During World War II, German U-boats dealt significant damage to Allied shipping. The submarines used stealth and strategic tactics, augmented by intelligence gathered on merchant vessels, to inflict maximum destruction. These U-boats strategically targeted ships, causing disruptions across the Atlantic Ocean’s shipping lanes. While the Allies labored to refine their strategies to counter this menace, the toll from these assaults amounted to the loss of thousands of lives.
To identify the ships that German U-boats sank during WWII that resulted in the greatest loss of life, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 25 ships with the greatest loss of life during WWII (lost to U-boats), a list compiled by Uboat.net, an online database of ships sunk during the world wars. The 25 ships are ordered by how many lives were lost from the sinking. Supplemental information on the type of each ship, their size (in terms of tonnage), nationality, and when they were sunk also came from Uboat.net.
On September 12, 1942, the British troop transport Laconia fell prey to the German sub U-156. Full of civilians, military personnel, and prisoners of war, the ship was torpedoed, leading to an estimated loss of 1,658 lives—mostly Italian POWs—out of a complement of around 2,740. The U-boat commander then attempted to rescue the survivors, but still-afloat allied ships continued to attempt to sink the sub, despite the survivors clearly visible in lifeboats. This angered the Germans and led to the Laconia Order, which forbade U-boats from attempting to rescue the crews of the sunk vessels.
The Arandora Star’s demise occurred near the Irish coast in early July 1940, as it fell victim to torpedoes fired by the German U-47. Laden with approximately 1,200 Italian and German civilian internees, the ship suffered a loss of over 800 lives in the sinking. (Also see, This is the nation with the most military submarines: see where the US ranks.)
This list encompasses a a variety of vessel types, including both military and civilian craft. All were sunk within the European Theater or the Mediterranean/African Theater, with sinking dates spanning from as early as 1939 to the conclusion of 1944. (Also see: The Fate of Every American Aircraft Carrier in World War II.)
These tragic occurrences underscore the profound devastation inflicted by the German U-boat fleet during WWII. The magnitude of loss was staggering and, in certain instances, indiscriminate, impacting both military personnel and civilians aboard these ill-fated vessels.
Here is a look at the largest losses of life brought upon by U-boats.
25. HMS Hecla (F-20)
> Number dead: 279
> Sinking date: Nov. 12, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Destroyer tender
> Tonnage: 10,850
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24. P-4
> Number dead: 294
> Sinking date: Aug. 17, 1942
> Nationality: Soviet Union
> Type: Barge
> Tonnage: 500
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23. Calabria
> Number dead: 360
> Sinking date: Dec. 8, 1940
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Steam passenger ship
> Tonnage: 9,515
22. Almeda Star
> Number dead: 360
> Sinking date: Jan. 17, 1941
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Steam passenger ship
> Tonnage: 14,936
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21. Abosso
> Number dead: 362
> Sinking date: Oct. 29, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Motor passenger ship
> Tonnage: 11,330
20. Doggerbank
> Number dead: 364
> Sinking date: March 3, 1943
> Nationality: Germany
> Type: Motor merchant
> Tonnage: 5,154
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19. HMS Fidelity (D-57)
> Number dead: 368
> Sinking date: Dec. 30, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Special service vessel
> Tonnage: 2,456
18. Marina Raskova
> Number dead: 373
> Sinking date: Aug. 12, 1944
> Nationality: Soviet Union
> Type: Steam merchant
> Tonnage: 7,540
17. Brazza
> Number dead: 379
> Sinking date: May 28, 1940
> Nationality: France
> Type: Motor passenger ship
> Tonnage: 10,387
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16. HMS Penelope (97)
> Number dead: 417
> Sinking date: Feb. 18, 1944
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Light cruiser
> Tonnage: 5,270
15. HMS Dunedin (D-93)
> Number dead: 419
> Sinking date: Nov. 24, 1941
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Light cruiser
> Tonnage: 4,850
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14. HMS Galatea (71)
> Number dead: 470
> Sinking date: Dec. 15, 1941
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Light cruiser
> Tonnage: 5,220
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13. Yoma
> Number dead: 484
> Sinking date: June 17, 1943
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Troop transport
> Tonnage: 8,131
12. HMS Avenger (D-14)
> Number dead: 514
> Sinking date: Nov. 15, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Escort carrier
> Tonnage: 13,785
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11. HMS Courageous (50)
> Number dead: 518
> Sinking date: Sept. 17, 1939
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Aircraft carrier
> Tonnage: 22,500
10. Sidi-Bel-Abbès
> Number dead: 611
> Sinking date: April 20, 1943
> Nationality: France
> Type: Troop transport
> Tonnage: 4,392
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9. Ceramic
> Number dead: 654
> Sinking date: Dec. 7, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Steam passenger ship
> Tonnage: 18,713
8. Dorchester
> Number dead: 675
> Sinking date: Feb. 3, 1943
> Nationality: United States
> Type: Troop transport
> Tonnage: 5,649
7. Shuntien
> Number dead: 700
> Sinking date: Dec. 23, 1941
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Steam passenger ship
> Tonnage: 3,059
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6. Arandora Star
> Number dead: 805
> Sinking date: July 2, 1940
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Steam passenger ship
> Tonnage: 15,501
5. Leopoldville
> Number dead: 819
> Sinking date: Dec. 24, 1944
> Nationality: Belgium
> Type: Troop transport
> Tonnage: 11,509
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4. HMS Royal Oak (08)
> Number dead: 835
> Sinking date: Oct. 14, 1939
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Battleship
> Tonnage: 29,150
3. Nova Scotia
> Number dead: 858
> Sinking date: Nov. 28, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Troop transport
> Tonnage: 6,796
2. HMS Barham (04)
> Number dead: 862
> Sinking date: Nov. 25, 1941
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Battleship
> Tonnage: 31,100
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1. Laconia
> Number dead: 1,658
> Sinking date: Sept. 12, 1942
> Nationality: United Kingdom
> Type: Troop transport
> Tonnage: 19,695
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