1971 Loss of FS Surcouf

On 6 June 1971, around 4:00–4:07 a.m. (pre-dawn), French Navy destroyer Surcouf was navigating in a loose formation in the Mediterranean Sea off Cartagena, Spain. Soviet oil tanker General Busharov rammed Surcouf on its starboard side, cutting the destroyer in half. A total of ten French Navy sailors were killed. The bow section sank while the after section remained afloat and was towed into Cartagena, Spain. The remains were believed to have been expended in a test of the EXOCET missile system.