USS Reuben James
The first American Naval ship lost in World War II was not sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Over a month before, on October 31, 1941, the destroyer USS Reuben James, escorting a convoy bound for Britain, was sunk by a torpedo from a German submarine, U552 near Iceland. Of the 159-man crew, only 44 survived. This was the third attack by German submarines on US destroyers. On September 1941, the destroyer USS Greer exchanged fire with a German submarine, but was not hit. Then, on October 17th, the destroyer USS Kearny was hit by a German torpedo but survived. Eleven crew members were killed and 22 injured in the attack.
The sinking of the Reuben James was memorialized by the American folk singer Woody Guthrie: Continue reading
On Saturday morning, the 39′ sailboat, Sanctuary, in heavy weather 256 miles northeast of Bermuda, was hit by several breaking waves, lost power and began slowly taking on water. The crew of five, four men and one woman, called for help. 
British Prime Minister 
Attempts to pump out the residual fuel of from the 
Today is the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the 
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Who needs a haunted house if you can have a haunted ship? Around this time of year, historic and modern ships suddenly become haunted and ghostly. (To be fair, some are reported to be haunted all year round.) Here is a round-up of a lucky thirteen haunted or ghostly ships open to the public around Halloween. Check the links for dates, times and locations.
Sail the Morgan 2014