British destroyer HMS Whitsed 1918-1947

Seymour, Parker-class flotilla leader. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Sistership Veteran. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An Admiralty modified W-class destroyer ordered under the 14th War Programme . Of the 38 ships ordered were just 7 completed, the other 31 were cancelled. Preceded by S-and Parker-classes and succeeded by Thornycroft type destroyer leaders Ambuscade and Amazon. Ordered in April 1918. Laid down by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend,England in June 1918, launched on 31 January 1919, commissioned on 11 July 1919, converted into a short range escort (SRE)in 1940 and sold to be broken up in February 1947. 

British Royal Navy possessed several anti-submarine yachts by December 1939

An item reported that of the 31 anti-submarine yachts in service of the Royal Navy 6 were fitted out with asdic and another 12 were being fitted out .

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British anti-submarine trawlers attacked a German submarine near the Plymouth Sound in December 1939

An item reported that British anti-submarine trawlers attacked three times a German submarine positioned near the Plymouth Sound.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British aircraft attacked without success a German submarine off the Scottish coast in December 1939

An item reported that in the week of 7-14 December 1939 a plane sighted off the Scottish north coast a German submarine on the surface and attacked her probably causing damage.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

Japanese tuna long-liner fishing vessel Toei Maru No. 15 1988-2025

Logiscrap scrapyard, Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria 5 November 2025

Japan-flagged, homeport Miura, IMO 8815059, MMSI 432605000 and call sign JCSI. Completed by Miho Zosen, Shimizu, Japan in December 1988. Owner/manager Sumiyoshi Gyogyo, Miura, Japan. 

Dutch Davis Strait commandeur Arent de Graaf 1732-1743

Bookkeeper Albert Kramp, Amsterdam, Netherlands

1732

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 50

1733

Whales 0 Barrels blubber 0. Lost

Bookkeepers Erven George Bruyn, Amsterdam

1735

Whales 1.5 Barrels blubber 60

1736

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 50

1737

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 50

Bookkeeper Jacob and Frans van de Velden, Amsterdam

1742

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 70 Quardelen whale oil 88

1743

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 50 Quardelen whale oil 70

Source

1. Alphabetische naam-lyst van alle de Groenlandsche en Straat-Davidsche Commandeurs die sedert het jaar 1700 op Groenland en sedert het jaar 1719 op de Straat Davis etc. Gerret van Sant. Published by Johannes Enschede, Amsterdam 1770, with hand written notes until 1794.

American whaler Edward visited the Simon’s Bay, South Africa according to the The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette dated 17 October 1834

An item reported the departure on 12 October from the Simon’s Bay of the American whaler Edward, master Reay, for whaling. 

Mauritanian (ex-Polarfart 1960-1981, Clayton M. Johnson 1981-1985, Prowess BF50 1985-2020) Sindibad 2020-

At the Logiscrap scrapyard, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria about end October 2025

Mauritania-flagged, homeport Nouadhibou, IMO 5280758. Launched as a sealer by Kaarbøs Mek. Verksted A/S, Harstad, Norway on 16 January 1960, completed in February 1960. Between 1985-2020 also operated or sold from Etosha Fisheries Holding, Walvis Bay, Namibia (Namibia-flagged between 2014-2020, homeport Luderiz, MMSI 659012000 and call sign V5PO). 

British whaler Riby Grove arrived at Hull, England in 1834

Returning from the northern fishery. Tonnage 245 tuns. Crew 47 men. tuns of oil 59. tuns of bone 4. Number of whales caught 11. Owner or agent F.W. Torr.

Source

The Trade and Commerce of Hull and its ships&shipowners. Past and present. Hull, 1878, p. 82-83. 

Value of the American whaler Philip Tabb and her cargo on 24 October 1844

According to a report of Mr. G.D. Gilman of American whalers with a total value of 1,010,240 US dollars berthed at Honolulu, Hawaii on 24 October 1844 was the value of the American whaler Philip Tabb as she now floats 10,000 US dollars, loaded with 2,700 barrels of whale oil, value 21,600 US dollars, loaded with - barrels of sperm oil, value - US dollars, loaded with 2,700 shp bone, value 5,940 US dollars. Total value 37,540 US dollars.

Source

Robert Crichton Wyllie, Esquire. Notes on the shipping, trade, agriculture, diseases...of the Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands published in the monthly numbers of the The Friend, from May to December. Honolulu, 1845. 

Dutch offshore standby safety vessel Shannon 1991-

Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canria, Canary Islands 5 November 2025

San Marino-flagged, IMO 8871754, MMSI 576330000 and call sign YJQC6. Original beam trawler completed by S.M. Industrielle Des Pecheries, Ostend, Belgium in 1991. 

American whaler Brighton visited Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836

Biodiversity Heritage Library

Arrived on 6 September 1836, ship, name master Smith, tonnage - tons, belonged to USA , active in the sperm oil fishery , cargo 350 barrels oil

Source

Accounts and papers of the House of Commons: seventeen volumes. Colonies; Emigration; Australia; Prisons, West Indies;etc. Session 15 November 1837-16 August 1838. Vol. XL. 

Dutch Davis Strait commandeur Arent Simonsz Boots 1732-1737

Bookkeeper Claas Tyssen, Monnikendam, Netherlands

1732

Whales 0 Barrels blubber 0

1733

Whales 3 Barrels blubber 140

1734

Whales 3 Barrels blubber 220

1735

Whales 4 Barrels blubber 225

1736

Whales 2.5 Barrels blubber 100

1737

Whales 2 Barrels blubber 110

Source

1. Alphabetische naam-lyst van alle de Groenlandsche en Straat-Davidsche Commandeurs die sedert het jaar 1700 op Groenland en sedert het jaar 1719 op de Straat Davis etc. Gerret van Sant. Published by Johannes Enschede, Amsterdam 1770, with hand written notes until 1794.

Moroccan trawler (ex-Þórunn Sveinsdóttir 1991-2008, Sudurey VE 12 2008-2019) Le Vizir 2019-

Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 11 November 2025

Morocco-flagged, IMO 9015058, MMSI 242811300 and call sign CNA5390. Homeport as Þórunn Sveinsdóttir and Sudurey was Vestmannaeyjar, call sign TFOS. Owner Cabestan Fisheries, Casablanca, Morocco. Completed by Slippstodin, Akureyri, Iceland in July 1991. Owner/manager Isfelag Vestmannaeya, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. 

Australian whaler Lady Blackwood visited Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836

Arrived on 6 September 1836, barque, name master Abbot, tonnage 253 tons, belonged to New South Wales, active in the sperm oil fishery, cargo 1,200 barrels oil

Source

Accounts and papers of the House of Commons: seventeen volumes. Colonies; Emigration; Australia; Prisons, West Indies;etc. Session 15 November 1837-16 August 1838. Vol. XL. 

American whaler Ganges visited Floreana Island in 1832

According to a letter dated Floriana 1 May 1834 written by Joseph Villamil sent to the editors of the N.Y. Daily Advertiser visited the whaler Ganges of Bristol, master,R.I. Clark, Floriana on 13 October 1832. (1)

Note

1. Floreana Island or Isla Floreana or Floriana is part of the Ecuador’s Galápagos Archipelago. In the past know andMercedes Island/Isla Mercedes or Mascarenas, Santa Maria and Charles Island. Favorite stop for whalers for fresh water and food probably resulting in the destinction of some specias like the Floreana giant tortoise.

Source

The Sailor’s Magazine and Naval Journal. Vol VI ending August 183. New York, 1834. 

Belize registered trawler (ex-Marshal Vasilevskiy 1982-2012, Whale Shark 2012-2013, Marshal Vasilevskiy 2013-2023) Fishing Vest 2023-

Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 10 November 2025

Belize-flagged, IMO 8033869, MMSI 312064000 and call sign V3RQ4. Pulkovskiy type freezing trawler. Owners Fishery Group DMCC, Dubai, principals are Russian. Completed by Chernomorskiy Shipyard, Nikolayev, Russia in July 1982. Latvia-flagged 2009-2012, St. Kitts&Nevis-flagged 2012, Latvia-flagged 2012-2019, Cameroon 2019-2023, Guinea-Bissau-flagged 2023-2024 and Belize-flagged since 2024. 

American whaling barque Ohio arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

An item reported the arrival on 9 November of the American whaling barque Ohio, master Lawrence, coming from the Arctic, 400 barrels whale oil, 7,000lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869. 

Scottish whaler Eliza Swan in 1821

Type ship. Master J. Birnie. Tonnage 306 tons. Built at South Shields in 1784. Owner Montrose Whale Fish.Co. Port where registered Montrose.

Source

List of the shipping registered in the different ports of Scotland. Glasgow, 1821. 

British patrol vessel HMS Pursuer P273 1988-

Scheveningen, Netherlands 3 November 2025

United Kingdom-flagged, homert Fastlane, MMSI 235010470 and call sign GAAT. Part of Archer-class P2000 patrol and training vessels. Built by Vosper Thornycroft, England and commissioned on 19 February 1988. 

Dutch cargo ship Immingham sunk after striking a mine on 10 December 1939

An item reported the possibility that the Dutch merchant ship Immingham was lost after striking a mine in the Dutch defensive minefield.(1)

Note

1. Laid down by N.V. Scheepswerf v/h Jan Smit Czn., Alblasserdam, Netherlands with yard number 519 fo account of the Internationale Kustvaart Maatschappij N.V., manager N.V. Scheepvaart&Steenkolen Maatschappij, both at Rotterdam, Netherlands on 3 September 1935, launched on 21 November 1935, delivered on 8 January 1935 and sunk in a Dutch minefield off Callantsoog on 10 December 1939 loaded with coal underway from Goole, England towards Harlingen, Netherlands.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British Royal Navy possessed large number of anti-submarine trawlers by December 1939

An item reported that at the meantime the Royal Navy possessed over 127 auxiliary anti-submarine trawlers converted and in service of which 10 were working up at Portland. Before the end of 1939 were another 14 or more expected to be completed.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British aircraft patrolling over German seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt on 12 December 1939

An item reported the start of standing patrols over the German seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt on 12 December 1939 where aircraft were stationed used for mine laying.(1)

Note

1. The website Abandoned Forgotten&Litte known airfield in Europe reported on 12-11-2025 that the Marineflugstation Borkum Seewas already atacked by Blenheims in the evening of 28 November 1939 followed by another two attacks the same year. On Sylt was the Seefliegerhorst Hörnum, attacked by British bombers in the evening of 19 March 1940.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

Dutch oil/chemical tanker tanker Coolwater 2008-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 3-11-2025

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Rotterdam, IMO 9377949, MMSI 245073000 and call sign PHMQ. Built by Eregli Gemi Insa Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS, Istanbul, Turkey in 2008. Owner Coolwater BV, Rhoon, Netherlands, manager Gefo, Hamburg, Germany. 

Dutch Davis Strait commandeur Aldert Lubbertsz Groot 1726-1743

Bookkeeper Cornelis Roos, Oostzaan

1726

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 68

1727

Whales 5 Barrels blubber 250

1728

Whales 2 Barrels blubber 90

1729

Whales 3 Barrels blubber 220

1730

Whales 3 Barrels blubber 140

1731

Whales 3 Barrels blubber 160

1732

Whales 0 Barrels blubber 0

1733

Whales 2 Barrels blubber 115

1734

Whales 1 Barrels blubber 140

1735

Whales 2 Barrels blubber 10

1736

Whales 3 Barrels blubber 150

1737

Whales 2 Barrels blubber 120

1738

Whales 2.5 Barrels blubber 124

1739

Whales 0 Barrels blubber 0

1741

Whales 5 Barrels blubber 190 Quardelen whale oil 266

1742

Whales 0 Barrels blubber 0

Bookkeeper Arent Bruyn, Monnikendam

1743

Whales 0 Barrels blubber 0

Source

1. Alphabetische naam-lyst van alle de Groenlandsche en Straat-Davidsche Commandeurs die sedert het jaar 1700 op Groenland en sedert het jaar 1719 op de Straat Davis etc. Gerret van Sant. Published by Johannes Enschede, Amsterdam 1770, with hand written notes until 1794.

Scottish whaler Rodney in 1785

Of Dunbar. When the The Raith and The Friendship arrived at Leith Roads in July returning from Greenland they reported that she caught 1 fish.

Source

The Scotts Magazine. Vol. XLVII. Edinburgh, 1785. 

Scottish Greenland whaler Robert 1797

Number of whales caught 0 and 12.75 boiled oil tons. Tonnage 169 tons. MasterMr. Harrison for 2 years, Mr. Peacock for 8 years and afterwards Mr. Geary. First was her master and a great part of the crew English and the rest from Peterhead. It sailed at first without much success until Mr. James Arbuthnot and John Hutchison suggested to crew the Robert with seamen and fishermen of Peterhead with native Mr. Geary as master. Was between 1788-1801 the only Greenland whaler of Peterhead.

Source

An historical account of Peterhead from the earliest period to the present time. James Arbuthnot, Peterhead, 1815.

French galley La Réale de France 1670

Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

Dimensions 63 (over all) x 9.7 metres. Sixty oars. Armament of 5 guns and 11 swivels. 

French galley Hardie 1739-1795

Built by Reynoir Cadet in1739, las tmentioned in 1795.

Source

J. Vichot. Repertoire des navires de guerre français. Paris, 1967.

Dutch East Indiaman Japan 1674

E.I.C.-chamber Enkhuizen, built on 1674, dimensions 145 x 36 x 15 feet.

Source

F.W. van Stapel. Beschrijving van de O.I. Compagnie. 

Spanish galleon San Marcos in 1639

Part of Galeones de plata de Tierra Firme departed Vera Cruz, Mexico on 7 April and arrived at Cadiz on 17 July. Under command of Don Carlos de Ybarra. Tonnage 860 tons. Captain Martin de Aperribay. Of the Crown.

Source

Huguette et Pierre Chaunu. Seville et l’Atlantique 1504-1650, vol. 3.

Finnish four-masted cargo barque (ex-l’Avenir 1908-1937) Admiral Karpfannger 1937-1938

Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

Ordered by the Association Maritime Belge by the Rickmers Shipyard in 1908 and named L’Avenir registered at Antwerp. Bought by the Finnish shipsowner Gustav Erikson in 1932, registered at Mariehamn, Aland, sold to the Hapag in 1937. Fitted out as training ship and renamed Admiral Karpfanger during a training voyage lost south of Cape Horn with last radio contact on 12 March 1938 at 6.05. Dimensions 84.80 (between perpendiculars) x 13.71x 7.7  metres. Gross tonnage 2,738 tons. Sail area 3,100 square metres. 

American whaling barque Helena Snow arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

Biodiversity Heritage Library

An item reported the arrival on 9 November of the American whaling barque Helena Snow, master Campbell, coming from the Arctic, 1,000 barrels whale oil, 90 barrels sperm oil, 16,000 lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869. 

American whaler Hibernia arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

Biodiversity Heritage Library

An item reported the arrival on 9 November of the American whaler Hibernia, master Ludlow, coming from the Arctic, 800barrels whale oil, 75 barrels sperm oil, 15,000 lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869.

American whaling barque California arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

An item reported the arrival on 8 November of the American whaling barque Calfornia, master Wood, coming from the Arctic, 750 barrels whale oil, 12,000 lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869. 

British cruiser HMS Black Prince 1939-1962

Arethusa-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Dido-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Fiji-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Dido-class Bellona-sub-class preceded by Arethusa-class succeeded by Fiji-class and were designed to replace the C- and D-classes cruisers. Laid down by Harland&Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland with yard number 1049 on 2 November 1939, launched on 27 August 1942, completed on 20 November 1943, commissioned on 30 November 1943, loaned to Royal New Zealand Navy and commissioned on 25 May 1946, returned to the Royal Navy control on 1 April 1961, decommissioned and sold to be broken up in March 1962 and arrived at the scrapyard at Osaka, Japan on 2 May 1962. 

Japanese merchant ship Taichu Maru served as auxiliary vessel in the Russo-Japanese war between 1904-1905

War between the Russian and Japanese empires 8 February 1904-5 September 1905. Launched at Sunderland, England in 1897. Gross tonnage 3,319 tons. Armament -2-4.7“cm” guns 6-6pd guns.

Source

Official history (Naval and Military) of the Russo-Japanese War. Vol. II. Liao Yang, the Sha Ho, Port Arthur. Prepared by the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. London, 1912. 

Finnish and Russian navies battling for control the Gulf of Bothnia and Aaland Archipelago in December 1939

An item reported that the Finnish naval forces seemed to gather at the south west of the Aaland Islands to control the mined entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. The entrance to the eastward of the Aaland Archipelago was full of skerries making it impossible to navigate excluded the local coastal vessels. Russian minelayers seemed to lay mines in the waters west of the Aaland Islands and four Russian submarines were sighted north of the Islands past the recently laid mines.(1)

Note

1.  Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union between 30 November 1939-13 March 1940.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

Bulgarian cargo ship Varna bound for Palestina according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 17 February 1940

In his letter dated Istanbul, Turkey 17 February 1940 No. 758 g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the neutral ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea and loaded with contraband for or chartered by the enemy. An item reported on 12 February the Bulgarian cargo ship Varna of the Bulgarian Steam Shipping Company of Varna, Bulgaria loaded with 162 wagon boards from Constanta, Romania towards Haifa and Tel-Aviv, Palestina.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459.

Sloop Jamaica 1710-

Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

Built at Bermuda in 1730 and served for West Indian trading companies and North American colonies-flagged with the British St. Andrew cross- retained. 

The results of the American whaling in 1835

Number of ships and barks 483

Number of brigs 8

Number of schooners and sloops 9

Aggregate tonnage `34,120

Barrels of sperm oil 172,683

Barrels of whale oil 120,649

Pounds of whale bone 965,192

Value of imports $ 6,168,997.92

Source

The marine mammals of the north-western coast of North America described and illustrated together with an account of the American whale-fishery. Charles M. Scammon. San, Francisco, USA, 1874. 

Average prizes of oil and bone from whales in 1860

Sperm oil per gallon $ 1.41 1/2

Whale oil per gallon $ 0.49 1/8

Bone per pound $ 0.80 1/4

Source

The marine mammals of the north-western coast of North America described and illustrated together with an account of the American whale-fishery. Charles M. Scammon. San, Francisco, USA, 1874. 

American whaler Henry Astor visited Floreana Island in 1832

According to a letter dated Floriana 1 May 1834 written by Joseph Villamil sent to the editors of the N.Y. Daily Advertiser visited the whaler Henry Astor of Hudson, master,Rawson, Floriana on 13 October 1832. (1)

Note

1. Floreana Island or Isla Floreana or Floriana is part of the Ecuador’s Galápagos Archipelago. In the past know and Mercedes Island/Isla Mercedes or Mascarenas, Santa Maria and Charles Island. Favorite stop for whalers for fresh water and food probably resulting in the destinction of some specias like the Floreana giant tortoise.

Source

The Sailor’s Magazine and Naval Journal. Vol VI ending August 183. New York, 1834. 

German research-survey vessel Meteor 1914-1945 (1968)

Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

Laud down at Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig, Germany on 26 February 1914, launched in January 1915, was to be complered as a gunboat but not completed, after the First World War towed to Reichswerft, Wilhelmshaven, Germany and converted into a research-survey vessel, commissioned on 15 November 1924, ceded to the Soviet Union in 1945 and in or after 1968 broken up’possible after 1968 for some years used as barracks ship. Dimensions 71.1 x 10.2 x 4.00 metres and tonnage 1,504 tons. 

Losses of British merchant shipping not compensated by newbuilding in December 1939

An item reported that the same week 1-10,00 tons new ship was taken into service and 1-2,000 tons tanker normally serving on the Great Lakes was fitted out for ocean duties. During 14 weeks was weekly average added to the number of British ships respectively tonnage 5 ships, respectively 24,000 gross tons. The average weekly loss was hover 7 ships and 30,000 tons.At the moment were 10 tankers totally 66,000 tons and 131 ships of other types with a tototal tonnage of 729,000 tons.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British merchant ship Fireking sunk in a collision in December 1939

An item reported that the 758 tons ss Fireking sunk in a collision with the Belfast mail boat ss Duke of Lancaster in the Liverpool Bay on 10 December 1939. Crew and passengers were rescued.(1)

Note

1. The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad said that the collision was in the Irish Sea. Her crew numbered 10 men. The heavily damaged Duke of Lancaster of the London-Midland and Scottish Railway was to be repaired in a drydock.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British merchant ship Middlesborough sunk in December 1939

An item reported the sinking of the 989 tons ss Middlesborough after striking a submerged object on 9 December 1939. Probably she strike the wreck of the ss Goodwood off Flamborough Head. Her crew was saved by the Icelandic ship Ruenborg.(1)

Note

1. Dutch newspapers reported that she was built in 1924 and sunk after an explosion being mined either torpedoed. Homeport Newastle. The Indische courant dated 13 December 1939 wrote that while she sunk so fast her crew was not able to send a SOS but not being far from the coast they were all saved using the boats.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

Model of the Arabian baghlah or dhow Al Hashemi II 1997-

Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

Planning started in 1985, laid down on 10 February 1997, completed on 2000. Dimensions 83.75 (over all) x 18.5 metres. Located at Kuwait City, Kuwait and used as maritime museum. 

American whaling barque Emily Morgan arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

An item reported the arrival on 8 November of the American whaling barque Emily Morgan, master Dexter, coming from the Arctic, 500 barrels whale oil, 100 barrels walrus oil, 2,000 lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869. 

American whaling barque Nile arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii accordin to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

An item reported the arrival on 8 November of the American whaling barque Nile, master Allen, coming from Ochotsk, 350 barrels whale oil, 4,000 lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869. 

American whaling barque Marengo arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the The Friend dated 1 December 1869

An item reported the arrival on 8 November of the American whaling barque Marengo, master Little, coming from the Arctic, 800 barrels whale oil, 140 barrels walrus oil, 14,000 lbs bone.

Source

Samuel C. Damon. The Friend. A monthly journal devoted to Temperance, Seamen, Marine and General Intelligence. Vol 19 No. 12. Honolulu, 1869. 

American amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney LCC20 1969-

Gaeta, Italy 9-11-2025

USA-flagged, homeport Gaeta, Italy, MMSI 11853581 and call sign NOGB. Part of Blue Ridge-class. Ordered on 10 August 1966, laid down by Newport News Shipbuilding&Drydock Company on 8 January 1969, launched on 8 January 1970, commissioned on 16 January 1971.

Croatian coastal steamship Niko Matković in 1943

According to a letter dated Zagreb 4 November 1943 of the German embassy at Zagreb to the Department of an independent Croatia were the results represented of a investigation concerning Croatian merchant coastal shipping and navy. Except for what was Croatian private property [in the past until April 1941 Yugoslavian] was also described if possible what the Italians had taken away. Cargo ship Niko Matković of 1,425 tons gross register tonnage of the firm Eugen Matković at Split sailing under Italian flag with the firm under supervision of a [n Italian] commissary.

Note

1. The Independent State of Croatia was established after Yugoslavia was captured by Italy and Germany on 10 April 1941. This state was first an Italian Protectorate between 1941-1943 and then a German puppet state between 1943-1945.

Source

Bundesarchiv TM-12-II/4

German pocket battleship Admiral Grag Spee sunk the British merchant ships Tairoa and Streonshalh in December 1939

Admiral Graf Spee. @warshipsresearch/blogspot.com

An item reported that the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee(1) unk on 3 December 1939 the 7,983 tons British ss Tairoa which left Durban, South Africa on 28 November 1939 and the 3,895 tons ss Streonshalh on 7 December and which had left Montevideo, Uruguay on 26 November 1939.

Note

1. Building ordered from Admiral Graf Spee as the Ersatz Braunschweig. Laid down on the Reichmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, Germany with yard number 125 on 1 October 1932, launched on 30 June 1934, commissioned on 6 January 1936, successful in destroying 50.089 gross tonnage of merchant ships, participated in the Battle of the Rio de La Plata on 13 December 1939 and finally scuttled to prevent capture on 17 December1939.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

German minesweeper R 150 1944

Yard number 3772. Yard Abeking&Rasmussen, Lemwerder, Germany. Date building order 11 December 1942. Date completion 5 September 1944.

Source

Deutsches Historisches Institut Moska. Records 500 findbuch 201253-file 152. 

Dutch heavy lift vessel Jumbo Jumbilee 2009-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 12-11-2025

Netherlands-flagged, IMO 9371581, MMSI 246309000 and call sign PBSA. Owner/manager Jumbo Shipping, Schiedam, Netherlands. Built by Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands in 2009. Curacao-flagged, homeport Willemstad  in 2009 and in 2019. 

Scottish Greenland whaler Robert 1796

Number of whales caught 0 and 37 boiled oil tons. Tonnage 169 tons. MasterMr. Harrison for 2 years, Mr. Peacock for 8 years and afterwards Mr. Geary. First was her master and a great part of the crew English and the rest from Peterhead. She sailed at first without much success until Mr. James Arbuthnot and John Hutchison suggested to crew the Robert with seamen and fishermen of Peterhead with native Mr. Geary as master. Was between 1788-1801 the only Greenland whaler of Peterhead.

Source

An historical account of Peterhead from the earliest period to the present time. James Arbuthnot, Peterhead, 1815.

Scottish Greenland whaler Hope in 1809

Caught 26 whales resulting in 138 tons oil. Homeport Peterhead.

Source

Annals of Peterhead from the foundation to the present time. P. Buchan, Peterhead, 1819. 

Scottish whaler Eclipse in 1821

Type Ship. Master Sutter. Tonnage 283 tons. Built at Peterhead in 1818. Owner G. Arbuthnot. Port where registered Aberdeen.

Source

List of the shipping registered in the different ports of Scotland. Glasgow, 1821. 

British destroyer HMS (ex-Haughty 1913-193) Lark 1913-1923

Sistership HMS Loyal. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Laforey-class (which was redesignated in October 1913 as L-class) preceded by Acasta-class preceded by Admiralty M-class. For the Laforey-class was the modified design of the HMS Fortune used which was slightly longer and narrower and fitted out with a clipper bow. The Laforey-class had 3 funnels with the same height and with the middle funnel thicker than the fore and aft. The Laurel and Liberty built by J. Samuel White and the Lark, Landrail, Laverock and Linnel built by Yarrow had just two funnels. Laid down by Yarrow, Scotstoun, Scotland on 28 June 1912, launched on 26 May 1913, completed in October 1913 and sold to be broken up on 20 January 1923. 

Sixteen Allied and neutral merchant ships sunk between 7-14 December 1939

An item reported the loss of 16 Allied and neutrals ships during this week due to enemy handling. The British lost about 30,000 tons and 3 of the 4 torpedoed were in ballast and 2 of the 5 sunk by mines were below the 1,000 tons.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

Danish merchant ship Ove Toft sunk in December 1939

An item reported that the Danish merchant ship Ove Toft was not sunk after striking a mine as reported in Résumé No. 14 but according to tidings from Copenhagen, Denmark was torpedoed.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

British merchant ship Eskdene arrived safely in the Tyne in December 1939

An item reported that the British merchant ship Eskdene mentioned in the Résumé No. 14 arrived safely in the Tyne. She was loaded with timber.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

Japanese chemical/oil tanker Navig8 Guard 2019-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 9-11-2025

Liberia-flagged, homeport Monrovia, IMO 9833670, MMSI 636018606 and call sign D5QM9. Owner Shintoku Panama Sa, Hiroshima, Japan. Manager TB Marine Shipmanagement Gmbh&Co. Kg, Hamburg, Germany. Built by New Times Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Jingjiang, China in 2019. 

French whaler Duc d’Orleans visited the Saldanha Bay, South Africa according to the The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette dated 21 March 1834

An item reported the arrival on 6 Marchin the Saldanha Bay of the French whaler Duc d’Orleans, master M. Grandsaigne, put in for after lossing her sails in a strong south east gale. 

Value of the American whaler James Stewart and her cargo on 24 October 1844

According to a report of Mr. G.D. Gilman of American whalers with a total value of 1,010,240 US dollars berthed at Honolulu, Hawaii on 24 October 1844 was the value of the American whaler James Stewart as she now floats 20,000 US dollars, loaded with 2,700 barrels of whale oil, value 21,600 US dollars, loaded with - barrels of sperm oil, value - US dollars, loaded with 27,000 shp bone, value 5,940 US dollars. Total value 47,540 US dollars.

Source

Robert Crichton Wyllie, Esquire. Notes on the shipping, trade, agriculture, diseases...of the Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands published in the monthly numbers of the The Friend, from May to December. Honolulu, 1845. 

The results of the American whaling in 1851

Number of ships and barks 502

Number of brigs 24

Number of schooners and sloops 27

Aggregate tonnage 171,971

Barrels of sperm oil 99,591

Barrels of whale oil 328,483

Pounds of whale bone 3,966,500

Value of imports $ 10,042,536.94

Source

The marine mammals of the north-western coast of North America described and illustrated together with an account of the American whale-fishery. Charles M. Scammon. San, Francisco, USA, 1874. 

British destroyer HMS Patrician 1915-1920 (1929)

Sister ship HMS Meteor. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Thornycroft M-class destroyers based on a basic Admiralty design developed into an own design of the shipyard. Ordered in February 1915. Laid down by Thornycroft, Woolston, Southampton on 3 June 1915, launched on 5 June 1916, commissioned on 4 August 1916, handed over to Canada in September 1920. commissioned on 1 November 1920, decommissioned on 1 January 1928 and broken up in 1929.