my-server
← Wiki

List of Royal Navy losses in World War II

This is a list of Royal Navy ships and personnel lost during World War II, from 3 September 1939 to 1 October 1945.

See also List of ships of the Royal Navy.

Personnel losses

The Royal Navy lost 50,758 men killed in action, 820 missing in action and 14,663 wounded in action. The Women's Royal Naval Service lost 102 killed and 22 wounded.

Combatants

Battleships

Battlecruisers

Aircraft carriers

Escort aircraft carriers

Cruisers

The Royal Navy lost 28 cruisers according to Stephen Roskill, and 34 including Commonwealth/Dominion ships, according to the Naval-History project.

Destroyers

The Royal Navy lost 132 destroyers, according to Stephen Roskill and 153, including Commonwealth/Dominion ships, according to the Naval-History project.

Submarines

Mine warfare ships

Minelayers

Minesweepers

Frigate

Corvette

Auxiliaries

Sloop

Damage Caused

Surface ships caused the loss of 63 warships, comprising:

  • 1 capital ship
  • 1 aircraft carrier
  • 8 cruisers
  • 24 destroyers
  • 29 submarines

Enemy submarines sank 54 warships, including:

  • 2 capital ships
  • 5 carriers
  • 9 cruisers
  • 33 destroyers
  • 5 submarines

Enemy aircraft sank 77 warships, including:

  • 2 capital ships
  • 1 carrier
  • 12 cruisers
  • 55 destroyers
  • 7 submarines

Mines caused the loss of 54 warships, including:

  • 2 cruisers
  • 26 destroyers
  • 26 submarines

Shore defenses sank two destroyers, while one carrier, three cruisers, 15 destroyers and nine submarines were lost to accidents or unknown causes.

Damage inflicted by enemy

German forces sank 162 warships, including:

  • 2 battleships
  • 1 battlecruiser
  • 6 carriers
  • 15 cruisers
  • 114 destroyers
  • 24 submarines

Italian forces sank 58 warships, including:

  • 6 cruisers
  • 15 destroyers
  • 37 submarines

Japanese forces sank 19 warships, including:

  • 1 battleship
  • 1 battlecruiser
  • 1 carrier
  • 3 cruisers
  • 10 destroyers
  • 4 submarines

A further destroyer and two sloops were lost to Vichy French shore batteries and warships.

See also

References

Literature

  • Stephen Roskill: "Royal Navy - Britische Seekriegsgeschichte 1939-1945", Gerhard Stalling Verlag, 1961