This is a list of

shipwrecks A shipwreck is the wreckage of a ship that is located either beached on land or sunken to the bottom of a body of water. Shipwrecking may be intentional or unintentional. Angela Croome reported in January 1999 that there were approximately ...

located in the region of

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...

Australia

Federated States of Micronesia

Chuuk

During World War II,

Chuuk Lagoon Chuuk Lagoon, previously Truk Atoll, is an atoll in the central Pacific. It lies about northeast of New Guinea, and is part of Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). A protective reef, around, encloses a natural harbou ...

(then known as Truk) was the logistical hub of Japan's operations in the South Pacific theatre. In February 1944, in preparation for the forthcoming

Battle of Eniwetok The Battle of Eniwetok was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought between 17 February 1944 and 23 February 1944, on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The invasion of Eniwetok followed the American success in the Battle ...

, the United States Navy launched an attack on the atoll. Over the course of two days, a series of airstrikes devastated the Japanese fleet, in an offensive codenamed

Operation Hailstone Operation Hailstone ( ja, トラック島空襲, Torakku-tō Kūshū, lit=airstrike on Truk Island), 17–18 February 1944, was a massive United States Navy air and surface attack on Truk Lagoon conducted as part of the American offensive drive ...

. A total of 50 ships were sunk, although many key Japanese warships had been relocated the week before, and thus escaped destruction.

Palau

Yap

Indonesia

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

New Zealand

{, class="wikitable sortable" style = "width:100%" ! style="width:15%" , Ship ! style="width:18%" , Flag ! style="width:15%" , Sunk date ! style="width:37%" , Notes ! style="width:15%" , Coordinates , - , , , 5 February 1905 , A barque that struck rocks off the

Auckland Islands The Auckland Islands (Māori: ''Motu Maha'' "Many islands" or ''Maungahuka'' "Snowy mountains") are an archipelago of New Zealand, lying south of the South Island. The main Auckland Island, occupying , is surrounded by smaller Adams Island, ...

. , , - , TSS ''Arahura'' , , 24 January 1952 , A passenger and cargo steamer that was sunk for target practice in

Cook Strait Cook Strait ( mi, Te Moana-o-Raukawa) separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The strait connects the Tasman Sea on the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean on the southeast. It is wide at its narrowest point,McLintock, A H, ...

. , , - , ''Boyd'' , , October 1809 , A

brigantine A brigantine is a two-masted sailing vessel with a fully square-rigged foremast and at least two sails on the main mast: a square topsail and a gaff sail mainsail (behind the mast). The main mast is the second and taller of the two masts. Older ...

that was attacked by Maori warriors at

Whangaroa Whangaroa is a settlement on Whangaroa Harbour in the Far North District of New Zealand. It is 8 km north-west of Kaeo and 35 km north-west of Kerikeri. The harbour is almost landlocked and is popular both as a fishing spot in its own ...

. The ship was destroyed by fire during the resulting

Boyd massacre The ''Boyd'' massacre occurred in December 1809 when Māori of Whangaroa Harbour in northern New Zealand killed between 66 and 70 European crew of the ''Boyd''. Cannibalism was described or alluded to in contemporary reports. This is reputedly t ...

. , , - , , , 28 July 1840 , A

storeship Combat stores ships, or storeships, were originally a designation given to ships in the Age of Sail and immediately afterward that navies used to stow supplies and other goods for naval purposes. Today, the United States Navy and the Royal Nav ...

that was wrecked in a storm in

Mercury Bay Mercury Bay is a large V-shaped bay on the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. It was named by the English navigator Captain James Cook during his exploratory expeditions. It was first named ''Te-Whangan ...

, with two lives lost. , , - , , , 3 November 2007 , A ''Leander''-class

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...

that was scuttled as a dive wreck in the

Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its ...

. , , - , ''Cowan'' , , 9 March 1948 , A wooden steam trawler that struck rocks in

Lyttelton Harbour Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō is one of two major inlets in Banks Peninsula, on the coast of Canterbury, New Zealand; the other is Akaroa Harbour on the southern coast. It enters from the northern coast of the peninsula, heading in a pred ...

. , , - , '' Darra'' , , 1951 , A

tea clipper A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. "C ...

, later used as a coal hulk, intentionally beached in

. , , - , , , 20 March 1887 , A barque that ran aground on

Enderby Island Enderby Island is part of New Zealand's uninhabited Auckland Islands archipelago, south of mainland New Zealand. It is situated just off the northern tip of Auckland Island, the largest island in the archipelago. Geography and geology Enderby ...

. , , - , ''

Dolphin A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the ...

'' , , 9 December 1862 , A cutter wrecked near Quail Island,

, New Zealand , , - , ''Dundonald'' , , 7 March 1907 , A barque that was wrecked in a storm off

Disappointment Island Disappointment Island is one of seven uninhabited islands in the Auckland Islands archipelago, in New Zealand. It is south of the country's main South Island and from the northwest end of Auckland Island. It is home to a large colony of white ...

, where the survivors remained for seven months until rescued. , , - , , , 5 November 1902 , A steamship that struck West Island (one of the

Three Kings Islands 3 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 3, three, or III may also refer to: * AD 3, the third year of the AD era * 3 BC, the third year before the AD era * March, the third month Books * ''Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 n ...

) and sank within 20 minutes. , , - , England's Glory , , 7 November 1881 , By getting too close in while waiting the arrival of the pilot. , off

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

, - , ''Endeavour II'' , , 22 February 1971 , A three-masted auxiliary

barque A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing ship, sailing vessel with three or more mast (sailing), masts having the fore- and mainmasts Square rig, rigged square and only the mizzen (the aftmost mast) Fore-and-aft rig, rigged fore and aft. Som ...

driven onto the

bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

Parengarenga Harbour Parengarenga Harbour is a natural harbour close to the northernmost point on the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the northern end of the Aupouri Peninsula, it extends inland for over 10 kilometres, almost severing the northern tip of t ...

, a few miles south of North Cape. There were no fatalities amongst the crew of thirteen men and one woman. , , - , , , 14 May 1866 , A barque that drifted into a cave on the western shore of the

and sank. , , - , '' Holmbank'' , , 21 September 1963 , A

coastal trading vessel Coastal trading vessels, also known as coasters or skoots, are shallow-hulled ships used for trade between locations on the same island or continent. Their shallow hulls mean that they can get through reefs where deeper-hulled seagoing ships usua ...

that was lost off

Banks Peninsula Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves. The South Island's largest cit ...

, , - , , , 24 November 1959 , A

that was lost off

Timaru Timaru (; mi, Te Tihi-o-Maru) is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand, located southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to ...

. , , - , ''Hydrabad'' , , 24 June 1878 , A cargo and passenger sailing ship that was beached in the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

in a storm. , , - , , , 24 May 1966 , A collier that capsized near

Cape Reinga , type =Cape , photo = Cape Reinga, Northland, New Zealand, October 2007.jpg , photo_width = 270px , photo_alt = , photo_caption = , map = New Zealand , map_width = 270px ...

. , , - , , , 16 February 1986 , A Soviet

passenger liner A passenger ship is a merchant ship whose primary function is to carry passengers on the sea. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freig ...

that ran aground in the

Marlborough Sounds The Marlborough Sounds are an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. The Marlborough Sounds were created by a combination of land subsidence and rising sea levels. According to Māori m ...

. , , - , , , 19 June 1940 , An

ocean liner An ocean liner is a passenger ship primarily used as a form of transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). Ca ...

that struck a mine and sank off

Bream Head Bream Head is a promontory on the east coast of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the end of a 30 kilometre-long peninsula, the head juts into the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Whangārei. The Hen and Chicken Islands ...

while carrying a secret consignment of gold from the

Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of ...

. , , - , ''Novelty'' , , Unknown date 1877 , A steam ship wrecked off Quail Island,

, New Zealand , , - , - , , , 7 February 1863 , A ''Jason''-class

corvette A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper (or " rated") warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the slo ...

that ran aground on the

Manukau Heads The Manukau Heads is the name given to the two promontories that form the entrance to the Manukau Harbour – one of the two harbours of Auckland in New Zealand. The southern head, at the northern tip of Āwhitu Peninsula, is simply termed "The ...

, with 189 lives lost. , , - , , , 12 February 1909 , A ferry that foundered off

Cape Terawhiti Cape Terawhiti is the southwesternmost point of the North Island of New Zealand. The cape is located 16 kilometres to the west of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Ohau Point, located on the northern tip of Cape Terawhiti and, along ...

. , , - , , , 18 September 1917 , A

cargo ship A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usu ...

that was sunk by a mine off

Farewell Spit Farewell Spit ( mi, Onetahua) is a narrow sand spit at the northern end of the Golden Bay, South Island of New Zealand. It runs eastwards from Cape Farewell, the island's northernmost point. Farewell Spit is a legally protected Nature Reserve ...

. , , - , , , 14 May 1941 , A coastal cargo boat that was converted into a

minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

, and hit a mine off

25 days after being commissioned. , , - , , , 7 August 1877 , A barque that ran aground on

.'Wreck of the Queen Bee, from London', pg 2, Nelson Evening Mail, 8 August 1877 , , - , , , 2 December 1987 , A

fishing trawler A fishing trawler is a commercial fishing vessel designed to operate Trawling, fishing trawls. Trawling is a method of fishing that involves actively dragging or pulling a trawl through the water behind one or more trawlers. Trawls are fishing ...

that was purchased by

Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...

in 1978 for use as a fundraising and protest ship. She was sabotaged and sunk by the

French secret service This is a list of current and former French intelligence agencies. Currently active *DGSE: Directorate-General for External Security – '' Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure''. It is the military foreign intelligence agency, whi ...

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

on 10 July 1985, and although later refloated, was found to be beyond repair and finally scuttled in

Matauri Bay Matauri Bay ( mi, Mātauri) is a bay in New Zealand, situated 30 km north of Kerikeri, in Whangaroa county, just north of the Bay of Islands. It has over a kilometre of white sand and crystal clear water, making it a popular summer destina ...

. , , - , , , 5 October 2011 , A container ship that ran aground on

Astrolabe Reef Astrolabe Reef is near Motiti Island, 20 kilometres NE of Tauranga, off the Bay of Plenty coast in New Zealand. The reef, which breaks the water surface at low tide, is a renowned scuba diving spot that drops off to in different parts. The re ...

, resulting in New Zealand's worst oil spill. The wreck broke apart and sank in January 2012. , , - , , , 1868 , A passenger

paddle steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses wer ...

used as a gunboat during the

New Zealand Wars The New Zealand Wars took place from 1845 to 1872 between the New Zealand colonial government and allied Māori on one side and Māori and Māori-allied settlers on the other. They were previously commonly referred to as the Land Wars or the M ...

. In 1865 she reverted to civilian use and became the ''Tasmanian Maid'', before being wrecked off

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

. , , - , , , 17 July 1837 , A

schooner A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...

that was wrecked in a storm off

Moeraki Moeraki is a small fishing village on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was once the location of a whaling station. In the 1870s, local interests believed it could become the main port for the north Otago area and a railwa ...

Otago Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...

. , , - , , , 29 April 1881 , A passenger steamer that struck a reef off

Waipapa Point Waipapa Point is a rocky promontory on the south coast of Foveaux Strait, the South Island of New Zealand. It is located southeast of the mouth of the Mataura River, at the extreme southwestern end of the area known as the Catlins The C ...

and sank the next day, claiming over 100 victims. , , - , , , 17 November 1924 , An ''Alert''-class

sloop A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular sa ...

that ran aground in the

Chatham Islands The Chatham Islands ( ) (Moriori: ''Rēkohu'', 'Misty Sun'; mi, Wharekauri) are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about east of New Zealand's South Island. They are administered as part of New Zealand. The archipelago consists of about te ...

. , , - , '' Torrington'' , , 27 June 1851 , A brig wrecked in a storm in

, , - , , , February 1999 , An oceanographic survey and research ship that was scuttled as a dive wreck. , , - , SS ''Victory'' , , 3 July 1861 , A steamship that ran aground off

Otago Peninsula The Otago Peninsula ( mi, Muaūpoko) is a long, hilly indented finger of land that forms the easternmost part of Dunedin, New Zealand. Volcanic in origin, it forms one wall of the eroded valley that now forms Otago Harbour. The peninsula lies sou ...

. , , - , '' Wahine'' , , 10 April 1968 , A passenger ferry that ran aground and capsized, with 51 lives lost. , , - , , , 18 December 2000 , A ''Leander''-class frigate that was scuttled off Tutukata as an artificial reef. , , - , , , 29 October 1894 , A luxury steamer that hit a reef off

Great Barrier Island Great Barrier Island ( mi, Aotea) lies in the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, north-east of central Auckland. With an area of it is the sixth-largest island of New Zealand and fourth-largest in the main chain. Its highest point, Mount Hobson ...

. , , - , , , 13 November 2005 , A ''Leander''-class frigate that was scuttled off the coast of

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

. , , - , ''

William and John ''William and John'' was a New Zealand cutter of 10 tons. Voyages and notable incidents ''William and John'' is first recorded in New Zealand shipping reports in port at Lyttelton Harbour in March 1851. On 8 April 1851, ''William and John'' w ...

'' , , 27 June 1851 , A 10 ton cutter wrecked in a storm in

Papua New Guinea

{, class=wikitable , style = "width:100%" ! style="width:15%" , Ship ! style="width:18%" , Flag ! style="width:15%" , Sunk date ! style="width:37%" , Notes ! style="width:15%" , Coordinates , - , , , 26 December 1943 , A ''Fletcher''-class destroyer that was sunk by a Japanese dive bomber off Cape Gloucester, New Britain. , , - , , , 18 October 1944 , A ''Bathurst''-class corvette that collided with the American tanker ''York'' north of

Langemak Bay Langemak Bay (Langemark, Langemaak) is a bay north of Finschhafen, on the north east coast of Papua New Guinea. Langemak Bay saw extensive naval operations in World War II, including a landing beach at the western end of the bay for the embarkati ...

. , , - , ''Hakaze'' , , 23 January 1943 , A Japanese ''Minekaze''-class destroyer that was torpedoed by south of

Kavieng Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2009, it had a population of 17,248. Kavi ...

, New Ireland. , , - , , , 2 March 1943 , A Japanese troopship that was sunk by Allied aircraft in the

Battle of the Bismarck Sea The Battle of the Bismarck Sea (2–4 March 1943) took place in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II when aircraft of the U.S. Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) attacked a Japanese convoy carrying troops ...

. , , - , , , 18 June 1942 , A passenger and cargo ship that was sunk by Japanese aircraft in

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...

. , , - , ''Mikazuki'' , , 28 July 1943 , A Japanese ''Mutsuki''-class destroyer that ran aground on a reef off the west coast of

New Island New Island ( es, Isla de Goicoechea) is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of Beaver Island. It is from Stanley and is long with an average width of . The highest point is . The northern and eastern coasts have high cliffs but the eas ...

. , , - , , , 10 November 1944 , A ''Mount Hood''-class

ammunition ship An ammunition ship is an auxiliary ship specially configured to carry ammunition, usually for naval ships and aircraft. An ammunition ship's cargo handling systems, designed with extreme safety in mind, include ammunition hoists with airlocks bet ...

that exploded in

Seeadler Harbor Seeadler Harbor, also known as Port Seeadler, is located on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea and played an important role in World War II. In German, "Seeadler" means sea eagle, pointing to German colonial activity between 1884 an ...

, killing over 300 people and destroying twenty-two smaller boats and landing craft. , , - , , , 31 December 1923 , A steamship that was wrecked on Natara Reef, off

. , , - , ''Ro-33'' , , 29 August 1942 , A Japanese ''Ro-33''-class submarine that was sunk by off

. , , - , , , 13 August 1942 , An S-class submarine that ran aground off

Rossel Island Rossel Island (named after de Rossel, a senior officer on the French expedition of d'Entrecasteaux, 1791-1793; also known as Yela) is the easternmost island of the Louisiade Archipelago, within the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Tree Isle ...

. , , - , ''Tenryū'' , , 19 December 1942 , A Japanese ''Tenryū''-class

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

that was torpedoed by off

Madang Madang (old German name: ''Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen'') is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 (in 2005) on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century. Histor ...

. , , - , ''W-26'' , , 17 February 1944 , A Japanese ''W-19''-class minesweeper that was bombed by American aircraft at

Karavia Bay Karavia Bay is a bay near Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Simpson Harbour is located to the north, while to the east is Blanche Bay.Rottman, p.172. The naval battle of Karavia Bay was fought in February 1944 during World War II ...

, New Britain. , , - , ''Yūgiri'' , , 26 November 1943 , A Japanese ''Fubuki''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

Battle of Cape St. George The Battle of Cape St. George was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on 25 November 1943, between Cape St. George, New Ireland, and Buka Island (now part of the North Solomons Province in Papua New Guinea). It was ...

. ,

Polynesia

Samoa

{, class=wikitable , style = "width:100%" ! style="width:15%" , Ship ! style="width:18%" , Flag ! style="width:15%" , Sunk date ! style="width:37%" , Notes ! style="width:15%" , Coordinates , - , Staghound , British Australian colony , 21 November 1862 , Drove ashore during a gale. , , - , , , 16 March 1889 , A

gunboat A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies. History Pre-steam ...

that was wrecked in the

1889 Apia cyclone The 1889 Apia cyclone was a tropical cyclone in the South Pacific Ocean, which swept across Apia, Samoa on March 15, 1889, during the Samoan crisis. The effect on shipping in the harbour was devastating, largely because of what has been described ...

. , , - , , , 16 March 1889 , A

warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster a ...

that was wrecked in the

. , , - , , , 16 March 1889 , A

that was wrecked in the

. ,

Pitcairn Islands

Oeno Island Oeno Island ( ) or Holiday Island a coral atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, part of the Pitcairn Islands overseas territory. Geography Located northwest of Pitcairn Island, at . Oeno Atoll measures about in diameter, including the central ...

. , , - , ''Cornwallis'' , , 23 January 1875 , A ship that was wrecked on

Pitcairn Island Pitcairn Island is the only inhabited island of the Pitcairn Islands, of which many inhabitants are descendants of mutineers of HMS ''Bounty''. Geography The island is of volcanic origin, with a rugged cliff coastline. Unlike many other ...

. , , - , ''Khandeish'' , , 25 September 1875 , A ship that was wrecked on

. , , - , ''Acadia'' , , 5 June 1881 , A mail ship that was wrecked on

Ducie Island Ducie Island is an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Islands. It lies east of Pitcairn Island, and east of Henderson Island, and has a total area of , which includes the lagoon. It is long, measured northeast to southwest, and about wide. ...

. , , - , ''Oregon'' , , 23 August 1883 , A ship that was wrecked on

. , , - , ''Bowdon'' , , April 1893 , A ship that was wrecked on

. ,

Tahiti

{, class=wikitable , style = "width:100%" ! style="width:15%" , Ship ! style="width:18%" , Flag ! style="width:15%" , Sunk date ! style="width:37%" , Notes ! style="width:15%" , Coordinates , - , ''

Lady of St Kilda The ''Lady of St Kilda'' was a schooner which served from 1834 before being shipwrecked off Tahiti shortly after 1843.schooner A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...

that was wrecked sometime shortly after 1843. ,

Solomon Islands

heavy cruiser The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Tr ...

that was sunk in the

Battle of Rennell Island The took place on 29–30 January 1943. It was the last major naval engagement between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. It occurred in the South Pacific between Rennell Is ...

. , , - , , , 6 July 1943 , A ''St. Louis''-class light cruiser that was sunk in the

Battle of Kula Gulf The naval Battle of Kula Gulf (Japanese: クラ湾夜戦) took place in the early hours of 6 July 1943 during World War II. The battle involved United States and Japanese ships off the eastern coast of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands. It took ...

. , , - , ''Jintsu'' , , 13 July 1943 , A Japanese ''Sendai''-class light cruiser that was sunk in the

Battle of Kolombangara The Battle of Kolombangara (Japanese: コロンバンガラ島沖海戦) (also known as the Second Battle of Kula Gulf) was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the night of 12/13 July 1943, off the northeastern coas ...

. , , - , , , 13 November 1942 , An ''Atlanta''-class light cruiser that was sunk in the

Naval Battle of Guadalcanal The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, the Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, the , took place from 12 to 15 November 1942, and was t ...

. , , - , ''Ro-34'' , , 5 April 1943 , A Japanese ''Kaichū'' type submarine that was sunk by and off the

Russell Islands :''See also Russell Island (disambiguation).'' The Russell Islands are two small islands (Pavuvu and Mbanika), as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of Solomon Islands. They are located approximately northwest of ...

. , , - , ''Yūgumo'' , , 7 October 1943 , A Japanese ''Yūgumo''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

Naval Battle of Vella Lavella The was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of 6 October 1943, near the island of Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands. It marked the end of a three-month fight to capture the central Solomon Islands, as pa ...

. , , - , ''Yura'' , , 25 October 1942 , A Japanese ''Nagara''-class light cruiser that was bombed by US aircraft and scuttled off

Savo Island Savo Island is an island in Solomon Islands in the southwest South Pacific ocean. Administratively, Savo Island is a part of the Central Province of the Solomon Islands. It is about from the capital Honiara. The principal village is Alialia, ...

. ,

Ironbottom Sound

Ironbottom Sound "Ironbottom Sound" (alternatively Iron Bottom Sound or Ironbottomed Sound or Iron Bottom Bay) is the name given by Allied sailors to the stretch of water at the southern end of The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of t ...

is the name given to the stretch of water between

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the seco ...

and

Florida Island The Nggela Islands, also known as the Florida Islands, are a small island group in the Central Province of Solomon Islands, a sovereign state (since 1978) in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The chain is composed of four larger islands and about ...

, because of the dozens of ships and planes that sank there during the

Guadalcanal Campaign The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in th ...

in 1942–43. {, class=wikitable , style = "width:100%" ! style="width:15%" , Ship ! style="width:18%" , Flag ! style="width:15%" , Sunk date ! style="width:37%" , Notes ! style="width:15%" , Coordinates , - , , , 7 April 1943 , A ''Gleaves''-class destroyer that was sunk by Japanese aircraft during

Operation I-Go was an aerial counter-offensive launched by Imperial Japanese forces against Allied forces during the Solomon Islands and New Guinea Campaign The New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in A ...

. , , - , ''Akatsuki'' , , 13 November 1942 , A Japanese ''Akatsuki''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 9 August 1942 , A ''New Orleans''-class heavy cruiser that was sunk in the

Battle of Savo Island The Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , and colloquially among Allied Guadalcanal veterans as the Battle of the Five Sitting Ducks, was a naval battle of the Solomon Islands ca ...

. , , - , , , 13 November 1942 , An ''Atlanta''-class anti-aircraft cruiser that was sunk in the

. , , - , ''Ayanami'' , , 15 November 1942 , A Japanese ''Fubuki''-class destroyer that was sunk by gunfire from . , , - , , , 13 November 1942 , A ''Benson''-class destroyer that was struck by torpedoes from the Japanese destroyer . , , - , , , 9 August 1942 , A ''Kent''-class cruiser that was scuttled after taking damage in the

. , , - , , , 30 August 1942 , A ''Wickes''-class destroyer that was sunk by Japanese aircraft. , , - , , , 13 November 1942 , A ''Mahan''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 1 February 1943 , A ''Fletcher''-class destroyer that was sunk by Japanese bombers during

Operation Ke was the largely successful withdrawal of Japanese forces from Guadalcanal, concluding the Guadalcanal Campaign of . The operation took place between 14 January and 7 February 1943, and involved both Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and Imperial ...

. , , - , , , 12 October 1942 , A ''Gleaves''-class destroyer that was sunk after taking damage in the

Battle of Cape Esperance The Battle of Cape Esperance, also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , took place on 11–12 October 1942, in the Pacific War, Pacific campaign of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Unit ...

. , , - , ''Fubuki'' , , 11 October 1942 , A Japanese ''Fubuki''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , ''Furutaka'' , , 12 October 1942 , A Japanese ''Furutaka''-class cruiser that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 8 August 1942 , A ''Heywood''-class attack transport that was sunk by

Mitsubishi G4M The Mitsubishi G4M was a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber formerly manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designati ...

bombers. , , - , , , 5 September 1942 , A ''Wickes''-class destroyer that was sunk by Japanese destroyers , , and . , , - , ''Hiei'' , , 14 November 1942 , A Japanese ''Kongō''-class battleship that was scuttled after taking damage in the

. , , - , ''Hirokawa Maru'' , , , A Japanese military transport. , , - , , , 9 August 1942 , A ''Gridley''-class destroyer that was sunk by Japanese aircraft. , , - , , , 13 August 1943 , An attack transport that was sunk by Japanese aircraft off

Lunga Point Lunga Point is a promontory on the northern coast of Guadalcanal, the site of a naval battle during World War II. It was also the name of a nearby airfield, later named Henderson Field. is also the name of a United States Navy escort carrier ...

. , , - , ''

Kasi Maru was a Japanese auxiliary minelayer/merchant ship, sunk in Mbaeroko Bay, near Munda, during a World War II bombing raid on 2 July 1943. ''Kashi Maru'' was built in 1940 at the Osaka Iron Works. The ship was unloading a cargo of fuel and vehic ...

'' , , 2 July 1943 , A Japanese auxiliary minelayer/merchant ship, sunk in Mbaeroko Bay, near Munda, during a bombing raid by USAAF

B-25 The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in e ...

bombers , , - , , , 8 April 1943 , A ''Kanawha''-class fleet replenishment oiler that was sunk by enemy

Vals Vals is the word for waltz in many European languages. Vals or VALS may also refer to: * Peruvian waltz * Venezuelan waltz * Vals (dance), a dance related to Argentine tango * VALS, "Values And Lifestyles," a psychographic segmentation tool Place ...

. , , - , ''Kinugawa Maru'' , , , A Japanese military transport. , , - , ''Kirishima'' , , 15 November 1942 , A Japanese ''Kongō''-class battleship that was sunk by . , , - , , , 13 November 1942 , A ''Benson''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 5 September 1942 , A ''Wickes''-class destroyer that was sunk by Japanese destroyers , , and . , , - , ''Makigumo'' , , 1 February 1942 , A Japanese ''Yūgumo''-class destroyer that was scuttled after striking a mine. , , - , , , 7 April 1943 , A Bird-class minesweeper that was sunk by Japanese aircraft. , , - , , , 13 November 1942 , A ''Gleaves''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 30 November 1942 , A ''Northampton''-class heavy cruiser that was sunk in the

Battle of Tassafaronga The Battle of Tassafaronga, sometimes referred to as the Fourth Battle of Savo Island or, in Japanese sources, as the , was a nighttime naval battle that took place on November 30, 1942, between United States Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy warsh ...

. , , - , , , 14 November 1942 , A ''Mahan''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , , An American

PT boat A PT boat (short for patrol torpedo boat) was a motor torpedo boat used by the United States Navy in World War II. It was small, fast, and inexpensive to build, valued for its maneuverability and speed but hampered at the beginning of the wa ...

. , , - , , , , An American PT boat. , , - , , , , An American PT boat. , , - , , , , An American PT boat. , , - , , , , An American PT boat. , , - , , , 9 August 1942 , A ''New Orleans''-class cruiser that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 25 October 1942 , A ''Navajo''-class oceangoing tug that was sunk off

Tulagi Tulagi, less commonly known as Tulaghi, is a small island——in Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Ngella Sule. The town of the same name on the island (pop. 1,750) was the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from 18 ...

by Japanese destroyers. , , - , , , 29 January 1945 , A

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

-crewed

Liberty ship Liberty ships were a class of cargo ship built in the United States during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Though British in concept, the design was adopted by the United States for its simple, low-cost construction. Mass ...

that exploded while anchored off Lunga Beach. , , - , ''Takanami'' , , 30 November 1942 , A Japanese ''Yūgumo''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , ''Teruzuki'' , , 12 December 1942 , A Japanese ''Akizuki''-class destroyer that was torpedoed by ''PT-37'' and ''PT-40''. , , - , ''Toa Maru'' , , , A Japanese military transport. , , - , , , 9 August 1942 , A ''New Orleans''-class cruiser that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 15 November 1942 , A ''Sims''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. , , - , , , 30 April 2000 , A cruise ship that struck a reef in the Sandfly Passage and ran aground in Roderick Bay. , , - , '' YP-284'' , , , An American yard patrol craft. , , - , ''Yūdachi'' , , 13 November 1942 , A Japanese ''Shiratsuyu''-class destroyer that was sunk in the

. ,

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Shipwrecks A shipwreck is the wreckage of a ship that is located either beached on land or sunken to the bottom of a body of water. Shipwrecking may be intentional or unintentional. Angela Croome reported in January 1999 that there were approximately ...

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Ironbottom Sound

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