (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: The trawler was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkeny Islands (59.83333°N, -4.33333°W) by GS U-59 (1939) . The crew were rescued by Lynx II (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).

29 October

 * SS Malabar (1938) (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HX 5A: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 mi west north west of Bishop Rock (49.95°N, -7.61667°W) by GS U-34 (1936) with the loss of five of her 75 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Grafton (H89).
 * SS Varangmalm (🇳🇴 Norway): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (53.83333°N, 0.28333°W) with the loss of one crew member. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Conida (🇬🇧 United Kingdom).

30 October

 * SS Cairnmona (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): World War II: Convoy HX 5B: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea off Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire (57.63333°N, -1.75°W) by GS U-13 (1935) with the loss of three of her 44 crew. She was taken in tow by ST Englishman (🇬🇧 United Kingdom) but sank later that day. Survivors were rescued by HMT River Lossie.
 * SS Juno (1920) (🇫🇮 Finland): World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Withernsea, Yorkshire (53.66667°N, 0.28333°W) with the loss of all six crew.
 * HMS Northern Rover :World War II: The armed boarding vessel was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkney Islands by GS U-59 (1939) with the loss of 27 crew.
 * SS Thrasyvoulos (🇬🇷 Greece): World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 160 nmi west of Ireland (49.41667°N, -11.3°W) by GS U-37 (1938) with the loss of 22 of her 28 crew. Survivors were rescued by SS Havmøy (1937) (🇳🇴 Norway).

31 October

 * SS Baoulé (🇫🇷 France): World War II: Convoy 20K: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nmi west north west of A Coruña, Spain (43.8°N, -9.13333°W) by GS U-25 (1936) with the loss of 13 of her 46 crew.