description MV Goya Overview
MV Goya was a Norwegian freighter that was requisitioned by Germany during World War II and used as a troop transport and refugee vessel. On April 16, 1945, while participating in the evacuation of German military personnel and civilians from the eastern Baltic, the ship was spotted and torpedoed by the Soviet submarine L-3. The vessel sank in the Baltic Sea within minutes, resulting in the deaths of approximately 7,000 people. This makes the sinking of the Goya one of the worst naval disasters in history by loss of life.
insights Ranking position
MV Goya ranks #17 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, behind MV Le Joola, ahead of K-141 Kursk.
help MV Goya FAQ
How was MV Goya sunk?
The Soviet submarine L-3 torpedoed Goya in the Baltic Sea on April 16, 1945. The overloaded vessel sank rapidly while carrying German military personnel, wounded people, and civilian evacuees westward.
Why were so many people aboard Goya?
The ship was participating in the German evacuation from territories threatened by the Soviet advance near the end of World War II. Thousands crowded aboard as military personnel and civilians attempted to escape across the Baltic.
How many people died in the Goya disaster?
The exact passenger list and death toll remain uncertain, but estimates commonly place the loss at more than 6,000 people. Only a small number of those aboard survived, making it one of history's deadliest maritime disasters.
How does the sinking of Goya differ from the Wilhelm Gustloff disaster?
Both ships were sunk by Soviet submarines during the 1945 Baltic evacuation, but they were separate vessels attacked on different dates. Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by S-13 in January, while Goya was sunk by L-3 in April.
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