Alex van Opstal
| Name | Alex van Opstal | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5.965 tons | ||
| Completed | 1937 - Nakskov Skibsværft A/S, Nakskov | ||
| Owner | Compagnie Maritime Belge (Lloyd Royal) SA, Antwerp | ||
| Homeport | Antwerp | ||
| Date of attack | 15 Sep, 1939 | Nationality:  Belgian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-26 (Klaus Ewerth) | ||
| Position | 50.32N, 02.16W - Grid BF 3145 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 56 (0 dead and 56 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | New York - Antwerp | ||
| Cargo | 4410 tons of general cargo | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 19.40 hours on 15 Sep, 1939, the Alex van Opstal (Master V. Delgoffe) was hit by a mine laid five days earlier by U-26 about 1 mile south of Shambles lightship. The explosion broke the ship in two in front of the bridge and caused her to sink a half mile east of Weymouth, disabling a submarine detection loop. The master, 48 crew members and eight passengers were picked up by the Greek steam merchant Atlanticos and landed at Weymouth. Eight crew members and a passenger were wounded. | ||
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