# List of shipwrecks in December 1939

The list of shipwrecks in December 1939 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during December 1939.

## 1 December

For the loss of MV Realf on this day, see the entry for 30 November 1939
List of shipwrecks: 1 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Arcturus | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of nine of her 24 crew. Survivors were rescued by Eva ( Norway) and Ivar ( Denmark). |
| Dalryan | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) south west of the Tongue Lightship ( Trinity House) (51°31′00″N 1°19′05″E﻿ / ﻿51.51667°N 1.31806°E﻿ / 51.51667; 1.31806). All 39 men aboard were rescued. The wreck was subsequently dispersed by explosives. |
| 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. Three crewmen were killed. |
| Grethe | Denmark | The schooner ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom and was wrecked. Her seven crew were rescued by a Royal Navy destroyer. |
| Magda | Germany | The fishing trawler was lost in the North Sea north of Heligoland. |
| Mercator | Finland | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea south east of Aberdeen (57°39′N 0°36′W﻿ / ﻿57.650°N 0.600°W﻿ / 57.650; -0.600) by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine) 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 ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution), with the rest reaching Boddam, Aberdeenshire in a lifeboat. |

## 2 December

List of shipwrecks: 2 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Chancellor | United Kingdom | World War II: Convoy HXF 11: The cargo ship collided with the tanker Athelchief ( United Kingdom) in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) off Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (44°30′N 61°51′W﻿ / ﻿44.500°N 61.850°W﻿ / 44.500; -61.850) and sank. All 42 crew survived. |
| Doric Star | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the South Atlantic (19°15′S 5°05′E﻿ / ﻿19.250°S 5.083°E﻿ / -19.250; 5.083) by Admiral Graf Spee ( Kriegsmarine). Her crew survived. |
| Eskdene | United Kingdom | World War II: Convoy HN 3: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea (56°30′N 1°40′W﻿ / ﻿56.500°N 1.667°W﻿ / 56.500; -1.667) by U-56 ( Kriegsmarine) and was abandoned by her 29 crew, who were rescued by Hild ( Norway). Eskdene drifted for five days before she was taken in tow by four tugs, including Bulger, Hendon and George V (all United Kingdom) and beached on the Herd Sands on 8 December. Subsequently refloated and taken in South Shields, County Durham. Eskdene was repaired and returned to service. |
| San Calisto | United Kingdom | World War II: The tanker struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) south west of the Tongue Lightship ( Trinity House) (51°31′09″N 1°25′00″E﻿ / ﻿51.51917°N 1.41667°E﻿ / 51.51917; 1.41667) with the loss of six of her 42 crew. The wreck was subsequently dispersed by explosives. |
| Watussi | Germany | World War II: The passenger ship was scuttled in the South Atlantic 50 nautical miles (93 km) south of Cape Agulhas, Union of South Africa after being spotted by a Junkers Ju 86 aircraft of the South African Air Force and approached by HMS Sussex ( Royal Navy), which rescued the 196 people on board. Watussi was shelled by HMS Renown ( Royal Navy) to quicken her sinking. |

## 3 December

List of shipwrecks: 3 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hamsterley | United Kingdom | The cargo ship collided with Accrington ( United Kingdom) in the North Sea off Happisburgh, Norfolk and sank with the loss of a crew member. |
| Manchester Regiment | United Kingdom | World War II: Convoy HXF 11: The cargo ship collided with Oropesa ( United Kingdom) and sank with the loss of nine of her 74 crew. Survivors were rescued by Oropesa. |
| Moortoft | United Kingdom | The cargo ship foundered in the North Sea with the loss of all thirteen crew. |
| M-31 | Soviet Navy | Winter War: The minesweeper ran aground off Cape Yarisinielmi whilst attempting to refloat Oranienbaum ( Soviet Navy). |
| M-37 | Soviet Navy | Winter War: The minesweeper ran aground and sprang a leak off Cape Yarisinielmi whilst attempting to refloat Oranienbaum ( Soviet Navy) and was abandoned by her crew. |
| Oranienbaum | Soviet Navy | Winter War: The gunboat ran aground off Cape Yarisinielmi whilst shelling a Finnish battery. She was refloated on 15 December and taken in to "Polutorno" for repairs. |
| Ove Toft | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (55°36′N 0°46′E﻿ / ﻿55.600°N 0.767°E﻿ / 55.600; 0.767) by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of six of her 21 crew. |
| Rudolf | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Firth of Tay (56°15′N 1°25′W﻿ / ﻿56.250°N 1.417°W﻿ / 56.250; -1.417) by U-56 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of nine of her 23 crew. Survivors were rescued by the fishing trawler Cardew ( United Kingdom), the naval trawler HMT Firefly ( Royal Navy) and the cargo ship Gunlög ( Sweden). |
| Tairoa | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the South Atlantic (21°30′S 3°00′E﻿ / ﻿21.500°S 3.000°E﻿ / -21.500; 3.000) by Admiral Graf Spee ( Kriegsmarine). Her crew were rescued. |
| 211 | Soviet Navy | The ship ran aground off Cape Yarisiniemei whilst attempting to assist in the refloating of Oranienbaum ( Soviet Navy). |

## 4 December

List of shipwrecks: 4 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Gimle | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57°15′N 1°50′E﻿ / ﻿57.250°N 1.833°E﻿ / 57.250; 1.833) by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of three of her nineteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Rudolf ( Norway). |
| 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°48′N 0°16′E﻿ / ﻿53.800°N 0.267°E﻿ / 53.800; 0.267) with the loss of five crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Jackal ( Royal Navy). |
| Primula | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 125 nautical miles (232 km) east of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (57°15′N 1°50′E﻿ / ﻿57.250°N 1.833°E﻿ / 57.250; 1.833) by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of eight of her fifteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Wm. Th. Malling ( Denmark). |
| U-36 | Kriegsmarine | World War II: The Type VIIA submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea off Stavanger, Norway (57°00′N 5°02′E﻿ / ﻿57.000°N 5.033°E﻿ / 57.000; 5.033) by HMS Salmon ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 40 crew. |
| UJ-117 Gustav Körner | Kriegsmarine | World War II: The submarine chaser struck a mine and sank in The Belts, Denmark. There were only two survivors and at least five dead. She was salvaged in June 1940, repaired and returned to service. |

## 5 December

List of shipwrecks: 5 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| M-71 | Soviet Navy | The M-class submarine was driven ashore and severely damaged on a skerry in Finnish waters. She was refloated and taken in to Cronstadt for repairs. |
| Navasota | United Kingdom | World War II: Convoy OB 46: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Celtic Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°43′N 10°16′W﻿ / ﻿50.717°N 10.267°W﻿ / 50.717; -10.267) by U-47 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 37 of her 82 crew. Survivors were rescued by Clan Farquhar ( United Kingdom) and HMS Escapade ( Royal Navy). |

## 6 December

List of shipwrecks: 6 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Agu | Estonia | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all eighteen crew. |
| Britta | Norway | World War II: The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) south west of the Longships Lighthouse, Cornwall, United Kingdom by U-47 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of six of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by the fishing trawler Memlinc ( Belgium). |
| Paralos | Greece | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) north east of North Foreland, Kent, United Kingdom (51°31′06″N 1°25′05″E﻿ / ﻿51.51833°N 1.41806°E﻿ / 51.51833; 1.41806) with the loss of three of her 25 crew. Survivors were rescued by Roek ( United Kingdom). |
| Shch-311 | Soviet Navy | The Shchuka-class submarine ran aground in the Baltic Sea. She was on a voyage from Cronstadt to Tallinn. She was refloated with assistance from the destroyer Karl Marx ( Soviet Navy) and put back to Cronstadt. |
| Ussukuma | Nazi Germany | World War II: The passenger ship was scuttled in the South Atlantic (100 nautical miles (190 km) south of Necochea, Argentina, when intercepted by HMS Ajax ( Royal Navy). All 107 crew were rescued and interned for the duration of the war. |
| Vinga | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (56°25′N 1°08′E﻿ / ﻿56.417°N 1.133°E﻿ / 56.417; 1.133) by U-31 ( Kriegsmarine). Her 22 crew were rescued by Transporter ( Denmark). |
| HMT Washington | Royal Navy | 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

List of shipwrecks: 7 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Heimat | Nazi Germany | World War II: The fishing boat was sunk in the Gulf of Gdansk by a mine laid by the Polish submarine ORP Wilk. |
| Louis Sheid | Belgium | World War II: The cargo ship ran aground off Thurlestone, Devon, United Kingdom (50°15′48″N 3°52′12″W﻿ / ﻿50.26333°N 3.87000°W﻿ / 50.26333; -3.87000) while escaping from U-47 ( Kriegsmarine). She broke in two and was declared a total loss. There were 46 survivors. |
| Scotia | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship (2,400 GRT, 1924) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57°31′N 2°17′E﻿ / ﻿57.517°N 2.283°E﻿ / 57.517; 2.283) by U-23 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 19 of her 21 crew. Survivors were rescued by Hafnia ( Denmark). |
| Streonshalh | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship was stopped in the Atlantic Ocean south of Trinidad (25°01′S 27°50′W﻿ / ﻿25.017°S 27.833°W﻿ / -25.017; -27.833) by Admiral Graf Spee ( Kriegsmarine) and was sunk with scuttling charges and gunfire after her 32 crew had been taken aboard the raider. |
| Tajandoen | Netherlands | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 40 nautical miles (74 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère, France (49°09′N 4°51′W﻿ / ﻿49.150°N 4.850°W﻿ / 49.150; -4.850) by U-47 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of six of her 68 crew. Survivors were rescued by Louis Sheid ( Belgium). |
| Thomas Walton | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea south of Svolvær, Norway (67°53′N 14°29′E﻿ / ﻿67.883°N 14.483°E﻿ / 67.883; 14.483) by U-38 ( Kriegsmarine with the loss of 13 of her 44 crew. Survivors were rescued by Irma ( Norway) and Sebu ( Germany). |
| Whintown | United Kingdom | The cargo ship collided with Leo ( United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of the Haisboro' Lightship ( Trinity House). |

## 8 December

List of shipwrecks: 8 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Adour | Belgium | The cargo ship (1,105 GRT, 1898) ran aground on rocks at Îles de Glénan, Finistère, France and sank. |
| Brandon | 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 nautical miles (220 km) off Land's End, Cornwall (50°28′N 8°28′W﻿ / ﻿50.467°N 8.467°W﻿ / 50.467; -8.467) by U-48 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of nine crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawlers Marie Jose Rosette ( Belgium) and Tritten ( United Kingdom). |
| 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 15 crew. Survivors were rescued by H F Bailey III ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). |
| Dinard | France | The coaster collided with Swynfleet ( United Kingdom) and sank in the English Channel off Deal, Kent. |
| Gambhria | United Kingdom | The cargo ship was sunk as a block ship in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands. She was raised in 1943 and taken to Liverpool Bay where she was used as an ASDIC target. |
| Merel | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in The Downs, Kent west of the Gull Lightship ( Trinity House) with the loss of sixteen of her eighteen crew. |
| Middlesbro' | United Kingdom | The cargo ship struck the wreck of Goodwood ( United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. The crew were rescued by Runeborg ( Sweden). |
| Moskva | Soviet Navy | Winter War: The minesweeper ran aground in Saunaniemi Bay whilst avoiding Finnish artillery fire. |
| M-30 | Soviet Navy | Winter War: The minesweeper ran aground in Saunaniemi Bay whilst avoiding Finnish artillery fire and was holed. An attempt was made to beach her, but she rammed the minesweeper M-416, which sank. M-30 was beached. |
| M-416 | Soviet Navy | Winter War: The minesweeper was rammed and sunk in Saunaniemi Bay by the minesweeper M-30 ( Soviet Navy). Her crew were rescued by the minesweepers M-412 and M-422 (both Soviet Navy). |

## 9 December

List of shipwrecks: 9 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| 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 ( Royal Navy), which rescued her 25 crew. |
| Magnus | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57°48′N 0°35′W﻿ / ﻿57.800°N 0.583°W﻿ / 57.800; -0.583) by U-20 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of eighteen of her nineteen crew. The survivor was rescued by the fishing trawler Philippe ( United Kingdom). |
| 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°20′N 9°45′W﻿ / ﻿49.333°N 9.750°W﻿ / 49.333; -9.750) by U-48 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one of her 37 crew. The ship broke in two, with the bow section sinking. Survivors were rescued by Alexandre Andre ( Belgium) but later reboarded the stern section and attempted to reach port. It was later scuttled by HMS Mackay ( Royal Navy). |

## 10 December

List of shipwrecks: 10 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Bolheim | Germany | World War II: Winter War: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Gulf of Bothnia off Mäntyluoto, Finland, 28 miles (45 km) south west of Sappi Lighthouse (61°26′N 21°04′E﻿ / ﻿61.433°N 21.067°E﻿ / 61.433; 21.067) by S-1 ( Soviet Navy). Three crewmen were killed. |
| Fire King | United Kingdom | The coaster collided with Duke of Lancaster ( United Kingdom) in the Irish Sea off the Point of Ayre, Isle of Man and sank. The wreck was dispersed in 1940. |
| Føina | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 160 nautical miles (300 km) west north west of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by U-20 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all eighteen crew. |
| 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. |
| Jotun | Norway | The coaster ran aground south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, United Kingdom and was wrecked. |
| Kabinda | Belgium | The cargo ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom (51°15′03″N 1°29′17″E﻿ / ﻿51.25083°N 1.48806°E﻿ / 51.25083; 1.48806) and broke in two. All 41 crewmen were rescued. She was declared a total loss. |
| Kassari | Estonia | World War II: Winter War: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea off Utö, Finland by S-323 ( Soviet Navy) with the loss of a crew member. |
| HMT Ray of Hope | Royal Navy | 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 ( Royal Navy). |
| Reinbeck | Germany | World War II: Winter War: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Finland (59°42′N 24°26′E﻿ / ﻿59.700°N 24.433°E﻿ / 59.700; 24.433) by S-322 ( Soviet Navy). |
| 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 in 1949. |
| Willowpool | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship either struck a mine and sank in the North Sea east of the Newarp Lightship ( Trinity House) (52°52′48″N 1°51′12″E﻿ / ﻿52.88000°N 1.85333°E﻿ / 52.88000; 1.85333), or was torpedoed and sunk by U-20 ( Kriegsmarine). All 36 crew were rescued by the Gorleston lifeboat Louise Stephens ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). |

## 11 December

List of shipwrecks: 11 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Garoufalia | Greece | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea (64°36′N 10°42′E﻿ / ﻿64.600°N 10.700°E﻿ / 64.600; 10.700) by U-38 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of four of her 29 crew. Survivors were rescued by Tellus ( Norway). |
| Storfjeld | Norway | The cargo ship ran aground on the Seaton Rocks, Northumberland, United Kingdom (55°05′15″N 1°28′00″W﻿ / ﻿55.08750°N 1.46667°W﻿ / 55.08750; -1.46667) and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued from the shore by the Coastguard life-saving apparatus. |

## 12 December

List of shipwrecks: 12 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Dionyssios Strathatos | Greece | The cargo ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean (58°31′N 21°55′W﻿ / ﻿58.517°N 21.917°W﻿ / 58.517; -21.917). |
| HMS Duchess | Royal Navy | The D-class destroyer collided with HMS Barham ( Royal Navy) 9 nautical miles (17 km) off the Mull of Kintyre and sank with the loss of 124 of her 145 crew. |
| 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. |
| Torö | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship (1,467 GRT, 1924) struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea (55°20′N 13°04′E﻿ / ﻿55.333°N 13.067°E﻿ / 55.333; 13.067). There were no casualties. |
| Vidovodan | Yugoslavia | The cargo ship ran aground off Natuna Island and was wrecked. |

## 13 December

List of shipwrecks: 13 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Algol | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship hit a mine between Trelleborg and Falsterbo (55°19′N 12°28′E﻿ / ﻿55.317°N 12.467°E﻿ / 55.317; 12.467) and sank. Six crew were rescued. She was salvaged in 1940, repaired and returned to service. |
| Ashkabad | Soviet Union | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Dunkerque, Nord, France by U-57 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of seventeen crew. |
| Deptford | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea off Honningsvåg, Norway (62°15′N 05°08′E﻿ / ﻿62.250°N 5.133°E﻿ / 62.250; 5.133﻿ (Deptford (ship))) by U-38 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 32 of her 37 crew. Survivors were rescued by HNoMS Firda ( Royal Norwegian Navy) and Nordnorge ( Norway). |
| Indigirka | Soviet Union | The passenger ship operated by Dalstroi ran aground when trying to enter the La Perouse Strait with a loss of 741 lives, most of them from the Gulag prison. |
| King Egbert | United Kingdom | World War II: Convoy FS 53: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) off Happisburgh, Norfolk and 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south west of the Haisborough Lightship ( Trinity House) with the loss of one of her 33 crew. The wreck was subsequently dispersed by explosives. |
| HSwMS Manligheten | Swedish Navy | The ship suffered an onboard explosion which killed six crew. |
| Mina | Estonia | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by U-57 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all seventeen crew. |
| Rosa | Belgium | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) off the mouth of the River Tyne (55°01′42″N 01°13′00″W﻿ / ﻿55.02833°N 1.21667°W﻿ / 55.02833; -1.21667) with the loss of a crew member. |
| HMT William Hallett | Royal Navy | World War II: The Strath-class trawler was sunk by a mine 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) off the mouth of the River Tyne with the loss of eight of her nine crew. The survivor was rescued by the fishing trawler Ben Arthur ( United Kingdom). |

## 14 December

List of shipwrecks: 14 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| F-9 | Kriegsmarine | World War II: The F-class escort ship was torpedoed and sunk off Heligoland by HMS Ursula ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 120 of her 135 crew. Survivors were rescued by Richard Beitzen ( Kriegsmarine). |
| Inverlane | United Kingdom | World War II: Convoy FN 54: The Inver-class tanker was mined and abandoned in the North Sea off Sunderland, County Durham (55°05′00″N 01°07′00″W﻿ / ﻿55.08333°N 1.11667°W﻿ / 55.08333; -1.11667) with the loss of four of her crew. She subsequently washed ashore at Seaburn, County Durham. The bow section was salvaged and used as a blockship at Scapa Flow. |
| HMT James Ludford | Royal Navy | World War II: The Mersey-class trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland (55°02′30″N 01°16′15″W﻿ / ﻿55.04167°N 1.27083°W﻿ / 55.04167; -1.27083) with the loss of seventeen of her eighteen crew. |
| HMS Kelly | Royal Navy | World War II: The K-class destroyer struck a mine in the North Sea and was severely damaged. Repairs took until 28 February 1940 to complete. |

## 15 December

List of shipwrecks: 15 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Germaine | Greece | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (51°00′N 12°18′W﻿ / ﻿51.000°N 12.300°W﻿ / 51.000; -12.300) by U-48 ( Kriegsmarine). Her crew were rescued by HMS Wanderer ( Royal Navy). |
| Harfry | United Kingdom | The cargo ship collided with Luso or Luso) ( Portugal) in the North Sea off Dunkerque, Nord, France and was beached. |
| H. C. Flood | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (55°02′00″N 01°12′00″W﻿ / ﻿55.03333°N 1.20000°W﻿ / 55.03333; -1.20000) with the loss of four of her 21 crew. |
| Ragni | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off the mouth of the River Tyne (55°02′N 1°12′W﻿ / ﻿55.033°N 1.200°W﻿ / 55.033; -1.200) with the loss of six of her nineteen crew. |
| Strindheim | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank off the mouth of the River Tyne (55°02′37″N 01°17′35″W﻿ / ﻿55.04361°N 1.29306°W﻿ / 55.04361; -1.29306) with the loss of nine of her eleven crew. |
| Ursus | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship (1,499 GRT, 1902) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea north of the North Foreland, Kent (51°35′N 1°36′E﻿ / ﻿51.583°N 1.600°E﻿ / 51.583; 1.600) with the loss of nine of her twenty crew. Survivors were rescued by the fishing trawler Brindus ( Netherlands). |
| Vindovan | Yugoslavia | The cargo ship was wrecked on Great Netuna, Netherlands East Indies. |

## 16 December

List of shipwrecks: 16 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Amble | United Kingdom | World War II: The tanker struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Sunderland, County Durham. Her crew were rescued by HMS Wallace ( Royal Navy). Amble came ashore between Sunderland and Whitburn. She was refloated on 25 December but declared a constructive total loss and scrapped. |
| HMT Evelina | Royal Navy | World War II: The naval trawler was sunk by a mine off the mouth of the River Tyne with the loss of all nine crew. |
| Glitrefjell | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (56°14′N 1°04′E﻿ / ﻿56.233°N 1.067°E﻿ / 56.233; 1.067) by U-59 ( Kriegsmarine) at with the loss of five of her eighteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Icarion ( Greece) and HMS Icarus ( Royal Navy). |
| Lister | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (55°13′N 1°33′E﻿ / ﻿55.217°N 1.550°E﻿ / 55.217; 1.550) off Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom by U-59 ( Kriegsmarine) 130 nautical miles (240 km). Six crew were rescued by HMS Eclipse ( Royal Navy), with all the rest reaching the Danish coast in a lifeboat. There were no casualties. |
| HMT Sedgefly | Royal Navy | World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank off the mouth of the River Tyne with the loss of all sixteen crew. |

## 17 December

List of shipwrecks: 17 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Admiral Graf Spee | Kriegsmarine | Admiral Graf Spee World War II: Battle of the River Plate: The Deutschland-class cruiser (12,340/16,020 t, 1936) was scuttled off Montevideo, Uruguay rather than engage with the Allies or be interned. |
| Bogø | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) east of the Isle of May, Fife, United Kingdom (56°12′N 0°17′W﻿ / ﻿56.200°N 0.283°W﻿ / 56.200; -0.283) by U-59 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of seventeen of her twenty crew. Survivors were rescued by the fishing trawler River Earn ( United Kingdom). |
| Compagnus | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing vessel was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 150 nautical miles (280 km) east by north of the Isle of May by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by Colleague ( United Kingdom). |
| Eileen Wray | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing 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 fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 145 nautical miles (269 km) east by north of the Isle of May by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. Her crew were rescued. |
| Jaegersborg | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by U-59 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all eighteen crew. |
| Pearl | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east by south of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( Trinity House) by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe with the loss of a crew member. |
| Serenity | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk 8 nautical miles (15 km) east north east of Whitby, Yorkshire by Luftwaffe aircraft. All eight crew were rescued by a lifeboat. |
| Zelos | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) east by north of the Isle of May by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. |

## 18 December

List of shipwrecks: 18 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Active | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the Moray Firth 30 nautical miles (56 km) north by west of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by Caribineer II ( United Kingdom). |
| Trinity N. B. | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire (57°50′N 1°30′W﻿ / ﻿57.833°N 1.500°W﻿ / 57.833; -1.500) by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe, with the loss of two of her crew. Survivors were rescued by Smart ( Denmark). |

## 19 December

List of shipwrecks: 19 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Columbus | Germany | World War II: The passenger ship was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean 450 nautical miles (830 km) east of Cape May, New Jersey, United States (38°01′N 65°41′W﻿ / ﻿38.017°N 65.683°W﻿ / 38.017; -65.683) by HMS Hyperion ( Royal Navy) and was scuttled by her crew with the loss of two lives. |
| 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 ( Trinity House) (52°34′54″N 1°59′30″E﻿ / ﻿52.58167°N 1.99167°E﻿ / 52.58167; 1.99167) with the loss of one of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMT Tumby ( Royal Navy). |
| Daneden | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea east south east of the Shetland Islands by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. |
| Jytte | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) off Souter Point, Northumberland, United Kingdom with the loss of ten of her eighteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Avance ( Denmark). |
| River Earn | United Kingdom | World War II: The fishing trawler was bombed and sunk in the North Sea east north east of Kinnaird Head (58°30′N 2°01′E﻿ / ﻿58.500°N 2.017°E﻿ / 58.500; 2.017) by aircraft of X Fliegerkorps, Luftwaffe. All on board were rescued by Rogaland ( Norway). |
| Uko | Finland | World War II: The coaster was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) south of Utsira, Norway by Luftwaffe aircraft. All on board were rescued by Sir Ernest Cassel ( Sweden). |
| Voima | Merivoimat | The minelayer/naval tug was lost by grounding. |

## 20 December

List of shipwrecks: 20 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Adolf Bratt | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Terschelling, Friesland, Netherlands (53°28′N 5°08′E﻿ / ﻿53.467°N 5.133°E﻿ / 53.467; 5.133) with the loss of five of the 22 people on board. Survivors were rescued by Auseklis ( Latvia). |
| Mars | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) east of St Mary's Lighthouse, off Blyth, Northumberland, United Kingdom (55°03′48″N 1°23′59″W﻿ / ﻿55.06333°N 1.39972°W﻿ / 55.06333; -1.39972) with the loss of seven of her 22 crew. |
| HMS Napia | Royal Navy | World War II: The tug struck a mine and sank in The Downs, off Deal, Kent (51°15′45″N 1°25′00″E﻿ / ﻿51.26250°N 1.41667°E﻿ / 51.26250; 1.41667) with the loss of all eight crew. |
| Vega | 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. Her seventeen crew were rescued by Venern ( Sweden). |

## 21 December

List of shipwrecks: 21 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Bayonet | Royal Navy | World War II: The Net-class 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. |
| Carl Henckel | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 90 nautical miles (170 km) off Aberdeen, United Kingdome (57°00′N 0°17′E﻿ / ﻿57.000°N 0.283°E﻿ / 57.000; 0.283) with the loss of ten crew and 2 of the 3 survivors of Mars ( Sweden). Survivors were rescued by Hop ( Norway). |
| Comitas | Italy | 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. There were no casualties and 28 survivors. She later broke in two, a total loss. |
| Danube IV | United Kingdom | The tug collided with Southern Prince ( United Kingdom) in the Clyde and sank. |
| Mars | Sweden | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the Isle of May, Fife, United kingdom (57°00′N 0°20′E﻿ / ﻿57.000°N 0.333°E﻿ / 57.000; 0.333) by U-21 ( Kriegsmarine). Three of her nineteen crew were rescued by Carl Henckel ( Sweden), but two of them were killed when she was sunk just after, leaving only one survivor. |
| Rudolf | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (58°07′N 1°32′E﻿ / ﻿58.117°N 1.533°E﻿ / 58.117; 1.533) by U-46 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of six of her thirteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Biarritz and Bjerka (both Norway). |
| Southern Prince | United Kingdom | The cargo ship collided with Danube IV ( United Kingdom) in the Clyde and was beached. She was refloated on 23 December, repaired and returned to service. |

## 22 December

List of shipwrecks: 22 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMT Dromio | Royal Navy | The naval trawler collided with Valentino ( Italy) and sank in the North Sea off Whitby, Yorkshire. |
| 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 River Tyne. |
| Longships | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship ran aground on the Seven Stones Reef, between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Her crew were rescued by the St Mary's lifeboat Cunard ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution). She broke in two a week later. |

## 23 December

List of shipwrecks: 23 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Glen Albyn | Royal Navy | World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in Loch Ewe. |
| Dolphin | United Kingdom | World War II: The decommissioned former repair ship (3,099 GRT, 1902) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (55°06′05″N 01°27′09″W﻿ / ﻿55.10139°N 1.45250°W﻿ / 55.10139; -1.45250) whilst under tow to be sunk as a blockship. All seven crew were rescued. |
| Kizilrmak | Turkey | The cargo ship sank in the Black Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) off the Sinop Lighthouse. |
| HMT Promotive | Royal Navy | World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine and sank in Loch Ewe. |

## 25 December

List of shipwrecks: 25 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Edenwood | United Kingdom | The collier collided with HMS Derbyshire ( Royal Navy) and sank in the English Channel east of Bembridge, Isle of Wight. |
| Lappen | Norway | The cargo ship was sunk by an explosion in the Norwegian Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Bergen. Her crew were rescued by HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen ( Royal Norwegian Navy). The explosion was later attributed to barratry. |
| HMT Loch Doon | Royal Navy | World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) off Blyth, Northumberland with the loss of all fifteen crew. |
| Stanholme | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Bristol Channel (51°20′N 3°39′W﻿ / ﻿51.333°N 3.650°W﻿ / 51.333; -3.650) with the loss of thirteen of her 24 crew. Survivors were rescued by Liv ( Norway). |
| Tanger | Germany | The cargo ship (1,742 GRT, 1923) collided with Vulkan ( Germany) and sank in the North Sea off Brunsbüttel. |
| Torwood | Norway | World War II: The coaster struck a mine in the North Sea west of Karmøy and was damaged. She sank the next day with the loss of four of her eleven crew. Survivors were rescued by Hild ( Norway). |

## 26 December

List of shipwrecks: 26 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Glücksburg | Germany | World War II: The cargo ship was intercepted by HMS Wishart ( Royal Navy) and deliberately ran aground by her crew near the Chipiona Lightship ( Spain) off 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. |
| HMS Triumph | Royal Navy | World War II: The T-class submarine struck a mine in the North Sea. She was severely damaged, losing 18 feet (5.5 m) of her bow. Repairs took until 27 September 1940 to complete. |

## 27 December

List of shipwrecks: 27 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| 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. (Look 25/12/1939) |

## 28 December

List of shipwrecks: 28 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMT Barbara Robertson | Royal Navy | World War II: The Mersey-class trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north west of the Butt of Lewis by U-30 ( Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one of her seventeen crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Isis ( Royal Navy). |
| Hanne | Denmark | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) east of Blyth, Northumberland, United Kingdom (55°06′25″N 01°29′14″W﻿ / ﻿55.10694°N 1.48722°W﻿ / 55.10694; -1.48722} with the loss of fifteen of her 40 crew. |
| Resercho | United Kingdom | World War II: The trawler (258 GRT, 1917) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. Her ten crew were rescued. |

## 29 December

List of shipwrecks: 29 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Cabo San Antonio | Spain | The cargo liner (12,275 GRT, 1930) caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean 400 nautical miles (740 km) west of Conakry, French Guinea (10°01′N 21°00′W﻿ / ﻿10.017°N 21.000°W﻿ / 10.017; -21.000) and was abandoned with the loss of five passengers. Survivors were rescued by Cassard ( French Navy). Cabo San Antonio was scuttled by the French destroyer on 31 December as she became a danger to navigation. |
| Neptun | Germany | The coaster ran aground in the Kattegat off Varberg, Sweden and was wrecked. |
| Wilpas | Finland | World War II: Winter War: The coaster was sunk by gunfire in the Gulf of Bothnia off Vaasa by ShhC-311 ( Soviet Navy). |

## 30 December

List of shipwrecks: 30 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Telma | Finland | The cargo ship was sunk by ice in the Gulf of Bothnia off Oulu. Her fifteen crew were rescued. |
| V 704 Claus Wish | Kriegsmarine | World War II: The Einswarden-class naval trawler/vorpostenboot ran aground east of Trelleborg, Sweden, possibly after hitting a mine. Her crew were rescued, except for two men. She was a total loss. |

## 31 December

List of shipwrecks: 31 December 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Adeline | Belgium | World War II: The fishing vessel was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off the Noordhinder Lightship ( Netherlands). |
| Box Hill | United Kingdom | World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Humber Lightship ( Trinity House) (53°32′N 0°24′E﻿ / ﻿53.533°N 0.400°E﻿ / 53.533; 0.400) with the loss of twenty of her 32 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Ivanhoe ( Royal Navy) and another ship. The wreck was dispersed by explosives in 1952. |
| Luna | Norway | World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (58°48′N 3°20′E﻿ / ﻿58.800°N 3.333°E﻿ / 58.800; 3.333) by U-32 ( Kriegsmarine). Her crew were rescued by Colombia ( Norway). |

## Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1939 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Kiviniemi | Merivoimat | Winter War: The minelayer was sunk in early December by an explosion of one of her mines while being placed. Four of her crew were killed. |
| Maud Mary | Poland | The schooner sank in Poole Bay. |