List of shipwrecks in 1969

Summary

The list of shipwrecks in 1969 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during 1969.

table of contents
← 1968 1969 1970 →
Jan Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul Aug
Sep Oct Nov Dec
Unknown date
References

January edit

5 January edit

List of shipwrecks: 5 January 1969
Ship State Description
Bolivar   Japan The ore carrier broke in two and sank 170 nautical miles (310 km) off Cape Nojima, Japan with the loss of 31 of her 33 crew.[1]

6 January edit

List of shipwrecks: 6 January 1969
Ship State Description
Anastassia   Panama The Liberty ship ran aground off Constanţa, Romania. She was declared a constructive total loss.[2]

9 January edit

List of shipwrecks: 12 January 1969
Ship State Description
Preveze   Turkey The cargo ship caught fire off the Cape Verde Islands. She was on a voyage from Ashdod, Israel to Santos, Brazil. The fire was extinguished on 11 January and she was towed in to São Vicente, Cape Verde Islands by Cherniakovsk (  Soviet Union). Preveze was declared a constructive total loss and consequently scrapped.[3]

12 January edit

List of shipwrecks: 12 January 1969
Ship State Description
Carmania   United Kingdom The ocean liner ran aground off the Bahamas.[4] The passengers were transferred to Flavia (  Italy) and landed at Miami, Florida. Carmania was refloated on 17 January.[5]
President Jefferson   United States The cargo ship ran aground at 10°20′N 107°10′E / 10.333°N 107.167°E / 10.333; 107.167. Refloated on 18 January with assistance from USS YLLC-5 (  United States Navy).[6]

31 January edit

List of shipwrecks: 31 January 1969
Ship State Description
Sitka   United States The fishing vessel was stranded on the beach and destroyed by fire 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) west-northwest of Point Astley (57°43′N 133°39′W / 57.717°N 133.650°W / 57.717; -133.650 (Point Astley)) near the entrance to Holkham Bay in Southeast Alaska.[7]
USS Sterlet   United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target by the submarine USS Sargo (  United States Navy).

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date January 1969
Ship State Description
Njandoma   Soviet Union The freighter broke apart on Scharhörn with toxic chemicals on board on his voyage to England. The barrels could be salvaged from the halves of the ship.[8][9]

February edit

1 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 1 February 1969
Ship State Description
Kukuyoshi Maru No. 15   Japan The fishing vessel was wrecked on the coast of Rat Island in the Aleutian Islands. A United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued her crew.[10]

6 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 6 February 1969
Ship State Description
USS ATC-132-1   United States Navy The armoured troop carrier capsized off Vietnam. Salvaged by USS YLLC-5 (  United States Navy) and floating crane YD-220 and refloated the next day.[6]
USS Redfish   United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class auxiliary submarine was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California, by the auxiliary submarine USS Medregal (  United States Navy).

9 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 9 February 1969
Ship State Description
London II   Greece The motor vessel foundered off Moni, Cyprus.[11]

10 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 10 February 1969
Ship State Description
Lukia M   Greece The cargo ship sprang a leak off Barren Island in the South China Sea (29°29′N 124°16′E / 29.483°N 124.267°E / 29.483; 124.267) and was abandoned. She was towed to Shanghai and seized by the Chinese Government.

11 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 11 February 1969
Ship State Description
USS PTC-71   United States Navy The torpedo patrol boat was sunk by an enemy missile near Mui Boi Bung, Vietnam. Salvaged the next day and towed to Vung Tau by USS Pivot (  United States Navy).[6]

12 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 12 February 1969
Ship State Description
Flying Petrel   United Kingdom The tug ran aground at Cape Kaliakra, Romania and was abandoned. She was on a voyage from Piraeus, Greece to Sulina, Romania.[12]

13 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 13 February 1969
Ship State Description
HMAS Arunta   Royal Australian Navy The decommissioned Tribal-class destroyer capsized and sank in the Tasman Sea off Australia's Broken Bay while under tow to a scrapyard.

16 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 16 February 1969
Ship State Description
Antonios P   Greece The coaster ran aground off Ravenna, Italy. She was on a voyage from Lattakia to Ravenna. She was refloated on 11 March and towed in to Ravenna. Consequently scrapped.[13]

24 February edit

List of shipwrecks: 24 February 1969
Ship State Description
Sevilla   West Germany The cargo ship sank in the Elbe following a collision with Nette Skou (  Denmark). All fifteen crew rescued by a West German fireboat.[14]

March edit

1 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 1 March 1969
Ship State Description
USS Day   United States Navy The decommissioned Rudderow-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Clemente Island, California.

8 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1969
Ship State Description
Martindale   United States The motor vessel was wrecked in Surf Bay (54°10′N 165°37′W / 54.167°N 165.617°W / 54.167; -165.617 (Surf Bay)) on the southwest coast of Akun Island in the Aleutian Islands.[15]

11 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 11 March 1969
Ship State Description
Shun Tai   Somalia The cargo ship collided in the Singapore Strait 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south of Singapore with World Carrier (Flag unknown) and sank. Shun Tai was on a voyage from Canton, China to Colombo, Ceylon[16]

19 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 19 March 1969
Ship State Description
Garden City   Liberia The cargo ship sank after colliding with Zagłębie Dąbrowskie (  Poland) in foggy weather off Margate, Kent.[17][18]

21 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 21 March 1969
Ship State Description
Iolite   South Africa The fishing trawler was scuttled off the coast of South Africa.[19]

25 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 25 March 1969
Ship State Description
Samuel S   Liberia The Liberty ship ran aground on Kuchinoerabu Island, Japan (30°25′N 130°14′E / 30.417°N 130.233°E / 30.417; 130.233) and broke in two.[20]

26 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 26 March 1969
Ship State Description
USS Charles F. Hughes   United States Navy The decommissioned Benson-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.

28 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 28 March 1969
Ship State Description
Nyleve   Panama The former fisheries research ship Albatross III was wrecked on Roman Key, Cuba.[21][22]

29 March edit

List of shipwrecks: 29 March 1969
Ship State Description
James Barrie   United Kingdom The trawler ran aground on Louther Rock on 27 March. She drifted off on 29 March and was taken under tow but sank in Hoxa Sound, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands. Most brass items have been salvaged.[23][24]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in March 1969
Ship State Description
Irene   Liberia The cargo ship ran aground off South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom.[25]
Irving Walnut   Canada The Maple type tug was scuttled off the east coast of Canada.[26]
Miss Kay   South Vietnam The tug foundered off the mouth of the Soi Rap River. Refloated on 21 March.[6]
USS M 111-1   United States Navy The landing craft mechanized capsized off South Vietnam. She was salvaged on 19 April and towed to Nha Be, South Vietnam, by the light salvage lift craft USS YLLC-5 (  United States Navy) the next day.[6]
Poseidon   Panama The vessel ran aground off the Italian coast. Repairs uneconomic and the ship was subsequently scrapped.

April edit

3 April edit

List of shipwrecks: 3 April 1969
Ship State Description
USS Tills   United States Navy The decommissioned Cannon-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.

4 April edit

List of shipwrecks: 4 April 1969
Ship State Description
Pacstar   Liberia The Liberty ship ran aground in Tokyo Bay, a total loss.[27]
Pelican   United States The motor vessel sank in the Gulf of Alaska south of Yakutat, Alaska.[28]
Sad El Furat   Egypt War of Attrition: The tanker, blocked in the Suez Canal, Egypt, was shelled by Israeli Army artillery, and later sank about 11 April.[29][30][31]

6 April edit

List of shipwrecks: 6 April 1969
Ship State Description
Union Faith   Republic of China
 
Union Faith on fire in New Orleans

The cargo ship was in collision with oil barges on the Mississippi. The ship was engulfed in flames and sank, with the loss of 25 persons, including all on the bridge[32]

11 April edit

List of shipwrecks: 11 April 1969
Ship State Description
Alfonso Tercero   Spain The coaster sank 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of the Noordhinder Lightship, off the Netherlands following a collision with Brasilia (  Sweden) in foggy weather. All crew were rescued by Brasilia.[33][34]

18 April edit

List of shipwrecks: 18 April 1969
Ship State Description
Vigia   United Kingdom The supply vessel sank in the North Sea. All three crew were rescued by a Dutch trawler and landed in the Netherlands.[35]

29 April edit

List of shipwrecks: 29 April 1969
Ship State Description
USS ASPB 132-1   United States Navy The assault support patrol boat struck a mine in the Song Cai Tu River, Vietnam and sank. Salvaged on 1 May.[6][36]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown April 1969
Ship State Description
Patrice Lumumba   PAIGC Guinea-Bissau War of Independence: The transport boat was sunk by Portuguese action sometime in April.[37]

May edit

1 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 1 May 1969
Ship State Description
Manana II   United States The charter vessel sank near Sitka, Alaska, after striking a snag. All seven people on board survived.[15]

7 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 7 May 1969
Ship State Description
Capetan Panaos   Panama The cargo ship ran aground in the Black Sea at Kilyos, Turkey. Refloated on 22 May and beached at Büyükdere. Refloated on 9 August, subsequently sold for scrapping.[38]

10 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1969
Ship State Description
Louis B   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at Nushagak, Alaska.[39]

15 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 15 May 1969
Ship State Description
USCGC Casco   United States Coast Guard The decommissioned Casco-class cutter was sunk as a target by two torpedo hits in the North Atlantic Ocean at 36°40′00″N 024°16′00″W / 36.66667°N 24.26667°W / 36.66667; -24.26667.
USS Guitarro   United States Navy
 
Guitarro after sinking.
The Sturgeon-class submarine sank at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California due to errors in the management of her ballast tanks. Refloated on 18 May, but commissioning delayed by 32 months whilst repairs were carried out.

20 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 20 May 1969
Ship State Description
Seiho Maru   Japan The coaster sank after a collision with Energy Evolution (  Liberia) off Nagasaki. Four of her thirteen crew were killed and two others reported missing.[40]

23 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 23 May 1969
Ship State Description
Carol Irene   United States The motor vessel was wrecked at Cordova, Alaska.[41]

26 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 26 May 1969
Ship State Description
Tayo Maru   Japan The trawler sank in a collision with a Soviet patrol boat. Eight crew rescued.[42]

27 May edit

List of shipwrecks: 27 May 1969
Ship State Description
Guadina   Portugal Guinea-Bissau War of Independence: The sailing boat was sunk by PAIGC mine. Five crewmen killed, eight wounded.[37]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1969
Ship State Description
USS PBR 7520   United States Navy The river patrol boat was hit by two rockets and beached on fire. Equipment salvaged by USS YLLC-1 (  United States Navy) and delivered to Nha Be, Vietnam.[6]

June edit

3 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 3 June 1969
Ship State Description
USS Frank E. Evans   United States Navy
 
USS Frank E. Evans after the collision with HMAS Melbourne

The Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer was cut in two in a collision with HMAS Melbourne (  Royal Australian Navy) in the South China Sea. The bow section sank, whilst the stern section remained afloat. Seventy-four crew killed on board Frank E. Evans.

7 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 7 June 1969
Ship State Description
Cape Uganik   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by a storm in Kanatak Lagoon (57°31′N 156°02′W / 57.517°N 156.033°W / 57.517; -156.033 (Kanatak Lagoon)) on the south coast of the Alaska Peninsula in Alaska.[41]

16 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 16 June 1969
Ship State Description
Maringa   Brazil The Liberty ship foundered off the coast of Brazil (11°30′S 37°15′W / 11.500°S 37.250°W / -11.500; -37.250).[43]
ROCS Mei HUA   Republic of China Navy The Mei Chin-class LSM sank after colliding with MS Ta Tung.

17 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 17 June 1969
Ship State Description
Sitakund   Norway The stern section, which had been beached off Eastbourne, Sussex, refloated itself, drifted past Eastbourne Pier and ran aground to the east of the town.[44]

19 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 19 June 1969
Ship State Description
Falcon   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire in the harbor at Sand Point, Alaska.[45]

20 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 20 June 1969
Ship State Description
Victoria Bay   Hong Kong The cargo ship ran aground at Chittagong, India. She was on a voyage from Chittagong to Chalna, East Pakistan. She ws refloated on 6 July. Repairs were deemed uneconomic and she was consequently scrapped.[46]

24 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 24 June 1969
Ship State Description
USS Beale   United States Navy The decommissioned Fletcher-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean 250 nautical miles (463 km) east of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
USS Richard S. Bull   United States Navy The decommissioned John C. Butler-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

25 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 25 June 1969
Ship State Description
Andromachi   Greece War of Attrition: The cargo ship, blocked in the Suez Canal, Egypt, was shelled by Israeli Army artillery, set on fire, and then sank and was abandoned. She was scrapped at Adabiya in March 1976.[47][48]
Captain George K   Liberia The Liberty ship suffered a fractured hull in the Indian Ocean. She was declared a constructive total loss.[2]
Selena   United States The motor vessel sank in the Gulf of Alaska south of Yakutat, Alaska.[7]

26 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 26 June 1969
Ship State Description
Aghia Trias   Panama War of Attrition: The cargo ship, blocked in the Suez Canal, Egypt, was shelled by Israeli Army artillery, set on fire, and sank.[29][49]
Marhonda   Panama War of Attrition: The cargo ship, blocked in the Suez Canal, Egypt, was shelled by Israeli Army artillery, set on fire, and then sank and was abandoned; then further damaged in an aircraft bomb on 1 July.[29][50][51]

27 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 27 June 1969
Ship State Description
USS Snowden   United States Navy The decommissioned Edsall-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target.

28 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 28 June 1969
Ship State Description
Becky Thatcher   United States The historic sternwheel texas-deck paddle steamer, operating as a stationary showboat theater, broke her moorings on the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri, during a severe storm with high winds and drifted several miles downstream with about a hundred restaurant patrons aboard before crashing into a dock on the Illinois side of the river. The restaurant patrons were taken off safely by the towboat Larrayne Andress (  United States). Becky Thatcher was repaired and eventually reopened for business in 1977 on the Muskingum River at Marietta, Georgia.[52]

29 June edit

List of shipwrecks: 29 June 1969
Ship State Description
Sincere   Netherlands The cargo ship burned and sank off Bunguran Island, Indonesia.

July edit

4 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 4 July 1969
Ship State Description
USS Witek   United States Navy The decommissioned Gearing-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia.

10 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 10 July 1969
Ship State Description
K 9   United States A storm destroyed the motor vessel in Bristol Bay off Cape Greig on the coast of the Alaska Peninsula in Alaska.[10]

16 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 16 July 1969
Ship State Description
USS Manta   United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Hampton Roads, Virginia, as a target for aircraft.
USS Tullibee   United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off Norfolk, Virginia.

19 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 19 July 1969
Ship State Description
TRP-1281   Soviet Union The fishing boat capsized and sank between Aegna and Prangli islands in Northern Estonia with the loss of 12 passengers of her 36 passengers and 2 crew.[53]

20 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 20 July 1969
Ship State Description
Bull Moose   United States The 47-foot (14.3 m) purse seiner capsized and sank with the loss of two lives in Glacier Bay in Southeast Alaska near Point Gustavus (58°23′N 135°55′W / 58.383°N 135.917°W / 58.383; -135.917 (Point Gustavus)) in Icy Strait in the Alexander Archipelago. Another fishing vessel rescued her four survivors.[54]
Eastern Star   United Kingdom The refrigerated cargo ship was severely damaged by fire and was declared a constructive total loss.[55]

21 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 21 July 1969
Ship State Description
Discoverer   United States The passenger and freight boat was wrecked in Cordova Bay off Sukkwan Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska after her engine broke down. All on board survived.[56]

25 July edit

List of shipwrecks: 25 July 1969
Ship State Description
Silja   Norway The tanker sank following a collision with Ville de Majunga (  France) off Toulon, France. Two crew killed and a further eighteen reported missing.[57]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1969
Ship State Description
HQ-1224   Republic of Vietnam Navy The armored troop carrier sank at Ta Cru, South Vietnam. Salvaged on 31 July by USS CSB-2 (  United States Navy).[6]
USS Richey   United States Navy The decommissioned Edsall-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off California.
Wenny   Norway The ore carrier capsized and sank off the coast of Norway with the loss of nine of her crew.[58]

August edit

1 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 1 August 1969
Ship State Description
BC Clipper   Canada The halibut fishing vessel suffered an explosion, burned, and sank off Twoheaded Island (56°54′N 153°35′W / 56.900°N 153.583°W / 56.900; -153.583 (Twoheaded Island)) off the coast of Kodiak Island, Alaska, after a liquefied gas line from the galley freezer broke and the galley stove ignited the leaking gas. Three people were killed; the fishing vessel Peggy Jo (flag unknown) rescued the five survivors from an overturned life raft.[59]

2 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 2 August 1969
Ship State Description
Bethlehem   Liberia The cargo ship collided with the tanker Showa Maru (  Japan) 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Singapore (1°16′N 104°08′E / 1.267°N 104.133°E / 1.267; 104.133). Bethlehem broke in three and sank with the loss of five crew. She was on a voyage from Tokyo, Japan to Aden, South Yemen.[60][61]

8 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 8 August 1969
Ship State Description
Thlinket   United States The motor vessel sank in Sumner Strait in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeastern Alaska.[62]

9 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 9 August 1969
Ship State Description
Unidentified fishing trawler   Japan The fishing trawler sank in a collision with a Soviet patrol boat off Hokkaido, Japan. Eleven of her crew were killed.[42]

17 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 17 August 1969
Ship State Description
Argos   United States The tug struck a submerged object and sank northwest of Found Island (56°06′15″N 132°04′30″W / 56.10417°N 132.07500°W / 56.10417; -132.07500 (Found Island)) off the southwest tip of Wrangell Island in Southeast Alaska.[63]

18 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 18 August 1969
Ship State Description
Hulda   Liberia Hurricane Camille: The cargo liner was driven ashore at Gulfport, Mississippi, United States. Declared a constructive total loss and scrapped in situ.[64]

21 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 21 August 1969
Ship State Description
Heroic   United States The fishing trawler, a former Accentor-class coastal minesweeper, caught fire and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 15 miles southeast of Gloucester, Massachusetts in 100 feet of water in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary ((42°24′N 70°27′W / 42.400°N 70.450°W / 42.400; -70.450)). The captain and four crew members were picked up by fishing vessel Tiko I (  West Germany).[65]

22 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 22 August 1969
Ship State Description
Sharon Patricia   United States The motor vessel capsized and was lost in Shelikof Strait on the south-central coast of Alaska with the loss of one life.[7]

25 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 25 August 1969
Ship State Description
Noongah   Australia Foundered on a voyage between Newcastle and Townsville with the loss of 21 lives.[66]

26 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 26 August 1969
Ship State Description
Dear John   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire in Chatham Strait in Southeast Alaska 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) north of Funter Bay.[56]
Skilak   United States The motor vessel sank in Cook Inlet on the south-central coast of Alaska between Chinitna Point and Anchor Point.[7]

29 August edit

List of shipwrecks: 29 August 1969
Ship State Description
Munroe   United States The 30-gross register ton, 46.9-foot (14.3 m) motor vessel sank after striking an iceberg in Stephens Passage in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska.[15]

September edit

1 September edit

List of shipwrecks: 1 September 1969
Ship State Description
Fani   Greece The cargo ship caught fire at Piraeus. She was beached on Salamis Island. Refloated later that month and consequently scrapped.[67]
Paralos   Panama The cargo ship collided with Priamos (  Greece) at Columbo, Ceylon. Paralos was on a voyage from Calcutta to Mormugao, India. She was consequently scrapped.[68]

6 September edit

List of shipwrecks: 6 September 1969
Ship State Description
Two unidentified motor torpedo boats   United Arab Republic Navy War of Attrition: Operation Escort: Two No. 260-class motor torpedo boats were sunk with limpet mines by Israeli frogmen at Ras Sadat in the Bay of Suez.[69][better source needed]
Unknown   Israeli Navy War of Attrition: Operation Escort: The Hazir submersible exploded from accidental causes returning from the operation, killing three frogmen and wounding one.[69][better source needed]

16 September edit

List of shipwrecks: 16 September 1969
Ship State Description
USS Trepang   United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class auxiliary submarine was sunk as a gunnery target by the destroyers USS Fechteler and USS Henderson (both   United States Navy).

22 September edit

List of shipwrecks: 22 September 1969
Ship State Description
Agromayer   Spain The cargo ship was driven onto rocks 18 nautical miles (33 km) north west of Göteborg, Sweden and later sank at 57°53.630′N 11°26.970′E / 57.893833°N 11.449500°E / 57.893833; 11.449500. One of the twenty people on board was killed.[70][71]
USS Sandpumper   United States Navy The dredger sank at Đồng Tâm, Vietnam after dredging up a piece of unexploded ordnance, which exploded on board. Salvage operations involving USS Crilly and USS Crandall (both   United States Navy) abandoned on 30 December.[6]
Unidentified ship   United Kingdom The ship ran aground near Göteborg, Sweden, with the loss of at least 15 of her crew.[70]

23 September edit

List of shipwrecks: 23 September 1969
Ship State Description
Angel Gabriel   Greece The tanker ran aground near Marsaskala, Malta in a storm. One person was killed of the 50 on board.[72]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in September 1969
Ship State Description
Poseidone   Panama The cargo ship ran aground. She was on a voyage from Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France to Egypt. She was refloated and put in to Naples, Italy, where she was declared a constructive total loss.[73]

October edit

1 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 1 October 1969
Ship State Description
Helen N   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at Allen Marine Ways in Jamestown Bay (57°02′40″N 135°17′30″W / 57.04444°N 135.29167°W / 57.04444; -135.29167 (Jamestown Bay)) in Sitka, Alaska.[74]

2 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 2 October 1969
Ship State Description
USNS Private Leonard C. Brostrom   United States Navy The heavy lift cargo ship ran aground off Vung Tau, South Vietnam. She was refloated that day by the salvage lift craft USS YLLC-3 (  United States Navy) and five tugs.[6]

4 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 4 October 1969
Ship State Description
Splendid Sky   Panama The Liberty ship ran aground in the Scheldt. She was declared a constructive total loss and scrapped.[2]

7 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 7 October 1969
Ship State Description
HQ-6529   Republic of Vietnam Navy Vietnam War: The monitor struck a mine and sank south of Kien An, Vietnam. Salvaged by the United States Navy on 11 October and towed to Dong Tam for repairs.[6]

8 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 8 October 1969
Ship State Description
USS Barton   United States Navy The decommissioned Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.
Tobruk   Greece The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean Sea in 35.06N/36.36E on a voyage from Syria to Libya.[75][76]

10 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 10 October 1969
Ship State Description
USS Frank E. Evans   United States Navy Stern section sunk as a target in the South China Sea off U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines.

14 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 14 October 1969
Ship State Description
USS Madison   United States Navy The decommissioned Benson-class destroyer was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off southeastern Florida.

28 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 28 October 1969
Ship State Description
USS Vincennes   United States Navy The decommissioned Cleveland-class light cruiser was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off Point Mugu, California, during missile experiments.

31 October edit

List of shipwrecks: 31 October 1969
Ship State Description
Larry   United States The tug sank in a storm near Cape Menshikof (57°31′20″N 157°49′15″W / 57.52222°N 157.82083°W / 57.52222; -157.82083 (Cape Menshikof)) on the Bristol Bay coast of the Alaska Peninsula. A bush pilot rescued her crew of four.[39]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date October 1969
Ship State Description
HQ-1237   Republic of Vietnam Navy The armored troop carrier sank at Thoi Benh, South Vietnam. Salvaged by USS Satyr (  United States Navy) and towed to Dong Tam, South Vietnam, on 6 November.[6]
USCGC Matagorda   United States Coast Guard The decommissioned Casco-class cutter was sunk as a target by the United States Navy in the Pacific Ocean 72 nautical miles (133 km) off Hawaii in position 20°08′00″N 158°30′00″W / 20.13333°N 158.50000°W / 20.13333; -158.50000.
Ogoya   Nigerian Navy Nigerian Civil War: The PC-461-class patrol vessel was wrecked off Brass, Nigeria.[77]
PBR-7547   Republic of Vietnam Navy The river patrol boat was sunk near Tang Am, South Vietnam. She was salvaged on 29 October by USS CSB-3 (  United States Navy) and taken to Tang Am.[6]

November edit

1 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 3 December 1996
Ship State Description
Cabna   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire at Nenana, Alaska.[41]

4 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 4 November 1969
Ship State Description
USS Bailey   United States Navy The decommissioned Benson-class destroyer was sunk as a target off Florida.

5 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 5 November 1969
Ship State Description
Cherokee   United States The motor vessel was wrecked in Golovnin Bay on the west coast of Alaska.[41]

6 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 6 November 1969
Ship State Description
Reliance Harmony   Panama The Liberty ship collided with Maritime Express (flag unknown) and sank in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan (32°18′N 131°45′E / 32.300°N 131.750°E / 32.300; 131.750).[78]

7 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 7 November 1969
Ship State Description
USS Bream   United States Navy The decommissioned Gato-class submarine was sunk as a target off California by the submarine USS Sculpin (  United States Navy).

8 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 8 November 1969
Ship State Description
Tobruk   Greece The refrigerated cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean Sea.[79]

11 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 11 November 1969
Ship State Description
Jeannie Lee   United States The motor vessel was destroyed by fire in Pirates Cove (56°59′15″N 135°22′00″W / 56.98750°N 135.36667°W / 56.98750; -135.36667 (Pirates Cove)) in Sitka Sound in Southeast Alaska.[80]

19 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 19 November 1969
Ship State Description
USS Burrfish   United States Navy The decommissioned Balao-class submarine was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean off San Clemente Island, California.

22 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 22 November 1969
Ship State Description
New Jersey   United States Navy The dredger sank after an explosion while dredging at Dong Tam, South Vietnam. Refloated in December and towed to Singapore for repairs.[6]

27 November edit

List of shipwrecks: 27 November 1969
Ship State Description
Hullman   United Kingdom The tug capsized and sank off Grimsby whilst towing Conoco Arrow (  Liberia), killing three of her ten crew.[81]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1969
Ship State Description
HQ-5135   Republic of Vietnam Navy The assault support patrol boat was sunk at Dong Hung, South Vietnam. She was salvaged between 9 and 16 November in a joint Republic of Vietnam Navy and United States Navy operation and towed to Dong Tam, South Vietnam, for repairs.[6]
HQ-1234   Republic of Vietnam Navy The armored troop carrier was sunk at Dong Hung, South Vietnam. She was salvaged between 9 and 16 November in a joint Republic of Vietnam Navy and United States Navy operation and towed to Dong Tam, Vietnam, South Vietnam, for repairs.[6]

December edit

5 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 5 December 1969
Ship State Description
Teejin   United States The crab-fishing vessel was wrecked at Cape Lazaref (54°37′00″N 163°35′10″W / 54.61667°N 163.58611°W / 54.61667; -163.58611 (Cape Lazaref)) on Unimak Island in the Aleutian Islands.[62]

14 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 14 December 1969
Ship State Description
Metric   West Germany The coaster sank off Pembrokeshire after her cargo shifted in stormy weather. All crew rescued by Vega (  Finland) and landed at Fishguard.[82]

15 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 15 December 1969
Ship State Description
Marpessa   United Kingdom The tanker sank 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Dakar, Senegal after an explosion and fire on 12 December.[83]

16 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 16 December 1969
Ship State Description
Romulus   Panama The cargo ship foundered in the mouth of the Adour, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France. Six of her 25 crew were killed.[84]

19 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 19 December 1969
Ship State Description
USS Iredell County   United States Navy The landing ship tank ran aground in the Cochien River, Vietnam. Salvage operation involving USS Chowanoc, USS Current and USS Reclaimer (  United States Navy) resulted in the ship being refloated on 25 December.[6]

25 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 25 December 1969
Ship State Description
Rosa Vlassi   Greece The cargo ship capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea (37°37′N 24°02′E / 37.617°N 24.033°E / 37.617; 24.033).[85]

26 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 26 December 1969
Ship State Description
Oregis   United Kingdom The bulk carrier ran around at Workington, Cumberland. Refloated on 26 December.[86]

28 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 28 December 1969
Ship State Description
Horis   Panama The Empire Malta-class cargo ship sprang a leak in the Celebes Sea. She was on a voyage from Surabaya, Indonesia to Hong Kong. She capsized and sank the next day 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia (3°53′N 119°23′E / 3.883°N 119.383°E / 3.883; 119.383).[87]

29 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 29 December 1969
Ship State Description
Mactra   United Kingdom The tanker suffered an explosion of her tanks whilst cleaning her tanks off the coast of Mozambique. One of her crew was injured.[88][89]

30 December edit

List of shipwrecks: 30 December 1969
Ship State Description
Heinrich Hauschildt   West Germany The coaster capsized and sank 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Kiel.[90]

Unknown date edit

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1969
Ship State Description
Bandim   PAIGC Guinea-Bissau War of Independence: The motorboat was damaged by Portuguese rockets and machine gun fire from two inflatables and beached sometime in 1969. The beached vessel was burned by the Portuguese.[37]
Ben Olliver   United Kingdom The dredger was struck by lightning and sank off Bedhampton, Hampshire. She was refloated and taken in tow, but sank off Langstone, Hampshire.[91]
Hemsley 1   United Kingdom The tanker was wrecked at Winecove Point, Cornwall.[92]
USS Heyliger   United States Navy The decommissioned John C. Butler-class destroyer escort was sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean by the United States Atlantic Fleet.
Lalor   Australia The tug was scuttled off Townsville, Queensland.
Matrouh   United Arab Republic Navy The corvette sank in 1968 or 1969.[93]
USS Pandemus   United States Navy The decommissioned Achelous-class landing craft repair ship was sunk as a target in late 1969.
Taif   Egypt War of Attrition: The passenger-cargo ship, blocked in the Suez Canal, Egypt, was shelled by Israeli Army artillery, set on fire, and then sank and was abandoned.[94][95]
Talodi   Egypt War of Attrition: The passenger/cargo ship, blocked in the Suez Canal, Egypt, was shelled by Israeli Army artillery, set on fire, and then sank and was abandoned.[96][97]

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See also edit