# List of ships sunk by submarines by death toll

While submarines were invented centuries ago, development of self-propelled torpedoes during the latter half of the 19th century dramatically increased the effectiveness of military submarines.
Initial submarine scouting patrols against surface warships sank several cruisers during the first month of World War I. Incidental submarine encounters with merchant ships were performed by signalling ships to stop, then sinking them after evacuation of the crew, in accordance with international law. After unrestricted submarine warfare began in February 1915, any ship could be sunk unexpectedly from the heavy underwater hull damage inflicted by torpedoes. Many large ships sank without their crews being able to alert friendly forces in time, and the submarines which sank them were too small to rescue more than a few survivors.
Many personnel casualties continued through World War II, and there have been a few later sinkings.

## List of ships sunk by submarines by death toll (exceeding 150)

| Deaths | Name | Type | National affiliation | Date | Submarine | National affiliation |
| 9,343 | Wilhelm Gustloff | Cruise ship converted into a military transport serving as evacuation ship | Germany | 30 January 1945 | S-13 | Soviet Union |
| 6,500 | Goya | Freighter converted into a troop transport serving as evacuation ship | Germany | 16 April 1945 | L-3 | Soviet Union |
| 5,620 | Junyō Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 18 September 1944 | HMS Tradewind | United Kingdom |
| 5,400 | Toyama Maru | Troopship | Japan | 29 June 1944 | USS Sturgeon | United States |
| 4,998 | Ryusei Maru | Troopship | Japan | 24 February 1944 | USS Rasher | United States |
| 4,406-4,755 | Tamatsu Maru | Troopship | Japan | 19 August 1944 | USS Spadefish | United States |
| 3,608 | General von Steuben | Ocean liner converted into a troop transport serving as evacuation ship | Germany | 10 February 1945 | S-13 | Soviet Union |
| 3,546 | Mayasan Maru | Troopship | Japan | 18 November 1944 | USS Picuda | United States |
| 3,219 | Nikkin Maru | Troopship | Japan | 30 June 1944 | USS Tang | United States |
| 3,000 | Tango Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 24 February 1944 | USS Rasher | United States |
| 2,765 | Lima Maru [ja] | Troopship | Japan | 8 February 1944 | USS Snook | United States |
| 2,670 | Petrella | Prisoner transport | Germany | 8 February 1944 | HMS Sportsman | United Kingdom |
| 2,665 | Teia Maru | Troopship | Japan | 19 August 1944 | USS Rasher | United States |
| 2,649 | Yoshida Maru No. 1 | Troopship | Japan | 26 April 1944 | USS Jack | United States |
| 2,495 | Yoshino Maru | Troopship | Japan | 31 July 1944 | USS Parche | United States |
| 2,475 | Sakito Maru | Troopship | Japan | 1 March 1944 | USS Trout | United States |
| 2,246 | Akitsu Maru | Escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Army | Japan | 14 November 1944 | USS Queenfish | United States |
| 2,134 | Hawaii Maru | Troopship | Japan | 2 December 1944 | USS Sea Devil | United States |
| 2,113 | Edogawa Maru | Troopship | Japan | 17 November 1944 | USS Sunfish | United States |
| 2,089 | Dainichi Maru | Troopship | Japan | 8 October 1943 | USS Gurnard | United States |
| 2,035 | Kamakura Maru | Troopship | Japan | 28 April 1943 | USS Gudgeon | United States |
| 2,008 | Awa Maru | Ocean liner | Japan | 1 April 1945 | USS Queenfish | United States |
| 2,000 | Ural Maru | Ocean liner | Japan | 27 September 1944 | USS Flasher | United States |
| 2,000 | Salzburg | Transport ship serving as prisoner transport | Germany | 1 October 1942 | M-118 | Soviet Union |
| 1,934 | Nichiren Maru | Troopship | Japan | 16 March 1944 | USS Tautog | United States |
| 1,926 | Principe Umberto | Troopship | Italy | 8 June 1916 | SM U-5 | Austria-Hungary |
| 1,773 | Arisan Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 24 October 1944 | USS Snook or USS Shark | United States |
| 1,747 | Arabia Maru | Troopship | Japan | 18 October 1944 | USS Bluegill | United States |
| 1,704 | Denmark Maru | Troopship | Japan | 16 January 1944 | USS Whale | United States |
| 1,658 | Laconia | Ocean liner/Troopship | United Kingdom | 12 September 1942 | U-156 | Germany |
| 1,650 | Taihō | Aircraft carrier | Japan | 19 June 1944 | USS Albacore | United States |
| 1,602 | Daisyō Maru | Troopship | Japan | 26 October 1944 | USS Drum | United States |
| 1,576 | Marei Maru | Troopship | Japan | 25 January 1945 | USS Silversides | United States |
| 1,540 | Kōshū Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 4 August 1944 | USS Ray | United States |
| 1,539 | Kenzui Maru | Troopship | Japan | 23 December 1944 | USS Blenny | United States |
| 1,529 | Tsushima Maru | Cargo liner serving as evacuation ship | Japan | 22 August 1944 | USS Bowfin | United States |
| 1,471 | Jinyō Maru | Troopship | Japan | 7 December 1944 | USS Trepang | United States |
| 1,451 | Hakuyo Maru | Troopship | Japan | 25 October 1944 | USS Seal | United States |
| 1,450 | Maebashi Maru | Troopship | Japan | 30 September 1943 | USS Pogy | United States |
| 1,435 | Shinano | Aircraft carrier | Japan | 29 November 1944 | USS Archerfish | United States |
| 1,428 | Shiranesan Maru | Troopship | Japan | 19 October 1944 | USS Raton | United States |
| 1,400 | Tatsuta Maru | Troopship | Japan | 9 February 1943 | USS Tarpon | United States |
| 1,394 | Mizuho Maru | Troopship | Japan | 21 September 1944 | USS Redfish | United States |
| 1,384 | Fuso Maru | Troopship | Japan | 31 July 1944 | USS Steelhead | United States |
| 1,338 | Gallia | Troopship | France | 8 October 1916 | SM U-35 | Germany |
| 1,310 | Awata Maru | Troopship | Japan | 22 October 1943 | USS Grayback | United States |
| 1,300 | Ashigara | Heavy cruiser | Japan | 8 June 1945 | HMS Trenchant | United Kingdom |
| 1,291 | Conte Rosso | Troopship | Italy | 24 May 1941 | HMS Upholder | United Kingdom |
| 1,279 | Khedive Ismail | Troopship | United Kingdom | 12 February 1944 | I-27 | Japan |
| 1,273 | Tsuyama Maru | Troopship | Japan | 2 October 1944 | USS Pomfret | United States |
| 1,272 | Shōkaku | Aircraft carrier | Japan | 19 June 1944 | USS Cavalla | United States |
| 1,262 | Nichiran Maru | Troopship | Japan | 12 July 1944 | USS Piranha | United States |
| 1,250 | Chūyō | Escort carrier | Japan | 4 December 1943 | USS Sailfish | United States |
| 1,240 | Unryū | Aircraft carrier | Japan | 19 December 1944 | USS Redfish | United States |
| 1,197 | Lusitania | Ocean liner | United Kingdom | 7 May 1915 | SM U-20 | Germany |
| 1,200 | Takachiho Maru [ja] | Ocean liner | Japan | 19 March 1943 | USS Kingfish | United States |
| 1,200 | Kongō | Battleship or battlecruiser | Japan | 21 November 1944 | USS Sealion | United States |
| 1,188 | Yasukuni Maru | Troopship | Japan | 24 January 1944 | USS Trigger | United States |
| 1,184 | Rashin Maru | Troopship | Japan | 8 August 1945 | USS Pargo | United States |
| 1,159 | Rakuyo Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 12 September 1944 | USS Sealion | United States |
| 1,130 | Shinyo | Escort carrier | Japan | 17 November 1944 | USS Spadefish | United States |
| 1,118 | Hakozaki Maru | Ocean liner | Japan | 19 March 1945 | USS Balao | United States |
| 1,073 | Fukuyo Maru | Troopship | Japan | 6 December 1944 | USS Segundo | United States |
| 1,053 | Montevideo Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 1 July 1942 | USS Sturgeon | United States |
| 995 | Galilea | Troopship | Italy | 28 March 1942 | HMS Proteus | United Kingdom |
| 956 | Taihei Maru | Troopship | Japan | 9 July 1944 | USS Sunfish | United States |
| 935 | HMT Royal Edward | Troopship | United Kingdom | 13 August 1915 | SM UB-14 | Germany |
| 921 | Città di Palermo | Armed merchant cruiser serving as troopship | Italy | 5 January 1942 | HMS Proteus | United Kingdom |
| 930 | La Provence | Troopship | France | 26 February 1916 | SM U-35 | Germany |
| 883 | USS Indianapolis | Heavy cruiser | United States | 30 July 1945 | I-58 | Japan |
| 880 | Verona | Troopship | Italy | 11 May 1918 | SM UC-52 | Germany |
| 870 | Minas | Troopship | Italy | 15 February 1917 | SM U-39 | Germany |
| 866 | Scillin | Cargo ship serving as POW ship | Italy | 14 November 1942 | HMS Sahib | United Kingdom |
| 865 | Arandora Star | Ocean liner serving as POW ship | United Kingdom | 2 July 1940 | U-47 | Germany |
| 862 | HMS Barham | Battleship | United Kingdom | 25 November 1941 | U-331 | Germany |
| 856 | Nova Scotia | Troopship/POW ship | United Kingdom | 28 November 1942 | U-177 | Germany |
| 856 | Tenryō Maru | Troopship | Japan | 29 May 1945 | USS Sterlet | United States |
| 846 | Lisbon Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 1 October 1942 | USS Grouper | United States |
| 819 | Leopoldville | Troopship | Belgium | 24 December 1944 | U-486 | Germany |
| 817 | Taiyō Maru [ja] | Ocean liner | Japan | 8 May 1942 | USS Grenadier | United States |
| 810 | Akane Maru | Troopship | Japan | 6 October 1944 | USS Whale | United States |
| 800 | Francesco Crispi | Troopship | Italy | 19 April 1943 | HMS Saracen | United Kingdom |
| 786 | HMS Royal Oak | Battleship | United Kingdom | 14 October 1939 | U-47 | Germany |
| 768 | Struma | Motor schooner | Panama | 24 February 1942 | Shch-213 | Soviet Union |
| 754 | Athos | Ocean liner | France | 17 February 1917 | SM U-65 | Germany |
| 747 | Taiyō | Escort carrier | Japan | 18 August 1944 | USS Rasher | United States |
| 740 | Le Calvados | Troopship | France | 4 November 1915 | SM U-38 | Germany |
| 700 | Shuntien | Coastal merchant ship serving as POW ship | United Kingdom | 23 December 1941 | U-559 | Germany |
| 688 | Shinyō Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 7 September 1944 | USS Paddle | United States |
| 686 | Taisei Maru | Troopship | Japan | 19 April 1945 | USS Sunfish | United States |
| 684 | Léon Gambetta | Armored cruiser | France | 27 April 1915 | SM U-5 | Austria-Hungary |
| 683 | USS Juneau | Anti-Air cruiser | United States | 13 November 1942 | I-26 | Japan |
| 675 | Dorchester | Troopship | United States | 3 February 1943 | U-223 | Germany |
| 672 | SMS Prinz Adalbert | Armored cruiser | Germany | 23 October 1915 | HMS E8 | United Kingdom |
| 668 | Nikkō Maru | Passenger and cargo ship | Japan | 9 April 1945 | USS Tirante | United States |
| 667 | Taito Maru | Cargo ship serving as evacuation ship | Japan | 22 August 1945 | L-12 | Soviet Union |
| 658 | Tateyama Maru | Troopship | Japan | 1 March 1945 | USS Sterlet | United States |
| 656 | Sanka Maru | Troopship | Japan | 10 March 1945 | USS Kete | United States |
| 654 | Ceramic | Ocean liner | United Kingdom | 7 December 1942 | U-515 | Germany |
| 648 | Suffren | Pre-dreadnought battleship | France | 26 November 1916 | SM U-52 | Germany |
| 644 | USS Liscombe Bay | Escort carrier | United States | 24 November 1943 | I-175 | Japan |
| 643 | HMS Hampshire | Armored cruiser | United Kingdom | 5 June 1916 | SM U-75 | Germany |
| 638 | Sant Anna | Troopship | France | 11 May 1918 | SM UC-54 | Germany |
| 638 | Ogasawara Maru [ja] | Cable layer serving as evacuation ship | Japan | 22 August 1945 | L-12 | Soviet Union |
| 615 | Suez Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 29 November 1943 | USS Bonefish | United States |
| 611 | Sidi-Bel-Abbès | Troopship | France | 20 April 1943 | U-565 | Germany |
| 610 | HMT Aragon | Troopship | United Kingdom | 30 December 1917 | SM UC-34 | Germany |
| 599 | America Maru | Ocean liner serving as evacuation ship | Japan | 6 March 1944 | USS Nautilus | United States |
| 597 | Pallada | Protected cruiser | Russia | 11 October 1914 | SM U-26 | Germany |
| 595 | Tamahoko Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 24 June 1944 | USS Tang | United States |
| 574 | Nigitsu Maru | Depot ship serving as troopship | Japan | 12 January 1944 | USS Hake | United States |
| 570 | Trento | Heavy cruiser | Italy | 15 June 1942 | HMS Umbra | United Kingdom |
| 564 | Leinster | Irish Sea Ferry | United Kingdom | 10 October 1918 | SM UB-123 | Germany |
| 562 | HMS Cressy | Armored cruiser | United Kingdom | 22 September 1914 | SM U-9 | Germany |
| 555 | Euterpe | Troopship | Austria-Hungary | 11 August 1918 | F 7 | Italy |
| 547 | HMS Formidable | Pre-dreadnought battleship | United Kingdom | 1 January 1915 | SM U-24 | Germany |
| 544 | Konron Maru [ja] | Troopship | Japan | 5 October 1943 | USS Wahoo | United States |
| 527 | HMS Aboukir | Armored cruiser | United Kingdom | 22 September 1914 | SM U-9 | Germany |
| 526 | HMS Hawke | Protected cruiser | United Kingdom | 15 October 1914 | SM U-9 | Germany |
| 523 | Aden Maru | Troopship | Japan | 6 May 1944 | USS Gurnard | United States |
| 518 | HMS Courageous | Aircraft carrier | United Kingdom | 17 September 1939 | U-29 | Germany |
| 514 | HMS Avenger | Escort carrier | United Kingdom | 15 November 1942 | U-155 | Germany |
| 503 | Nankin Maru | Troopship | Japan | 17 March 1945 | USS Spot | United States |
| 500~ | Rooseboom | Troopship | Netherlands | 1 March 1942 | I-59 | Japan |
| 497 | Tembien | Cargo ship serving as POW ship | Italy | 27 February 1942 | HMS Upholder | United Kingdom |
| 488 | Kachidoki Maru [ja] | Prisoner transport | Japan | 12 September 1944 | USS Pampanito | United States |
| 484 | Yoma | Troopship | United Kingdom | 17 June 1943 | U-81 | Germany |
| 484 | Armando Diaz | Light cruiser | Italy | 25 February 1941 | HMS Upright | United Kingdom |
| 470 | HMS Galatea | Light cruiser | United Kingdom | 14 December 1941 | U-557 | Germany |
| 461 | Ikoma Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 20 January 1944 | USS Seahorse | United States |
| 452 | Kenjo Maru | Troopship | Japan | 7 December 1944 | USS Razorback | United States |
| 450 | Bahia Laura | Troopship | Germany | 30 August 1941 | HMS Trident | United Kingdom |
| 450 | Tama | Light cruiser | Japan | 20 October 1944 | USS Jallao | United States |
| 448 | Seisho Maru | Troopship | Japan | 18 November 1944 | USS Sunfish | United States |
| 440 | Asama Maru | Prisoner transport | Japan | 1 November 1944 | USS Atule | United States |
| 436 | Djemnah | Ocean liner | France | 14 July 1918 | SM UB-105 | Germany |
| 432 | Città di Messina | Troopship | Italy | 12 January 1941 | HMS Regent | United Kingdom |
| 419 | HMS Dunedin | Light cruiser | United Kingdom | 24 November 1941 | U-124 | Germany |
| 417 | HMS Penelope | Light cruiser | United Kingdom | 18 February 1944 | U-410 | Germany |
| 414 | Transylvania | Troopship | United Kingdom | 4 May 1917 | SM U-63 | Germany |
| 400 | Balkan | Troopship | France | 16 August 1918 | SM UB-48 | Germany |
| 392 | Empress of Canada | Troopship | United Kingdom | 13 March 1943 | Leonardo da Vinci | Italy |
| 381 | Giovanni delle Bande Nere | Light cruiser | Italy | 1 April 1942 | HMS Urge | United Kingdom |
| 379 | Brazza | Ocean liner | France | 28 May 1940 | U-37 | Germany |
| 375 | HMS Hogue | Armored cruiser | United Kingdom | 22 September 1914 | SM U-9 | Germany |
| 374 | Amiral Charner | Armored cruiser | France | 8 February 1916 | SM U-21 | Germany |
| 373 | Marina Raskova | Merchant ship | Soviet Union | 13 August 1944 | U-365 | Germany |
| 369 | HMS Fidelity | Q-ship | United Kingdom | 30 December 1942 | U-435 | Germany |
| 364 | Doggerbank | Blockade runner | Germany | 3 March 1943 | U-43 | Germany |
| 362 | Abosso | Ocean liner | United Kingdom | 29 October 1942 | U-575 | Germany |
| 360 | Calabria | Cargo and passenger liner | United Kingdom | 8 December 1940 | U-103 | Germany |
| 360 | Almeda Star | Ocean liner | United Kingdom | 17 January 1941 | U-96 | Germany |
| 360 | Atago | Heavy cruiser | Japan | 23 October 1944 | USS Darter | United States |
| 349 | Nagara | Light cruiser | Japan | 7 August 1944 | USS Croaker | United States |
| 344 | Medjerda | Troopship | France | 11 May 1917 | SM U-34 | Germany |
| 343 | Emma | Cargo ship/Troopship | Italy | 16 January 1943 | HMS Splendid | United Kingdom |
| 336 | Maya | Heavy cruiser | Japan | 23 October 1944 | USS Dace | United States |
| 336 | Diana | Aviso/Sloop | Italy | 29 June 1942 | HMS Thrasher | United Kingdom |
| 334 | Persia | Ocean liner | United Kingdom | 30 December 1915 | SM U-38 | Germany |
| 330 | Natori | Light cruiser | Japan | 18 August 1944 | USS Hardhead | United States |
| 323 | ARA General Belgrano | Light cruiser | Argentina | 2 May 1982 | HMS Conqueror | United Kingdom |
| 320 | Sebastiano Venier | Cargo ship serving as POW ship | Italy | 9 December 1941 | HMS Porpoise | United Kingdom |
| 307 | Urakaze | Destroyer | Japan | 21 November 1944 | USS Sealion II | United States |
| 305 | Mefküre | Motor schooner | Turkey | 5 August 1944 | Shch-215 | Soviet Union |
| 300 | Andrea Sgarallino | Passenger ship | Italy | 22 September 1943 | HMS Uproar | United Kingdom |
| 272 | Henry R. Mallory | Troopship | United States | 7 February 1943 | U-402 | Germany |
| 270 | Baependy | Cargo liner | Brazil | 15 August 1942 | U-507 | Germany |
| 268 | AHS Centaur | Hospital ship | Australia | 14 May 1943 | I-177 | Japan |
| 258 | City of Benares | Ocean liner serving as child evacuation ship | United Kingdom | 17 September 1940 | U-48 | Germany |
| 226 | Yamakaze | Destroyer | Japan | 25 June 1942 | USS Nautilus | United States |
| 194 | INS Khukri | Frigate | India | 9 December 1971 | PNS Hangor | Pakistan |
| 193 | USS Wasp | Aircraft carrier | United States | 15 September 1942 | I-19 | Japan |