NORDVEST [Later changed to:ALAN-A-DALE]

The Alan A. Dale is the only known sinking contributed to a German Biber-type midget submarine of the K-Verbände (i.e. small battle units or commandos). After being hit by the torpedo on Dec. 23rd, 1944 she drifted ablaze for 3 days before going down. Her wreck was discovered in 2001 during survey operations for the forthcoming deepening of the Scheldt estuary. At least 38 wrecks had to be removed, the Alan A. Dale (430 ft length) was the largest one. Finally in June 2003 the remains of the Alan A. Dale were dispersed.

WoW!!! I did not know about this particular specifics of the sinking. Thanks for the update...much, much appreciated. I'll note your info in my research folder of this vessel. Again thank you 'ever so much."

Hello Bud,

I collected some more details regarding the Dale and surroundings of her sinking.
The Biber (beaver) midget sub who sank the Dale belonged to the K-Verband 261. It operated out from the small fortified port of Hellevoetsluis in Holland and consisted of Biber and Molch (newt) subs, frogmen and also Linse motorboats. Linse were fast crafts filled with explosives and directed onto the target by the driver. The driver jumped off to be rescued by own forces. These achieved limited success against minesweepers and landing crafts. Far more successful, comparatively seen, were the German midget subs type XXVIIB or Seehund (Sea Dog). The operated mainly off East Anglia, in the Hoofden and of the Scheldt, performing 142 sorties between Jan. and April 1945. They sank or damaged beyond repair 10 merchant vessels for a total of 25,189 grt and damaged 3 ships with 23,864 grt. Additionally the French destroyer escort La Combattante (1037 ts), the US tank landing ship LST-364 (2750 ts) and the British motor launch ML-466 (75 ts, maybe this vessel struck a mine) were sunk. Own losses were high with 35 Sea Dogs lost in action.
Returning to the Dale, a former US crew member stated that she was a "good... and fast vessel", not reliant on traveling in slower convoys. Between late 1941 and 1945 she joined at least 20 convoys, all fast ones (HX, USG etc.). Alan A. Dale must have been torpedoed early morning on Dec. 23rd, 1944, because 11 Bibers left Hellevoetsluis on that day at 2 a.m., all of them were lost, one submariner was taken POW by ML-915. During the 3 days she drifted alight after being torpedoed there were attempts made by US salvage tugs to tow the Dale into safety but without success due to the raging fire. Eventually the vessel foundered in position 51°21'N 3°47'E (as recorded by Lloyds in 1947) and was partly buried in sand. After WW 2 the Alan A. Dale was listed as wreck No. 509 off the Dutch coast. Before removing the wreck a huge amount of her cargo, mainly ammunition caissons, had to be salvaged, as beginning from Nov. 2001. Furthermore a large number of toothbrushes were found in her holds, originally intended for the fighting US-troops in the Ardennes. (Another German onlice source claimed the Alan A. Dale was returning from Antwerp after discharging her cargo of mail, X-mas presents and fresh apples.)
Your picture must have been taken between Sept. 1939 and the beginning of April 1940, according to the painted neutrality markings.

Regards,
Sebastian

Thank you for sharing the specific details of this particular event...much, much appreciated to me as well I'm sure to others that have an interest in this vessel.