List of shipwrecks of California

This is a list of shipwrecks located in Californian waters.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Del Norte County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Brother Jonathan 30 July 1865 A paddle steamer that ran aground off Crescent City.
SS Emidio 20 December 1941 A tanker that was sunk by I-17 off Crescent City. 41°45′1.96″N 124°11′47.95″W / 41.7505444°N 124.1966528°W / 41.7505444; -124.1966528 (SS Emidio)

Humboldt County

Los Angeles County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Ace I 29 April 1948 A barge that foundered in a storm and was scuttled as a hazard to navigation off San Pedro, Los Angeles.
SS Avalon 16 September 1964 A passenger ship that foundered under tow off Palos Verdes. 33°43′34″N 118°21′14″W / 33.726°N 118.354°W / 33.726; -118.354 (SS Avalon (1891))
USS Burrfish 19 November 1969 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Clemente Island.
Charles F. Crocker 1929 A barquentine that was run aground and dismasted for a movie off Santa Catalina Island, sometime around 1929. The wreck was later burned, and then moved further inland by a tidal bore.
Dauntless 3 October 1928 A schooner that was blown up for the movie The Rescue off Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island.
Diosa del Mar 30 July 1990 A wooden schooner that ran aground on Ship Rock at Santa Catalina Island. 33°27′46″N 118°29′31″W / 33.462770°N 118.491925°W / 33.462770; -118.491925 (Diosa del Mar)
SS Dominator 13 March 1961 A cargo ship that ran aground on Rocky Point, Palos Verdes. 33°46′26″N 118°25′42″W / 33.77389°N 118.42833°W / 33.77389; -118.42833 (SS Dominator)
F.S. Loop 1947 A barge that sank near Angel's Gate and was blown up as a hazard to navigation.
Georgia 22 February 1966 A barge that was scuttled off Redondo Beach.
Georgia Straits A tug that sank under tow off Los Angeles.
USS Gregory (DD-802) 4 March 1971 A Fletcher-class destroyer that was bombed as a target off San Clemente Island.
Johanna Smith 22 July 1932 A schooner that caught fire and sank off Long Beach.
USS John C. Butler (DE-339) 1971 A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Clemente.
USS Koka (AT-31) 7 December 1937 A Bagaduce-class fleet tug that ran aground off San Clemente Island.
Margaret C. A schooner that was blown up for a movie in Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, in about 1926.
Monfalcone 31 August 1930 A gambling ship that caught fire and sank off Long Beach.
USS Moody (DD-277) 21 February 1933 A Clemson-class destroyer that was blown up in San Pedro Bay for the MGM movie Hell Below.
USS Moray (SS-300) 18 June 1970 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Clemente. 33°25′30″N 117°37′44″W / 33.425°N 117.629°W / 33.425; -117.629 (USS Moray (SS-300))
USS Naifeh (DE-352) 11 July 1966 A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Clemente Island.
Ningpo 1938 A Chinese junk that was beached then burned at Santa Catalina Island.
Olympic II 4 September 1940 A barge that collided with the Japanese freighter Sakito Maru off San Pedro. The wreck was blown up as a hazard to navigation.
Palmyra A schooner that was beached and burned off Santa Catalina Island, around 1938.
SS Princess Louise 20 June 1990 A cruise ship, later converted into a floating restaurant, that sank under tow about 16 nautical miles southwest of Point Fermin, while en route to Catalina to be sunk as an artificial reef.
Sacramento 2 December 1968 A barge and ferry that foundered off Redondo Beach.
SS Sansinena 17 December 1976 An oil tanker that exploded at the Port of Los Angeles. 33°42′52″N 118°16′29″W / 33.71444°N 118.27472°W / 33.71444; -118.27472 (SS Sansinena)
S.N. Castle 17 February 1926 A barquentine that was burned and sunk in Catalina Harbor at Santa Catalina Island, for the movie Old Ironsides.
SueJac 14 November 1980 A schooner that ran aground on Casino Point, Santa Catalina Island.
USS Stribling (DD-96) January 1937 A Wickes-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Pedro.
UB-88 3 January 1921 A Type UB III U-boat that was surrendered in 1918 and used as an exhibition in the United States, before being shelled for target practice in San Pedro Bay.

Marin County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Labouchere 14 April 1866 A paddle steamer that ran aground off Point Reyes. 38°05′N 123°01′W / 38.083°N 123.017°W / 38.083; -123.017 (Labouchere (paddle steamer))
San Augustin November 1595 A Manila galleon that was wrecked at anchor in Drakes Bay. 37°59′48″N 123°01′11″W / 37.99677°N 123.01984°W / 37.99677; -123.01984 (San Augustin)

Mendocino County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Frolic 1850 An opium-trading brig wrecked near Point Cabrillo Light in 1850. Frolic was the subject of a 2003 episode of Deep Sea Detectives.
Josephine Woolcot 1886 A schooner wrecked by a storm off Mendocino City. Ship broke in half mid ship into two sections – bow and two mast / transon and two mast, sank with fantail pointing northwest in large surf.
Sea Foam 28 January 1931 A schooner that was wrecked at Point Arena.

Orange County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Charles Brown 21 April 1932 A barge that ran aground off Laguna Beach.
Elsie I 17 October 1951 A barge that capsized in a storm off Huntington Beach.
Foss 125 17 November 1958 A barge that foundered in a storm off Laguna Beach.

San Diego County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
USS Abercrombie 7 January 1968 A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
USS Archer-Fish 19 October 1968 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
USS Aspro (SS-309) 16 November 1962 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
USS Atlanta (CL-104) 1 October 1970 A Cleveland-class light cruiser that was sunk as a target. 32°52′47″N 118°30′29″W / 32.8796°N 118.5081°W / 32.8796; -118.5081 (USS Atlanta)
USS Blackfin 13 May 1973 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
USS Champlin 12 April 1936 A Wickes-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
USS F-1 17 December 1917 An F-class submarine that was sunk in a collision off Point Loma.
USS Hogan (DD-178) 8 November 1945 A Wickes-class destroyer that was bombed as a target off San Diego.
USS Knight (DD-633) 27 October 1967 A Gleaves-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
USS Marcus 25 June 1935 A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
SS Monte Carlo 1 January 1937 An oil tanker that drifted onto Coronado in a storm. 32°40′26″N 117°10′23″W / 32.674°N 117.173°W / 32.674; -117.173 (SS Monte Carlo)
USS PC-815 11 September 1945 A PC-461-class submarine chaser that was sunk in a collision with USS Laffey off San Diego. 32°37′54″N 117°14′12″W / 32.63167°N 117.23667°W / 32.63167; -117.23667 (USS PC-815)
USS S-37 (SS-142) 20 February 1945 An S-class submarine that broke tow and sank off Imperial Beach.
USS Sabalo 15 February 1973 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego. 32°42′19″N 117°26′33″W / 32.7052°N 117.4424°W / 32.7052; -117.4424 (USS Sabalo (SS-302))
USS Sloat 26 June 1935 A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.
Valiant 13 December 1930 A yacht that caught fire and sank off Descanso Beach.
USS Williams (DE-372) 29 June 1968 A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that sunk as a target off San Diego.
HMCS Yukon July 2000 A Mackenzie-class destroyer that was scuttled off Mission Bay as an artificial reef. 32°46′18″N 117°16′16″W / 32.77154°N 117.27098°W / 32.77154; -117.27098 (HMCS Yukon (DDE 263))

San Francisco County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
USS Benevolence (AH-13) 25 April 1950 A hospital ship that sunk in a collision with SS Mary Luckenbach.
USS Boston 8 April 1946 A protected cruiser that was scuttled off San Francisco. 37°44′28″N 122°34′59″W / 37.741°N 122.583°W / 37.741; -122.583 (USS Boston (1884))
USS Bunting 3 June 1942 A minesweeper that sank in a collision.
SS City of Chester 22 August 1888 A passenger ship that collided with RMS Oceanic in San Francisco Bay. 37°48′50″N 122°28′00″W / 37.81389°N 122.46667°W / 37.81389; -122.46667 (SS City of Chester)
SS City of Rio de Janeiro 21 February 1901 A steamship that struck a reef in San Francisco Bay.
USS Conestoga 1921 An ocean-going tug that was declared "lost at sea" on 30 June 1921. The wreck was discovered in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in 2009, and formally identified as Conestoga in 2016.
USS Devilfish 14 August 1968 A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Francisco. 37°5′N 124°8′W / 37.083°N 124.133°W / 37.083; -124.133 (USS Devilfish (SS-292))
SS Escambia 19 June 1882 A steamboat that capsized off San Francisco.
USS Hornbill (AMc-13) 30 June 1942 A coastal minesweeper that collided with the Esther Johnson in San Francisco Bay.
James Rolph 2 August 1910 A schooner that ran aground on rocks in San Pablo Bay. 37°35′00″N 122°31′03″W / 37.5834°N 122.5176°W / 37.5834; -122.5176 (James Rolph (ship))
King Philip 1878 A clipper that ran aground in heavy surf at Ocean Beach 37°45′5.48″N 122°30′35.29″W / 37.7515222°N 122.5098028°W / 37.7515222; -122.5098028 (King Philip shipwreck)
USS Lewis 21 April 1966 A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target.
Lydia 1907 A wrecked whaling ship located beneath King Street, San Francisco, that was discovered in 1980 during a sewer construction project. 37°46′51″N 122°23′18″W / 37.78083°N 122.38833°W / 37.78083; -122.38833 (Lydia (whaling bark))
SS Ohioan 8 October 1936 A cargo ship that ran aground near Seal Rock. 37°46′43″N 122°30′58″W / 37.77861°N 122.51611°W / 37.77861; -122.51611 (SS Ohioan (1914))
USS Pensacola May 1912 A steamboat that was burned and sunk by the Navy in San Francisco Bay near Hunter's Point.
San Rafael 30 November 1901 A steamboat that collided with the Sausalito off Alcatraz Island.
USS Stewart (DD-224) 24 May 1946 A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target west of the Golden Gate. 37°44′56″N 122°43′44″W / 37.749°N 122.729°W / 37.749; -122.729 (USS Stewart (DD-224))
USS Thompson February 1944 A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target in San Francisco Bay. 37°33′10″N 122°09′27″W / 37.5529°N 122.1576°W / 37.5529; -122.1576 (USS Thompson (DD-305))
USS Tingey (DD-539) May 1966 A Fletcher-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Francisco.
Zenobia 20 April 1858 A full rigged ship that struck a rock off Point Bonita.

San Luis Obispo County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
SS Montebello 23 December 1941 An oil tanker that was torpedoed by I-21 off Cayucos. 35°35′N 121°16′W / 35.583°N 121.267°W / 35.583; -121.267 (SS Montebello)

San Mateo County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
San Juan 29 August 1929 A passenger steamer that was rammed by the S. C. T. Dodd off Pigeon Point.[1] 37°11′N 122°25′W / 37.183°N 122.417°W / 37.183; -122.417 (San Juan)

Santa Barbara County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Aggie 4 May 1915 A barquentine that ran aground at Santa Rosa Island.
USS Chauncey 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)
SS Chickasaw 7 February 1962 A cargo ship that ran aground on Santa Rosa Island.
Crown of England 7 November 1894 A steamship that ran aground off Santa Rosa Island.
SS Cuba 7 September 1923 A German steamboat that was seized by the United States in 1917, and eventually ran aground off San Miguel Island, on the same day as the Honda Point Disaster.
USS Delphy 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)
USS Fuller 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)
Goldenhorn 12 September 1892 A barque that ran aground off Santa Rosa Island.
Humble SM-1 25 November 1961 A drillship that foundered off Santa Barbara.
USS McCulloch 13 June 1917 A cutter that collided with the Governor off Point Conception.
USS Nicholas 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)
Sibyl Marston 12 January 1909 A schooner that ran aground off Lompoc. 34°39′13″N 120°37′03″W / 34.653474°N 120.61747°W / 34.653474; -120.61747 (Sibyl Marston (ship))
USS S. P. Lee 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)
USS Woodbury 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)
SS Yankee Blade 1 October 1854 A steamboat that ran aground at Point Arguello. 34°34′37″N 120°38′50″W / 34.57694°N 120.64722°W / 34.57694; -120.64722 (Yankee Blade)
USS Young 8 September 1923 One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster. 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W / 34.602067°N 120.644109°W / 34.602067; -120.644109 (Honda Point Disaster)

Santa Cruz County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Carrier Pigeon 6 June 1853 A clipper that ran aground on her maiden voyage, on a headland which came to be known as Pigeon Point.
SS Palo Alto 1929 A concrete ship sunk in shallow water at Seacliff State Beach as an entertainment venue, and now serves as an artificial reef. 36°58′11″N 121°54′48″W / 36.969592°N 121.913416°W / 36.969592; -121.913416 (SS Palo Alto)

Sonoma County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
SS Pomona 17 March 1908 A steamship that ran aground near Fort Ross Cove, Fort Ross.[2] 38°30′37″N 123°14′44″W / 38.510278°N 123.245556°W / 38.510278; -123.245556 (SS Pomona)

Ventura County

Ship Sunk date Notes Coordinates
USS Agerholm 18 July 1982 A Gearing-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Nicolas Island. 32°45′N 119°32′W / 32.750°N 119.533°W / 32.750; -119.533 (USS Agerholm (DD-826))
USS Deperm (ADG-10) 22 September 1982 A degaussing vessel, sunk as a target. 32°58′N 119°41′W / 32.967°N 119.683°W / 32.967; -119.683 (USS Deperm (ADG-10))
Equator 2 July 1949 A fishing vessel that ran aground off Anacapa Island.
La Jenelle 13 April 1970 A cruise ship that was grounded off Port Hueneme, California.
USS Makassar Strait (CVE-91) April 1961 A Casablanca-class escort class that ran aground on San Nicolas Island.
USS Ulvert M. Moore 13 July 1966 A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Nicolas Island.
SS Winfield Scott 1 December 1863 A paddle steamer that ran aground on Anacapa Island.

References

  1. ↑ "Shipwreck Database - San Juan". Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "S.S. Pomona Shipwreck Project". Indiana University. Retrieved 1 July 2012.

Further reading

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