List of shipwrecks in 1969

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

table of contents

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

January

5 January

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

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

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

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′N107°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

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′N133°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

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

1 February

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

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

List of shipwrecks: 9 February 1969

Ship	State	Description
London II	Greece	The motor vessel foundered off Moni, Cyprus. [11]

10 February

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′N124°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

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

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

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

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

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

1 March

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

List of shipwrecks: 8 March 1969

Ship	State	Description
Martindale	United States	The motor vessel was wrecked in Surf Bay ( 54°10′N165°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

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

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

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

List of shipwrecks: 25 March 1969

Ship	State	Description
Samuel S	Liberia	The Liberty ship ran aground on Kuchinoerabu Island, Japan ( 30°25′N130°14′E / 30.417°N 130.233°E / 30.417; 130.233 ) and broke in two. [20]

26 March

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

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

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

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

3 April

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 May

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

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

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

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″N024°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

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

List of shipwrecks: 23 May 1969

Ship	State	Description
Carol Irene	United States	The motor vessel was wrecked at Cordova, Alaska. [41]

26 May

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

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

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

3 June

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

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′N156°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

List of shipwrecks: 16 June 1969

Ship	State	Description
Maringa	Brazil	The Liberty ship foundered off the coast of Brazil ( 11°30′S37°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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

List of shipwrecks: 29 June 1969

Ship	State	Description
Sincere	Netherlands	The cargo ship burned and sank off Bunguran Island, Indonesia.

July

4 July

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

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

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

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

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′N135°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

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

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

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

1 August

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′N153°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

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′N104°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

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

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

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″N132°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

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

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′N70°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

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

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

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

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

1 September

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

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

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

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′N11°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

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

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

1 October

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″N135°17′30″W / 57.04444°N 135.29167°W / 57.04444; -135.29167 (Jamestown Bay) ) in Sitka, Alaska. [74]

2 October

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

List of shipwrecks: 31 October 1969

Ship	State	Description
Larry	United States	The tug sank in a storm near Cape Menshikof ( 57°31′20″N157°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

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″N158°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

1 November

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

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

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

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′N131°45′E / 32.300°N 131.750°E / 32.300; 131.750 ). [78]

7 November

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

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

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″N135°22′00″W / 56.98750°N 135.36667°W / 56.98750; -135.36667 (Pirates Cove) ) in Sitka Sound in Southeast Alaska. [80]

19 November

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

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

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

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

5 December

List of shipwrecks: 5 December 1969

Ship	State	Description
Teejin	United States	The crab-fishing vessel was wrecked at Cape Lazaref ( 54°37′00″N163°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

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

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

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

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

List of shipwrecks: 25 December 1969

Ship	State	Description
Rosa Vlassi	Greece	The cargo ship capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea ( 37°37′N24°02′E / 37.617°N 24.033°E / 37.617; 24.033 ). [85]

26 December

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

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′N119°23′E / 3.883°N 119.383°E / 3.883; 119.383 ). [87]

29 December

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

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

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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