List of shipwrecks of France

This is a list of shipwrecks located in or off the coast of France.

The shipwreck of Boyne off the Îles Molène, Brittany, 1875

Aquitaine

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
U-180   Kriegsmarine 23 August 1944 A Type IXD1 U-boat sunk off Soorts-Hossegor. 44°00′00″N 2°00′00″W / 44.000°N 2.000°W / 44.000; -2.000 (German submarine U-180)

Brittany

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Ajax   Denmark 25 December 1917 A cargo ship that was torpedoed by U-104 south of Audierne. 47°53′N 4°32′W / 47.883°N 4.533°W / 47.883; -4.533 (SS Ajax (1889))
HMS Amazon   Royal Navy 14 January 1797 A frigate that ran aground at Audierne.
HMS Amfitrite   Royal Navy 4 March 1807 A frigate wrecked off Ushant.
Amoco Cadiz   Liberia 16 March 1978 A supertanker that ran aground at Portsall, causing an oil spill. 48°36′N 4°42′W / 48.6°N 4.7°W / 48.6; -4.7 (Amoco Cadiz)
HMS Arethusa   Royal Navy 19 March 1779 A Royal Navy frigate, wrecked off Ushant after sustaining considerable damage in a battle with the French ship Aigrette. 48°27′4″N 5°4′4″W / 48.45111°N 5.06778°W / 48.45111; -5.06778 (HMS Arethusa (1759))
Asgard II   Ireland 11 September 2008 A brigantine that sank off Belle Île. 47°18′03″N 3°33′02″W / 47.30083°N 3.55056°W / 47.30083; -3.55056 (Asgard II)
HMCS Athabaskan   Royal Canadian Navy 29 April 1944 A Tribal-class destroyer that was torpedoed by T24 off Plouguerneau. 48°43′N 4°32′W / 48.717°N 4.533°W / 48.717; -4.533 (HMCS Athabaskan (GO7))
Auguste   French Navy 29 January 1795 A ship of the line caught in a tempest off Brest.
Böhlen [de]   East Germany 14 October 1976 An oil tanker that sank after going aground off the Île de Sein 48°10′30″N 5°10′48″W / 48.17500°N 5.18000°W / 48.17500; -5.18000 (Böhlen)
HMS Charybdis   Royal Navy 23 October 1943 A Dido-class cruiser that was sunk by German torpedo boats off the north coast of Brittany. 48°59′N 3°39′W / 48.983°N 3.650°W / 48.983; -3.650 (HMS Charybdis (88))
Droits de l'Homme   France 1797 A ship of the line sunk after going aground off Plozévet.
Empire Conyngham   United Kingdom 20 June 1949 A cargo ship that was scuttled off Brest. 47°52′N 8°51′W / 47.867°N 8.850°W / 47.867; -8.850 (SS Empire Conyngham)
Erika   Malta 12 December 1999 An oil tanker that sank in the Bay of Biscay, causing an oil spill. 47°9′N 4°15′W / 47.150°N 4.250°W / 47.150; -4.250 (MV Erika)
HMS Firm   Royal Navy 29 June 1811 A gun-brig wrecked off Cancalle Bay.
France   French Navy 26 August 1922 A Courbet-class battleship that struck a rock in Quiberon Bay. 47°27′6″N 3°2′0″W / 47.45167°N 3.03333°W / 47.45167; -3.03333 (French battleship France)
USS Gypsum Queen   United States Navy 28 April 1919 A tugboat that struck a rock off Brest.
Hilda   United Kingdom 18 December 1905 A steamship that hit the Pierre de Portes rocks in thick fog and sank off Saint-Malo. 48°40.49′N 2°5.72′W / 48.67483°N 2.09533°W / 48.67483; -2.09533 (SS Hilda)
London   United Kingdom 11 January 1864 Sunk in a storm in the Bay of Biscay.
HMS Magnificent   Royal Navy 25 March 1804 A Ramillies-class ship of the line that struck a reef off Brest.
HMS Monkey   Royal Navy 25 December 1810 A gun-brig wrecked on Belle Île while participating in the blockade of Lorient.
Neptune   French Navy 28 December 1794 A ship of the line wrecked off Brest during the Croisière du Grand Hiver.
HMS Repulse   Royal Navy 10 March 1800 An Intrepid-class ship of the line abandoned in the Glénan islands.
Royal Louis   French Navy 24 December 1794 A ship of the line that ran aground off Brest.
Saint-Esprit   French Navy 30 January 1795 A Saint-Esprit-class ship of the line wrecked off Brest during Croisière du Grand Hiver.
Séduisant   French Navy 16 December 1796 A Séduisant-class ship of the line wrecked off Brest.
Superbe   French Navy 30 January 1795 A Téméraire-class ship of the line wrecked off Brest during the Croisière du Grand Hiver.
U-103   Imperial German Navy 12 May 1918 A German submarine that was rammed by RMS Olympic off Brest. 49°16′N 4°51′W / 49.267°N 4.850°W / 49.267; -4.850 (SM U-103)
U-171   Kriegsmarine 9 October 1942 A Type IXC U-boat that was sunk near Lorient. 47°39′N 03°34′W / 47.650°N 3.567°W / 47.650; -3.567 (German submarine U-171)
U-441   Kriegsmarine 8 June 1944 A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk off Ushant. 48°27′N 05°47′W / 48.450°N 5.783°W / 48.450; -5.783 (German submarine U-441)
U-526   Kriegsmarine 14 April 1943 A Type IXC/40 U-boat that was sunk by naval mines near Lorient. 47°30′N 03°45′W / 47.500°N 3.750°W / 47.500; -3.750 (German submarine U-526)
U-767   Kriegsmarine 18 June 1944 A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk by British destroyers north of Tréguier. 49°03′N 03°13′W / 49.050°N 3.217°W / 49.050; -3.217 (German submarine U-767)
U-821   Kriegsmarine 10 June 1944 A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk by aircraft off Ushant. 48°31′N 05°11′W / 48.517°N 5.183°W / 48.517; -5.183 (German submarine U-821)
UC-36   Imperial German Navy 21 May 1917 A German Type UC II U-boat that was rammed by French steamer Molière off Ushant. 48°42′N 05°14′W / 48.700°N 5.233°W / 48.700; -5.233 (SM UC-36)

Channel Islands

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Affray   Royal Navy 16 April 1951 An Amphion-class submarine lost near Hurds Deep. 49°30′N 3°34′W / 49.500°N 3.567°W / 49.500; -3.567 (HMS Affray (P421))
Baden   Royal Navy 16 August 1921 A Bayern-class dreadnought sunk as a target in Hurd Deep. 49°49′42″N 2°23′21″W / 49.82833°N 2.38917°W / 49.82833; -2.38917 (SMS Baden)
HMS Dragon   Royal Navy 15 March 1712 A frigate that served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and was wrecked near Guernsey.
HMS Lady Olive   Royal Navy 19 February 1917 A Q ship that was sunk by UC-18 west of Jersey. 49°15′N 02°34′W / 49.250°N 2.567°W / 49.250; -2.567 (HMS Lady Olive)
Stella   United Kingdom 30 March 1899 A passenger ferry that hit a granite reef off the Casquets.
UC-18   Imperial German Navy 19 February 1917 A German minelaying submarine sunk by Q ship Lady Olive west of Jersey. 49°15′N 02°34′W / 49.250°N 2.567°W / 49.250; -2.567 (SM UC-18)

Corsica

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Fleche   Royal Navy 12 November 1795 A corvette that ran aground and capsized in the bay of Saint-Florent.
HMS Saracen   Royal Navy 14 August 1943 An S-class submarine that was attacked by Italian corvettes and scuttled off Bastia. 42°45′N 9°30′E / 42.750°N 9.500°E / 42.750; 9.500 (HMS Saracen (P247))

Languedoc-Roussillon

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Wreck of Rochelongue A shipwreck found west of Cap d'Agde dating to the Iron Age, around 600 BC.

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Abukir   United Kingdom 28 May 1940 A steamship that was torpedoed by S-34 northeast of Calais, while evacuating soldiers and civilians from Ostend. 51°12′N 2°10′E / 51.20°N 2.16°E / 51.20; 2.16 (SS Abukir)
HMS Assistance   Royal Navy 29 March 1802 A fourth-rate ship that hit a sandbank off Dunkirk.
Elizabeth 28 December 1810 A cargo ship wrecked on the Dunkirk brake, with at least 380 deaths.
HMS Grenade   Royal Navy 29 May 1940 A G-class destroyer that was sunk by German Stuka dive bomber aircraft during the Battle of Dunkirk. 51°24′28″N 2°49′10″E / 51.40778°N 2.81944°E / 51.40778; 2.81944 (HMS Grenade (H68))
HMS Havant   Royal Navy 1 June 1940 A H-class destroyer that was scuttled after taking damage in the Battle of Dunkirk. 51°08′00″N 2°15′49″E / 51.13333°N 2.26361°E / 51.13333; 2.26361 (HMS Havant (H32))
HMS Hermes   Royal Navy 31 October 1914 A Highflyer-class cruiser torpedoed by German submarine U-27. 51°06′18″N 1°50′18″E / 51.10500°N 1.83833°E / 51.10500; 1.83833 (HMS Hermes (1898))
Huntley   United Kingdom 21 November 1915 A German hospital ship seized by the Royal Navy, and torpedoed by UB-10 off Boulogne.
HMS Keith   Royal Navy 1 June 1940 A B-class destroyer sunk at Dunkirk by enemy aircraft. 51°04′46″N 02°26′47″E / 51.07944°N 2.44639°E / 51.07944; 2.44639 (HMS Keith (1930))
L'Adroit   French Navy 25 May 1940 A L'Adroit-class destroyer that was bombed by German aircraft off Dunkirk. 51°03′N 2°23′E / 51.050°N 2.383°E / 51.050; 2.383 (French destroyer L'Adroit)
HMS Laforey   Royal Navy 23 March 1917 A Laforey-class destroyer that hit a naval mine off Cap Gris Nez.
U-109   Imperial German Navy 26 January 1918 A German submarine sunk in the English Channel. 50°53′N 1°31′E / 50.883°N 1.517°E / 50.883; 1.517 (SM U-109)
UC-26   Imperial German Navy 8 May 1917 A German minelaying submarine rammed by HMS Milne off Calais. 51°03′N 01°40′E / 51.050°N 1.667°E / 51.050; 1.667 (SM UC-26)
UC-61   Imperial German Navy 26 July 1917 A German minelaying submarine stranded and scuttled off Boulogne. 50°53′N 01°33′E / 50.883°N 1.550°E / 50.883; 1.550 (SM UC-61)
UC-79   Imperial German Navy 1918 A German minelaying submarine sunk by a mine off Cap Gris Nez.

Normandy

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
CSS Alabama   Confederate States Navy 11 June 1864 A screw sloop-of-war sunk off Cherbourg-Octeville during the American Civil War. 49°45′09″N 1°41′42″W / 49.75250°N 1.69500°W / 49.75250; -1.69500 (CSS Alabama)
Amsterdam   Royal Navy 7 August 1944 A hospital ship that was sunk by a naval mine while taking casualties from Juno Beach.
HMS Berkeley   Royal Navy 19 July 1942 A Hunt-class destroyer that was damaged by German bomber aircraft and scuttled off Dieppe. 49°59′N 01°02′E / 49.983°N 1.033°E / 49.983; 1.033 (HMS Berkeley (L17))
HMS Britomart   Royal Navy 27 August 1944 A Halcyon-class minesweeper that was, along with HMS Hussar, accidentally sunk by Royal Air Force Hawker Typhoon aircraft off Le Havre.
HMS Capel   Royal Navy 26 December 1944 A Captain-class frigate that was torpedoed by U-486 off Cherbourg. 49°50′N 1°41′W / 49.833°N 1.683°W / 49.833; -1.683 (HMS Capel (K470))
HMS Centurion   Royal Navy 7 June 1944 A King George V-class battleship sunk as a breakwater off Avranches.
USS Corry   United States Navy 6 June 1944 A Gleaves-class destroyer sunk off Îles Saint-Marcouf during the invasion of Normandy. 49°30′50″N 1°11′30″W / 49.51389°N 1.19167°W / 49.51389; -1.19167 (USS Corry (DD-463))
HMS D3   Royal Navy 12 March 1918 A D-class submarine that was mistakenly bombed by a French airship off Fecamp.
HMS Daffodil   Royal Navy 18 March 1945 A train ferry that was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as an amphibious warfare ship, and was sunk by a naval mine off Dieppe. 50°02′N 01°04′E / 50.033°N 1.067°E / 50.033; 1.067 (HMS Daffodil (1917))
Derrycunihy   United Kingdom 24 June 1944 A troopship that was sunk by a naval mine off Sword Beach.
HMS Derwent   Royal Navy 2 May 1917 A River-class destroyer sunk off Le Havre by a naval mine laid by German submarine UC-26. 49°30′48″N 0°1′48″W / 49.51333°N 0.03000°W / 49.51333; -0.03000 (HMS Derwent (1903))
ORP Dragon   Polish Navy 7 July 1944 A Danae-class cruiser that was transferred to the Polish Navy and then scuttled near Courseulles.
HMS Durban   Royal Navy 9 June 1944 A Danae-class light cruiser that was scuttled as a breakwater off Ouistreham. 49°20′44″N 00°16′08″W / 49.34556°N 0.26889°W / 49.34556; -0.26889 (HMS Durban (D99))
USS Eastern Shore   United States Navy 4 August 1944 A cargo ship sunk to form part of a Mulberry harbour.
HMS Eden   Royal Navy 18 June 1916 A River-class destroyer that collided with SS France off Fécamp.
Empire Broadsword   Royal Navy July 1944 An infantry landing ship sunk by a naval mine off Normandy. 49°25′N 0°54′W / 49.417°N 0.900°W / 49.417; -0.900 (SS Empire Broadsword)
Empire Javelin   Royal Navy 28 December 1944 An infantry landing ship that was sunk in the English Channel. 50°5′N 1°0′W / 50.083°N 1.000°W / 50.083; -1.000 (SS Empire Javelin)
Galeka   Royal Navy 28 October 1916 A hospital ship that struck a naval mine while entering Le Havre. 49°34′N 0°5′E / 49.567°N 0.083°E / 49.567; 0.083 (SS Galeka)
USS Glennon   United States Navy 10 June 1944 A Gleaves-class destroyer that hit a naval mine and was sunk by shore batteries in the Baie de la Seine.
HMS Hussar   Royal Navy 27 August 1944 A minesweeper sunk by friendly fire off Le Havre, along with HMS Britomart.
HMS Isis   Royal Navy 20 July 1944 An I-class destroyer sunk off the coast of Normandy.
Komet   Kriegsmarine 14 October 1942 A German auxiliary cruiser sunk by British motor torpedo boats near La Hague. 49°44′0″N 1°32′0″W / 49.73333°N 1.53333°W / 49.73333; -1.53333 (German auxiliary cruiser Komet)
La Combattante   Free French Naval Forces 23 February 1945 A Hunt-class destroyer that was used by the Free French Naval Forces, and sank off Normandy.
HMHS Lanfranc   Royal Navy 17 April 1917 A hospital ship torpedoed by German submarine UB-40 off Le Havre. 50°06′36″N 0°07′12″E / 50.11000°N 0.12000°E / 50.11000; 0.12000 (HMHS Lanfranc)
Léopoldville   Belgium 24 December 1944 A former Belgian passenger liner converted to a transport ship, torpedoed 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) from the coast of Cherbourg-Octeville. 49°45′N 1°34′W / 49.750°N 1.567°W / 49.750; -1.567 (SS Leopoldville (1929))
USS Miantonomah   United States Navy 25 September 1944 A cargo ship and minelayer sunk by a naval mine off Le Havre. 49°26′29″N 0°11′31″E / 49.44139°N 0.19194°E / 49.44139; 0.19194 (USS Miantonomah (CMc-5))
USS Partridge   United States Navy 11 June 1944 A Lapwing-class minesweeper sunk by German E-boats off Vierville-sur-Mer. 49°30′N 00°50′W / 49.500°N 0.833°W / 49.500; -0.833 (USS Partridge (AM-16))
USS PC-1261   United States Navy 6 June 1944 A PC-461-class submarine chaser, and the first ship sunk during the invasion of Normandy. 49°30′N 01°10′W / 49.500°N 1.167°W / 49.500; -1.167 (USS PC-1261)
Pennsylvanian   United States 16 July 1944 A cargo ship scuttled to form part of a Mulberry harbour. 49°22′29″N 0°53′31″W / 49.37472°N 0.89194°W / 49.37472; -0.89194 (SS Pennsylvanian)
HMS Pylades   Royal Navy 8 July 1944 A Catherine-class minesweeper sunk off Juno Beach. 49°25′36″N 00°15′04″W / 49.42667°N 0.25111°W / 49.42667; -0.25111 (HMS Pylades (J401))
HMS Quorn   Royal Navy 3 August 1944 A Hunt-class destroyer sunk off the coast of Normandy.
USS Rich   United States Navy 8 June 1944 A Buckley-class destroyer escort that hit three naval mines off Îles Saint-Marcouf. 49°31′N 1°10.6′W / 49.517°N 1.1767°W / 49.517; -1.1767 (USS Rich (DE-695))
HMHS Salta   Royal Navy 10 April 1917 A hospital ship that hit a mine laid by UC-26 off Le Havre. 49°32′8″N 0°2′18″W / 49.53556°N 0.03833°W / 49.53556; -0.03833 (HMHS Salta)
HMS Shannon   Royal Navy 10 December 1803 A frigate wrecked off Tatihou.
Soleil Royal   French Navy 3 June 1692 A ship of the line beached at Cherbourg and destroyed by fireships.
USS Susan B. Anthony   United States Navy 7 June 1944 A transport ship sunk by a mine off Normandy; all 2,689 people aboard were rescued. 49°29′24″N 0°42′48″W / 49.49000°N 0.71333°W / 49.49000; -0.71333 (USS Susan B. Anthony (AP-72))
HNoMS Svenner   Royal Norwegian Navy 6 June 1944 An S-class destroyer that served in the Royal Norwegian Navy, and was sunk off Sword Beach. 49°27′N 0°15′W / 49.450°N 0.250°W / 49.450; -0.250 (HNoMS Svenner (G03))
USS Tide   United States Navy 7 June 1944 An Auk-class minesweeper sunk by a naval mine off Îles Saint-Marcouf. 49°36′59″N 1°4′59″W / 49.61639°N 1.08306°W / 49.61639; -1.08306 (USS Tide (AM-125))
Train Ferry No. 2   Royal Navy 13 June 1940 A train ferry that was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as an amphibious warfare ship, and was sunk by German gunfire off Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer.[1] 49°56′N 00°56′E / 49.933°N 0.933°E / 49.933; 0.933 (Train Ferry 2)
U-151   Royal Navy 7 June 1921 A German submarine sunk as a target at Cherbourg.
UC-78   Imperial German Navy 9 May 1918 A German minelaying submarine rammed by off Cherbourg. 49°49′N 01°40′W / 49.817°N 1.667°W / 49.817; -1.667 (SM UC-78)
HMAT Warilda   Royal Australian Navy 3 August 1918 An Australian hospital ship torpedoed by the U-boat UC-49 off Le Havre.
West Cheswald   United States Navy 11 June 1944 A cargo ship scuttled off Utah Beach as a breakwater.
West Grama   United States Navy 8 June 1944 A cargo ship scuttled off Omaha Beach as a breakwater.
West Honaker   United States Navy 8 June 1944 A cargo ship scuttled off Utah Beach as a breakwater.
West Nohno   United States Navy 11 June 1944 A cargo ship scuttled off Utah Beach as a breakwater.
White Ship 25 November 1120 A 12th century vessel that sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur.

Pays de la Loire

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Alcmene   Royal Navy 29 April 1809 An Alcmene-class frigate wrecked off Nantes.
USS Buchanan   United States Navy 29 March 1942 A Wickes-class destroyer that was deliberately blown up in the St Nazaire Raid. 47°16′34″N 2°11′49″W / 47.27611°N 2.19694°W / 47.27611; -2.19694 (USS Buchanan (DD-131))
Héros   French Navy 21 September 1759 A ship of the line wrecked off Le Croisic.
RMS Lancastria   United Kingdom 17 June 1940 A Cunard Liner sunk in the Loire River estuary during World War II. 47°10′26″N 2°19′15″W / 47.17389°N 2.32083°W / 47.17389; -2.32083 (RMS Lancastria)
Sachsenwald   Kriegsmarine 6 August 1944 A German weather ship that was sunk by a British convoy off Île d'Yeu.
Saint-Philibert   France 14 June 1931 A cruise ship that sank off the Île de Noirmoutier, resulting in the death of nearly 500 passengers.
U-51   Kriegsmarine 20 August 1940 A Type VIIB U-boat torpedoed by HMS Cachalot off Saint-Nazaire. 47°06′N 04°51′W / 47.100°N 4.850°W / 47.100; -4.850 (German submarine U-51 (1938))
U-268   Kriegsmarine 19 February 1943 A Type VIIC U-boat sunk by depth charges off Nantes. 47°03′N 05°56′W / 47.050°N 5.933°W / 47.050; -5.933 (German submarine U-268)
U-736   Kriegsmarine 6 August 1944 A Type VIIC U-boat sunk by HMS Loch Killin off Saint-Nazaire. 47°19′N 4°16′W / 47.317°N 4.267°W / 47.317; -4.267 (German submarine U-736)

Poitou-Charentes

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
HMS Atalante   Royal Navy 12 February 1807 A brig-sloop wrecked off Île de Ré.
U-107   Kriegsmarine 18 August 1944 A Type IXB U-boat sunk by depth charges off La Rochelle. 46°46′N 03°49′W / 46.767°N 3.817°W / 46.767; -3.817 (German submarine U-107 (1940))
U-263   Kriegsmarine 20 January 1944 A Type VIIC U-boat that was sunk during a deep dive trial off La Rochelle. 46°06′N 01°36′W / 46.100°N 1.600°W / 46.100; -1.600 (German submarine U-263)
U-667   Kriegsmarine 25 August 1944 A Type VIIC U-boat that struck a mine off Oléron. 46°00′N 01°30′W / 46.000°N 1.500°W / 46.000; -1.500 (German submarine U-667)

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

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Ship Flag Sunk date Notes Coordinates
Espingole   French Navy 4 February 1903 A Durandal-class destroyer that struck a rock near Cavalaire-sur-Mer. 43°09′20″N 06°36′30″E / 43.15556°N 6.60833°E / 43.15556; 6.60833 (French destroyer Espingole)
Héros   French Navy 18 December 1793 A ship of the line that was scuttled by fire at Toulon.
L'Indomptable   Vichy French Navy 27 November 1942 A Le Fantasque-class destroyer that was scuttled at Toulon to avoid capture (see Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon).
Madrague de Giens shipwreck 75–60 BCE A Roman merchantman sunk off the coast of La Madrague de Giens, east of Toulon. 43°2′N 06°6′E / 43.033°N 6.100°E / 43.033; 6.100 (Madrague de Giens (75-60 BCE))
Magenta   French Navy 31 October 1875 An ironclad warship that exploded in the military harbour of Toulon.
U-303   Kriegsmarine 21 May 1943 A Type VIIC U-boat that was torpedoed by HMS Sickle off Toulon. 42°50′N 06°00′E / 42.833°N 6.000°E / 42.833; 6.000 (German submarine U-303)

References

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  1. ^ "Le HMS Dafodil ou TF3" (in French). Grieme. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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