​Land Dead    Air Dead    Sea Dead
 bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Dead > Land, Air, Sea Dead > Sea Dead, © 2025 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 19 Feb 2025
As of 1 Feb 2024, 122 roster members from all service branches are known to have died on ships during WWII.
  • Some shipboard deaths, such as those at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, occurred on or near ships that were docked or at anchor rather than at sea. 
  • ​Big Pigeon's WWII US > WWII at Sea accesses additional information on US ships lost in WWII.
  • The Part 1, Aircraft Carriers lists include five air crew members, who died on missions away from the aircraft carriers on which they were based. These individuals also appear in the companion webpage WWII Dead  > Roster Addenda > The Air Dead. ​
  • Most US combat vessel losses occurred in the Pacific Ocean during the War with Japan.
  • In late 1942, most naval losses occurred near the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. 
  • In the spring of 1945, most naval losses occurred off Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu Islands, south of the Japanese home islands.​
  • The distance from Honiara, Guadalcanal northwest to Naha, Okinawa is 3,274 miles. This gives an idea of the vast scope of the Pacific battleground in World War II.
Part 1, United States Navy Aircraft Carriers (13 dead)
Fleet aircraft carriers (CV, CVL):
USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), off Okinawa, Japan; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Christensen, Darwin Arthur, US Navy, crew.
USS Cabot (CVL-28), off Bonin Is.; ship undamaged.
  • (new) Anderson, Robert Arthur, US Naval Aviation, Avenger gunner.
USS Enterprise (CV-6), off Luzon, Philippines; ship undamaged.
  • Hough, Charles Robert, US Naval Aviation, Avenger radioman, lost over Manila Bay.
USS Essex (CV-9), off Kyushu, Japan; ship undamaged.
  • Garner, William Fredrick, US Naval Aviation, Corsair pilot, lost over Kyushu.
USS Franklin (CV-13), off Japanese home island; ship survived.
  • (new) Isbell, Arnold Jay, US Navy, passenger.
USS Lexington (CV-2), Coral Sea, South Pacific; Japanese aircraft, ship sank.
  • O’Dell, Charles Henry, US Navy, crew.
USS Monterey (CVL-26), off Ryukyu Is., Japan; ship undamaged.
  • Sander, Merle Edward, US Naval Aviation, Avenger pilot, training mission.
USS Randolph (CV-15), off Kyushu, Japan; ship undamaged.
  • Welty, Robert L., US Naval Aviation, Hellcat pilot, lost over Kyushu.

Escort aircraft carriers (CVE):
USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), off Samar, Philippines; Japanese shells, ship sunk.
  • Crawford, George Almon, US Navy, crew
USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), 20 miles SW of Makin Is., Gilbert Is.; Japanese submarine I-175 torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Brunk, Edwin Samuel, US Navy, crew.
  • Jentoft, Harold Thomas​, US Navy, crew, Montgomery Co.
  • Nelson, Herbert Sidney, US Navy, crew.
USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74), in naval convoy in central Pacific; ship undamaged.
  • Fisher, Harlan Ray, US Naval Aviation, Wildcat pilot, lost at sea.
USS Salamaua (CVE-96), off Luzon, Philippines; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Lavars, Kenneth Charles, US Navy, crew.
USS St. Lo (CVE-63), off Samar, Philippines; kamikaze, ship sunk.
  • Fox, Louis Wendell Sr, US Navy, crew.
Part 2, United States Navy Large Surface Combat Ships – Battleships and Cruisers (20 dead)
Battleships (BB):
USS Arizona (BB-39), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; ship exploded and sank.
  • Jackson, Robert Woods, US Navy, crew.
  • Loustanau, Charles Bernard, US Navy, crew.
USS Oklahoma (BB-37), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; ship capsized.
  • McKeeman, Bert Eugene, US Navy, crew.
  • Olsen, Eli, US Navy, crew.
USS West Virginia (BB-48), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; ship sank.
  • Booton, Charles Vinton, US Navy, crew.

Heavy cruisers (CA):
USS Astoria (CA-34), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese gunfire; ship sunk.
  • McLaren, William McAllister, US Navy, crew.
USS New Orleans (CA-32), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.
  • Christiansen, Peter Elmer, US Navy, crew.
USS Houston (CA-30), Java Sea; Japanese destroyer torpedoes, ship sunk.
  • Christensen, Lester Angus, USN, US Navy, crew.
  • (new) Davis, Joseph Simpson, US Navy, crew.
  • Kaiser, Bernard Richard, US Navy, crew.
USS Indianapolis (CA-45), Philippine Sea; Japanese submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Briley, Harold Vinton, US Navy, crew.
  • Rhoten, Roy Edward, US Navy, crew.
USS Louisville (CA-28), on route to Luzon, Philippines; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Allstot, Max Vernon, US Navy, crew.
USS Minneapolis (CA-36), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; destroyer torpedo, ship survived.
  • Knapp, Rexford James, US Navy, crew.
USS San Francisco (CA-38), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal; Solomon Is.; Japanese shelling, ship survived.
  • ​Jenkins, Clair Raymond, US Navy, crew.
  • Zaiger, Albert Charles​, US Navy, crew.

Light cruisers (CL):
USS Atlanta (CL-51), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese gunfire & torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Briggs, Orval Pershing, US Navy, crew.
USS Helena (CL-50), off New Georgia, Solomon Is.; Japanese destroyer torpedoes, ship sunk.
  • Turner, Floyd Vernon, US Navy, crew.
USS Houston (CL-81), off Formosa; damaged by Japanese aerial torpedoes, ship survived.
  • Cody, Claude LeRoy, US Navy, crew.
USS Juneau (CL-52), damaged Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal; sunk W of San Cristobal, Solomon Is. (torpedo).
  • Leuth, Walter August William, US Navy, crew.
USS Savannah (CL-42), off Salerno, Italy; German bomb, ship survived.
  • Morris, Eddie Jack, US Navy, crew.
Part 3, United States Medium Surface Combat Ships - Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts (33 dead)
Destroyers (DD):
USS Aaron Ward (DD-483), Ironbottom Sound, off Florida Is., Solomon Is.; Japanese bombs, ship sunk.
  • Weihs, Alfred Peter, US Navy, crew.
USS Anderson (DD-411), off Leyte, Philippines; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Adler, Marvin Sanford, US Navy, crew.
USS Bailey (DD-492), Palau Is.; Japanese strafing, ship survived.
  • Leach, William Ellsworth, US Navy, crew.
USS Barton (DD-599), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese destroyer torpedoes, ship sunk.
  • Crawford, William Frank Jr., US Navy, crew.
USS Brownson (DD-518), Atlantic; ship not damaged.
  • Peterson, Jack, US Navy, crew.
USS Buck (DD-420), off Salerno, Italy; German submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Berry, Kenneth Coit, US Navy, crew.
  • Nelson, Merrill Marvin, US Navy, crew.
USS Chevalier (DD-451), off Vella Lavella, Solomon Is.; Japanese torpedo, ship scuttled.
  • Miller, Max Miles, US Navy, crew.
USS Chew (DD-106), Pacific; ship undamaged.
  • Heckman, Fred Herman, US Navy, crew.
USS Cony (DD-508), Treasury Is., S. Pacific; Japanese air attack, ship survived.
  • Denton, Claude Ballentine, US Navy, crew.
USS Cooper (DD-605), off Leyte, Philippines; Japanese destroyer torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Riddle, Carl William, US Navy, crew.
USS De Haven (DD-469), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese bombs, ship sunk.
  • Dixon, Cletus Hugh, US Navy, crew.
USS Edsall (DD-219), S of Java; Japanese surface ships, ship sunk.
  • ​Koebel, Kenneth L., US Army Air Force, pilot, passenger, survivor from USS Langley sinking.
USS Gwin (DD-443), off New Georgia, Solomon Is.; Japanese destroyer torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Sales, Orville Wesley Linden, US Navy, crew.
USS Halligan (DD-584), off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; mine, ship abandoned & hulk drifted ashore.
  • Henderson, Harry Gregory, US Navy, crew.
USS Hoel (DD-533), off Samar, Philippines; Japanese surface fire, ship sunk.
  • Bales, Paul Edgar, US Navy, crew.
USS Ingraham (DD-444), off Nova Scotia Canada; collision w/ tanker Chemung, ship sunk.
  • Snyder, Donald Earl, US Navy, crew.
USS Kalk (DD-611), off Biak Is., New Guinea; Japanese bomb, ship survived
  • Linder, Gerald Edward, US Navy, crew.
USS Laffey (DD-459), Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese surface fire & torpedo.
  • Beckendorf, Orville Leroy, US Navy, crew.
  • Wunder, Edmund Earl, US Navy, crew.
USS Leary (DD-158), Atlantic Ocean; German submarine torpedo.
  • (new) Bernhardt, Paul Richard, US Navy, crew.
  • Hansen, Arnt Billy, US Navy, crew.
USS Luce (DD-522), off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; kamikaze, ship sunk.
  • Hopley, Thomas, US Navy, crew.
USS Meredith (DD-434), between New Hebrides & Guadalcanal; Japanese air attack, ship sunk.
  • Querry, Miles Jr., US Navy, passenger, crew member of USS Vireo (AM-52).
USS Monaghan (DD-354), Philippine Sea; Pacific storm, ship sunk.
  • Etheridge, Lindsay Edward, US Navy, crew.
USS Mugford (DD-389), off Leyte, Philippines, kamikaze, ship survived.
  • ​Thoreson, Vernon Charles, US Navy, crew.
USS Peary (DD-226), Darwin, Australia; Japanese dive bombers, ship sunk.
  • ​Baker, Delmar Eugene, US Navy, crew.
  • Stranathan, Dale Chester, US Navy, crew.
USS Rowan (DD-405), off Salerno, Italy; German E-boat torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Supernois, Donald Ward, US Navy, crew.
USS Selfridge (DD-357), off Vella Lavella, Solomon Is., Japanese torpedo, ship survived.
  • Butts, Amos Albert, US Navy, crew.
USS Sims (DD-409), Coral Sea, South Pacific; ship sunk.
  • (new) Brodie, Walter, US Navy, crew.
  • Christensen, John Kenneth, US Navy, crew.
USS Truxton (DD-229), off Newfoundland; Atlantic storm, ship hit rocks & sunk.
  • Anderson, Elmer Dean, US Navy, crew.
USS Warrington (DD-383), off Florida coast; Atlantic storm, ship sunk.
  • Senior, Clifford Leo, US Navy, crew.

Destroyer tenders (AD):
USS Black Hawk (AD-9), Darwin, Australia; ship undamaged.
  • Field, John Henry, US Navy, passenger, patient, transferred from USS Peary (DD-226).
Part 4, US Navy Submarines (SS) (9 dead)
USS Amberjack (SS-219), off Rabaul, Bismarck archipelago; Japanese depth charge, sunk.
  • Seidell, Daniel Ryan, US Navy, crew.
USS Dorado (SS-248), off Panama; mine or friendly fire, sunk.
  • Smith, Boyd D., US Navy, crew.
USS Growler (SS-215), South China Sea; Japanese depth charge, sunk.
  • Daughtrey/Daugherty, Gilbert Pryor, US Navy, crew.
USS Seawolf (SS-197), off Morotai, Netherlands Indies; friendly fire (not confirmed), ship sunk.
  • Bargenquast, Arnold Frank, US Navy, crew.
  • Rhoads, Guy Benjamin, US Navy, crew.
  • Wall, Vernon Palmer, US Navy, crew.
USS Scorpion (SS-278), east China Sea, probably near entrance to Yellow Sea, naval mine, sunk.
  • Sturges, Edgar Allen​, US Navy, crew.
USS Tang (SS-306), off Formosa; sunk by own torpedo.
  • Larson, Paul Louis, US Navy, crew.
USS Triton (SS-201), Philippines Sea, NW of Admiralty Is.; Japanese destroyer depth charges, ship sunk.
  • ​Isom, Lyman LeRoy, US Navy, crew.
USS Trout (SS-202), east China Sea; Japanese depth charges.
  • (new) Million, Franklin Alexander, US Navy, crew.
USS Tullibee (SS-284), off Palau Is., sunk by own torpedo.
  • Stearns, Kirk Comstock, US Navy, crew.
Part 5, US Navy Small Combat Ships (3)
Minesweepers: (YMS class were shipyard built, AMc class were converted fishing boats, both were wooden)
YMS 19, Palau Is.; Japanese mine, ship sunk.
  • Colwell, Carl Layne, US Navy, crew.
YMS 385, Ulithi, Caroline Is.; Japanese mine, ship sunk.
  • Swift, Lelean Carl, US Navy, crew.
USS Valor (AMc-108), southern reaches of the Cape Cod Canal; sank after being struck by USS Richard W. Suesens.
  • Ruff, Paul Russell "Russell​", US Navy, executive officer.
Part 6, US Navy Landing Ships and Landing Craft (7 dead)
Tank landing ships (LST):
LST-3, off Sicily, Italy; German bomber, ship survived:
  • Andersen, Eugene Phillip, US Navy, crew.
LST-422, off Anzio, Italy; German mine, ship sunk.
  • Thompsen, Walter Peter Henry, US Army, passenger.
LST-531, off Slapton Sands, England; German E-boat torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Aid, Alvin Eldred, US Army, passenger.
LST-577, off east coast of Mindanao; Japanese submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Gustafson, Carl Lynn, US Army, passenger.

Tank landing craft (LCT):
LCT-305, off Omaha Beach, Normandy, France; German mine, ship sunk and washed ashore.
  • ​Saunders, Robert William, US Navy, crew.
LCT-486, off Normandy, France; German mine, ship sunk.
  • Arkfeld, Francis Felix, US Navy, crew.
LCT-785, beached at Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; destroyed in explosion of LCT-560.
  • (new) Hansen, Warren Gamaliel, US Navy, crew.

Flak landing craft (LCF):
LCF-31, off Utah Beach, Normandy, France, German shell, ship sunk.
  • Bonnesen, Robert Eugene​, US Navy, radioman.
Part 7, US Navy Cargo and Personnel Ships (9 dead)
Cargo ships (AK/AKA/AKS):
armed decoy ship USS Atik (AK-101), off North Carolina, US; German submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Collins, James Perry, US Navy, crew.
USS Almaack (AKA-19), off Portugal; German submarine torpedo, ship survived
  • Brown, Gerald Keith, US Navy, crew.
USS Oberon (AK-56), in port, Brooklyn Navy Yard, US; ship undamaged.
  • Fausett, Ottis Marvin Jr., US Navy, crew.

Oilers (AO/AOG):
USS Kanawha (AO-1), off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese dive bombers, ship later sunk.
  • Muller, Newton Bruce, US Navy, crew.

Troop transports (AP/APA/APD):
USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP-42), Atlantic, off Morocco; submarine torpedo, ship survived.
  • Alff, John Fredrick, US Army, passenger.
USS McCauley (APA-4), Solomon Is.; damaged by Japanese aerial torpedo, sunk accidentally by US PT boats.
  • Bradley, Donald James, US Navy, crew.
USS Sandoval (APA-194), off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Chancellor, James Maurice, US Navy, crew.

Hospital Ships (AH/APH):
USS Pickney (APH-2), off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Hansen, Hans Folmer Rattenborg Jr., US Navy, crew.
USS Solace (AH-5), off Iwo Jima, Japan; ship undamaged.
  • Woods, Duane Lavern, US Marine Corps, patient
Part 8, Other United States Military Ships (3 dead)
US Army ships:
Tanker Y-17, North Sea, near Ostend, Belgium; German submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Jorgensen, George Eugene Jr., US Navy, radio operator.

Coast Guard ships:
cutter Clover (WLB-292), Alaska; failed rescue operation, ship not damaged. 
  • Meindl, Joseph James, US Coast Guard, crew.
cargo ship Serpens (AK-97), Lunga Pt., Guadalcanal, Solomon Is. munitions explosion.
  • Sorenson, Robert H., US Coast Guard.
Part 9, United States Merchant Marine (8 dead, 5 being armed guards)
Liberty ships:
SS M. H. De Young, south Pacific; Japanese submarine torpedo, ship survived as USS Antelope (IX-109).
  • Ellsworth, Dale Stanley, US Navy, armed guard.
SS Lewis L. Dyche, carrying ammunition off Mindoro, Philippines; kamikaze, ship disintegrated.
  • Meredith, Glenn T., US Navy, armed guard.
SS Thomas Nelson, off Leyte, Philippines; kamikaze, ship survived.
  • Crose, James Harvey, US Army Air Force, passenger

Tankers:
SS Atlantic Sun, off Cape Race, Newfoundland; German submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • McLaurin, William Harold, US Merchant Marine, radio operator.
SS Guilfoil, Gulf of Mexico, near Mississippi River delta; German submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Keat, Harry Martin, US Navy, armed guard.
SS Pan Massachusetts, off Cape Canaveral, Florida, US; German submarine torpedoes, ship sunk.
  • Curry, Jack Benton, US Merchant Marine, crew.
SS Sharpsburg, Irish Sea, off Liverpool, England; collision with SS Bralanta and a resulting fire; ship survived.
  • Seeley, James Lowell, US Navy, armed guard.

Other freighters:
SS Topa Topa, Atlantic, en route Trinidad to Africa; German submarine torpedo, ship sunk.
  • Heckman, Gail Wayne, US Navy, armed guard.
Part 10, Allied Ships (4 dead)
tank landing ship HMS  LST-422, see entry in Part 6.
liner HMT Rhona (British), Mediterranean, off Algeria, North Africa; German guided bomb, sunk.
  • Soppe, Raymond Ferdinand, US Army, passenger.
liner SS Leopoldville (Belgian), English Channel, off Cherbourg, France; German submarine torpedo, sunk.
  • Svenningsen, Elmer Lawrence, US Army, passenger.
  • Swanson, Charles Edward Jr., US Army, passenger.
  • Welbourn, Eldred Orville, US Army, passenger.
Part 11, Japanese Hell Ships Carrying Prisoners of War (5 dead)
Arisan Maru, off Formosa; torpedoed by US submarine, ship sunk.
  • ​McCuen, Walter Rae, US Navy, prisoner.
  • Spencer, George Raymond, US Navy, prisoner.
Enoura Maru, southern Formosa; US aircraft, ship disabled.
  • Blizzard, Howard Leslie, US Army, prisoner.
Oryoku Maru, off Luzon, Philippines; US aircraft, ship ran aground after being damaged.
  • ​Newman, Shelby Fearn, US Army, prisoner.
Shinyo Maru, off Mindanao, Philippines; torpedoed by US submarine, ship sunk.
  • Fader, Walter D., US Army Air Force, prisoner.
Part 12, Unknown Ships (1 dead)
unknown, Pacific Ocean en route to US, ship undamaged:
  • Schroder, Dean Charles, US Army, patient, died at sea of complications from head wound in Philippines.