List of shipwrecks in October 1940

The list of shipwrecks in October 1940 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during October 1940.

1 October

For the loss of SS Haulerwijk on the day, see the entry for 30 September 1940

2 October

3 October

4 October

5 October

6 October

7 October

8 October

9 October

10 October

11 October

12 October

List of shipwrecks: 12 October 1940

Ship	State	Description
Ariel	Regia Marina	World War II: Battle of Cape Passero: The Spica-class torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the Ionian Sea (35°37′N 16°42′E) by HMS Ajax (Royal Navy). There were 98 dead and 41 survivors.
Airone	Regia Marina	World War II: Battle of Cape Passero: The Spica-class torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the Ionian Sea (35°37′N 16°42′E) by HMS Ajax (Royal Navy). There were 59 dead and between 81 and 84 survivors, who were rescued by Alcione (Regia Marina).
Artigliere	Regia Marina	World War II: Battle of Cape Passero: The Soldati-class destroyer was shelled and severely damaged in the Ionian Sea by HMS Ajax (Royal Navy) and then shelled and sunk at (35°47′N 16°25′E) by HMS York (Royal Navy). There were 132 dead and 122 survivors. The wreck was located in June 2017.
B D Co. No. 2	United States	The scow foundered 70 nautical miles (130 km; 81 mi) south south west of Cape Etolin, Territory of Alaska. No one was aboard her when she sank.
Brandenburg	Germany	World War II: The rescue ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Calais, France by MTB 22, MTB 31 and MTB 32 (all Royal Navy) with the loss of fifteen lives.
Chasseur 6	French Navy	World War II: The naval trawler / submarine chaser was torpedoed and sunk by Greif (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of eight of her nineteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Greif and made prisoners of war.
Chasseur 7	French Navy	World War II: The naval trawler / submarine chaser was torpedoed and sunk by Greif (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of twelve of her nineteen crew. Survivors were rescued by Greif and made prisoners of war.
Davanger	Norway	World War II: Convoy HX 77: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom (57°00′N 19°10′W) by U-48 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of seventeen of her 29 crew.
Nordenham	Germany	World War II: The rescue ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Calais by MTB 22. MTB 31 and MTB 32 (all Royal Navy). Thirty-four people were taken as prisoners of war.
Orao	Yugoslavia	World War II: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar (35°34′N 10°35′W) by Enrico Tazzoli (Regia Marina) with the loss of two of her 35 crew.
Pacific Ranger	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy HX 77: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of County Donegal, Ireland (56°20′N 11°43′W) by U-59 (Kriegsmarine). All 53 crew survived. Some were rescued by one of the escorting ships, others by the fishing trawler Þormóður ( Iceland) and some made land in their lifeboat.
HMT Resolvo	Royal Navy	World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine in the Thames Estuary north east of Sheerness, Kent and was severely damaged. Her crew were rescued by HMT Peter Carey (Royal Navy). Resolvo was beached the next day at Sheerness and abandoned.
S-37	Kriegsmarine	World War II: The E-boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Orfordness, Suffolk, United Kingdom. Thirteen of her 26 crew were killed; two of the survivors later died of their wounds.
Saint Malô	Canada	World War II: Convoy HX 77: The cargo ship straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom (57°58′N 16°32′W) by U-101 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 28 of her 44 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Salvonia (Royal Navy).
Torne	Sweden	World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled by the Germans at Narvik, Norway. She was refloated in 1955 and scrapped.

13 October

14 October

15 October

16 October

17 October

18 October

List of shipwrecks: 18 October 1940

Ship	State	Description
Beatus	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°31′N 13°10′W) by U-46 (Kriegsmarine) Her 37 crew were rescued by HMS Bluebell (Royal Navy).
Boekelo	Netherlands	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship traggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean (57°14′N 10°38′W) by U-100 (Kriegsmarine). She was torpedoed and sunk in the early hours of the next day by U-123 (Kriegsmarine). All 25 crew were rescued by HMS Fowey (Royal Navy).
Convallaria	Sweden	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom (57°20′N 10°40′W) by U-46 (Kriegsmarine). Her crew were rescued by HMS Fowey (Royal Navy).
Creekirk	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides (57°30′N 11°10′W) by U-101 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of all 36 crew.
Cuma	Italy	World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the south west coast of Sicily (37°01′50″N 14°06′12″E) with the loss of four lives.
Director II	United States	The schooner ran aground off Gladstone, Queensland, Australia and was wrecked.
Durbo	Regia Marina	World War II: The Adua-class submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Gibraltar (34°54′N 4°17′W) by two Saunders-Roe London flying boats of 202 Squadron, Royal Air Force, and also by HMS Firedrake and HMS Wrestler (both Royal Navy). All 46 crew survived and were captured.
Empire Miniver	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The Design 1016 ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by U-99 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of three of her 38 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Bluebell (Royal Navy).
Fiscus	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°29′N 11°10′W) by U-99 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 38 of her 39 crew. The survivor was rescued by HMS Clematis (Royal Navy).
Gunborg	Sweden	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of the Outer Hebrides (57°14′N 11°00′W) by U-46 (Kriegsmarine). All 23 crew were rescued by HMS Bluebell (Royal Navy).
HMS H49	Royal Navy	World War II: The H-class submarine was depth charged and sunk in the North Sea off Texel, North Holland, Netherlands by UJ 116 and UJ 118 (both Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 21 of her 22 crew.
Niritos	Greece	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides (57°14′N 10°38′W) by U-99 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of one of her 28 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Bluebell (Royal Navy).
Sandsend	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy OB 229: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 300 nautical miles (560 km) west north west of Rockall, Inverness-shire (58°12′N 21°29′W) by U-38 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of five of her 39 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Hibiscus (Royal Navy).
Shekatika	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship 'romped' ahead of the convoy. She was torpedoed and damaged 90 nautical miles (170 km) east south east of Rockall (57°12′N 11°08′W) by U-123. U-100 (Kriegsmarine) fired a coup de grâce which did not sink her. All 36 crew were rescued by HMS Fowey (Royal Navy). The next day, U-123 fired another torpedo, which sank her at that location.

19 October

List of shipwrecks: 19 October 1940

Ship	State	Description
Aridity	United Kingdom	World War II: The coaster struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary near the Oaze Lightship ( Trinity House), north east of the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
Assyrian	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°12′N 10°43′W) by U-101 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of seventeen of the 51 people aboard. The survivors were rescued by HMS Leith (Royal Navy).
Bilderdijk	Netherlands	World War II: Convoy HX 79: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (56°35′N 17°15′W) by U-38 (Kriegsmarine). Her 39 crew were rescued by HMS Jason (Royal Navy).
HMCS Bras d'Or	Royal Canadian Navy	The minesweeper sank in a storm in the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the loss of all 30 hands.
Clintonia	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and damaged west of the Outer Hebrides (57°10′N 11°20′W) by U-99 (Kriegsmarine). Clintonia was then shelled and sunk by U-123 with the loss of one of her 35 crew.
Empire Brigade	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°12′N 10°43′W) by U-99 (Kriegsmarine), with the loss of six of her 41 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Fowey (Royal Navy.
Matheran	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy HX 79: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Hebrides (57°00′N 17°00′W) by U-38 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of nine of her 81 crew. Survivors were rescued by Loch Lomond (United Kingdom).
Ruperra	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy HX 79: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) south west of Rockall, Inverness-shire (57°00′N 16°00′W) by U-46 (Kriegsmarine with the loss of 30 of her 36 crew. Survivors were rescued by Induna (United Kingdom).
Sedgepool	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides (57°20′N 11°22′W) by U-123 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of three of her 39 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Salvonia (Royal Navy).
Shirak	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy HX 79: The tanker straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) south west of Rockall (57°00′N 16°53′W) by U-47 (Kriegsmarine). She was then torpedoed and sunk in the early hours of the next day by U-48 (Kriegsmarine). Her 37 crew were rescued by HMT Blackfly (Royal Navy).
Snefjeld	Norway	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°28′N 11°10′W) by U-99 (Kriegsmarine). Her crew were rescued.
Soesterberg	Netherlands	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°12′N 10°43′W) by U-101 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of six of her 25 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Leith (Royal Navy).
Thalia	Greece	World War II: Convoy SC 7: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides (57°00′N 11°30′W) by U-99 (Kriegsmarine) with the loss of 22 of her 26 crew.
Uganda	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy HX 79: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides (56°37′N 17°15′W) by U-47 (Kriegsmarine). Her 40 crew were rescued by HMS Jason (Royal Navy).
HMT Velia	Royal Navy	World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Kentish Knock Lightship ( Trinity House) (51°48′05″N 1°44′00″E). Her crew were rescued by HMT Hekla and HMT Stella Carina (both Royal Navy).
HMS Venetia	Royal Navy	World War II: The V-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Margate, Kent (51°33′N 1°10′E) with the loss of 34 crew.
Wandby	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy HX 79: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Outer Hebrides (56°45′N 17°07′W) by U-46 or U-47 (both Kriegsmarine). Her 34 crew were rescued by HMT Angle (Royal Navy) and Indira (Norway). Wandby was on a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to a British port.

20 October

21 October

22 October

23 October

24 October

25 October

List of shipwrecks: 25 October 1940

Ship	State	Description
Blairspey	United Kingdom	World War II: Convoy SC 7: Taken under tow after being torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean east-northeast of Rockall, Inverness-shire on 18 October by U-101 (Kriegsmarine) and again on 19 October by U-100 (Kriegsmarine), the cargo ship was beached in the Clyde. She was repaired and returned to service.
Carlton	United Kingdom	World War II: The fishing trawler struck a mine at the mouth of the Humber and sank with the loss of three of her ten crew.
HMT Duthies	Royal Navy	World War II: The naval trawler was bombed and sunk at Montrose, Angus. Her crew were rescued.
Encourage	United Kingdom	World War II: The fishing trawler struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Plymouth, Devon with the loss of all four crew.
Kyle Skye	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground on the Isle of Arran, Bute and was wrecked.
HMT Lord Inchcape	Royal Navy	World War II: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Plymouth with the loss of a crew member. She was later salvaged.
South Goodwin Lightship	Trinity House	World War II: The lightship was bombed and sunk in the North Sea off St. Margarets Bay, Kent by Luftwaffe aircraft.
Sunbeam	United States	The fishing vessel sank in Cross Sound in the Alexander Archipelago off the side of George Island (58°12′00″N 136°23′45″W) facing Three Hill Island, Alaska Territory (58°09′58″N 136°23′43″W). One of the two people on board was lost.
Windsor	United Kingdom	World War II: The fishing vessel struck a mine and sank in the Humber south of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of a crew member.

26 October

27 October

28 October

29 October

30 October

List of shipwrecks: 30 October 1940

Ship	State	Description
Alcora	United Kingdom	The cargo ship came ashore 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire (57°37′45″N 1°44′00″W) and was wrecked. Her crew survived.
Baron Minto	United Kingdom	World War II: The cargo ship was driven ashore in the Loch of Strathbeg (57°35′15″N 1°50′00″W). She was attacked by Luftwaffe aircraft between 11 November 1940 and 31 May 1941 and was consequently declared a constructive total loss on 9 May 1945.
Bragi	Iceland	The fishing trawler was sunk in a collision with Duke of York (United Kingdom) off the Wyre Light, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Lisbon	United Kingdom	The cargo ship was driven ashore and wrecked 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west of Rattray Head (57°37′10″N 1°47′00″W).
HMS ML 109	Royal Navy	World War II: The Fairmile A motor launch struck a mine near Chequer Shoal Buoy off the mouth of the Humber and sank with the loss of three of her crew.
Placidas Faroult	France	The auxiliary lugger was stranded and wrecked at Salcombe, Devon, United Kingdom.
Seagem	United Kingdom	The tugboat sank.
Simonburn	United Kingdom	The cargo ship ran aground off Rattray Head and was wrecked. She floated off and sank.
HMS Sturdy	Royal Navy	World War II: Convoy SC 8: The S-class destroyer ran aground off Tiree, Inner Hebrides and was wrecked with the loss of five of her crew.
U-32	Kriegsmarine	World War II: The Type VIIA submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Ireland by HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander (both Royal Navy) with the loss of nine of her 42 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander.
Victoria	Greece	World War II: Convoy SLS 51: The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean]west of County Donegal, Ireland by Fw 200 aircraft of I Staffeln, Kampfgeschwader 40, Luftwaffe. Her 29 crew survived.

31 October

Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1940

Ship	State	Description
Foca	Regia Marina	World War II: The Foca-class submarine left for a minelaying mission in the Mediterranean Sea off Haifa, Palestine but disappeared without a trace, probably between 12 and 16 October, with her 69 crew.
North Goodwin Lightship	Trinity House	The lightship was driven ashore at Walmer, Kent after her anchor chain broke in a storm.
Oscar Robinson	Australia	The ketch sank in the Pacific Ocean off Port Adelaide, South Australia.