Dale Class Tankers (Second and Third Groups)

Cairndale and Cedardale were purchased in 1938 whilst under construction for the oil company Shell. they were used for comparison with the First Group of Dale Class tankers.

They measured 483ft in length, 58ft 6ins in breadth and 17,000 tons in displacement (8,192 tons gross and 11,916 tons deadweight). they were powered by Burmeister & Wain 8-clylinder diesels with a single shaft, and had a maximum speed of 13 knots. The hull was separated into various compartments: 75 tons of lubricating oil were carried in the two fo'c'sle tanks and 1000 tons of fuel oil were stored in the two main hold tanks.

The ten ships that formed the third group of the Dale Class were based on a design by the Shell company. They were originally ordered for the Ministry of War Transport and were to carry names with an "Empire" prefix, such as Empire Metal and Empire Silver. However they were taken over whilst under construction for service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and adopted "Dale" names instead. An eleventh ship, named Empire Gold, was to have been taken over and renamed Eppingdale.

Although they shared a similar design, there were minor differences in specification between some of ships:

In 1941 three vessels - Derwentdale, Dewdale and Ennerdale - were converted into Landing Ships (Gantry). They were equipped with a light anti-aircraft armament and were capable of carrying 15 LCMs and in the region of 250 troops. Each gantry could hoist an LCMs with a 10 ton load. All three participated in the North African landings and between them took part in landings in the Far East, Italy, Greece, Malaya and Sicily. Following the end of the Second World War they were converted back into oilers.

Ship	Pennant	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Completed
Second Group
Cairndale		Harland & Wolff (Belfast)		October 25th 1938	January 26th 1939
Cederdale	A380	Bythswood (Scotstoun)		March 25th 1939	September 17th 1939
Third Group
Dewdale	A151	Cammal Laird		February 17th 1941	June 14th 1941
Eaglesdale	A104	Furness S.B Co.		November 18th 1941	January 10th 1942
Easedale	A105	Furness S.B Co.	February 15th 1941	December 18th 1941	February 12th 1942
Darkdale		Bythswood (Scotstoun)		July 23rd 1940	November 15th 1940
Dinsdale		Harland & Wolff (Govan)	1939	October 21st 1941	April 11th 1942
Denbydale		Bythswood (Scotstoun)	December 26th 1939	October 19th 1940	January 31st 1941
Derwentdale	A114	Harland & Wolff (Govan)	November 14th 1939	April 12th 1941	August 30th 1941
Dingledale	A144	Harland & Wolff (Govan)	December 11th 1939	March 27th 1941	September 10th 1941
Echodale	A170	Hawthorne Leslie	January 8th 1940	November 29th 1940	March 4th 1941
Ennerdale	A173	Swan Hunter		January 27th 1941	July 11th 1941

Ship	History
Cairndale	On May 30th 1941 Cairndale was torpedoed by a U-Boat
Cedardale	Served for many years in the Far East. Scrapped 1960.
Darkdale	Previously named Empire Oil. Lost in the Second World War. She was torpedoed and sunk on the 22nd October 1941 while anchored off St. Helena, in the South Atlantic. The Master, Chief Engineer and one member of the crew were ashore. The rest were lost.
Derwentdale	Originally ordered by Eagle Oil Company but whilst under construction she was completed as a Landing Ship (Gantry) capable of carrying 215 troops and 15 LCMs. During the Second World War she participated in landings at Madagascar, North Africa, Sicily and Italy. In 1946 she was converted into an oiler. She was sold in 1959 and renamed Irvingdale 1 but sold for breaking up in 1966.
Dingledale	During the Second World War, Dingledale served with the Malta Convoys. Later she served in the Far East and was in Tokyo Bay for the surrender of the Japanese. Disposed 1960.
Dinsdale	Previously named Empire Norseman. Whilst on her maiden voyage in the South Atlantic, Dinsdale was sunk by a submarine.
Dewdale	Completed as a Landing Ship (Gantry) and participated in the North African landings and also in Greece and Malaya. After the war reverted to an oiler. Disposed 1960.
Denbydale	Previously named Empire Silver. Damaged by Italian frogmen at Gibraltar in September 1941. No longer seaworthy, her engines were removed for use in her sistership Derwentdale. Whilst at Gibraltar she was used as a fuel and accommodation hulk. She was towed back to the UK from Gibraltar in 1955 to be broken up.
Eaglesdale	Previously named Empire Metal. Served in the Mediterranean and Far East. Scrapped in Germany 1959.
Easedale	Easedale spent most of her career with the Eastern fleets. Laid up at Portland then scrapped in 1960.
Ennerdale	Ennerdale was completed as a Landing Ship (Gantry) and participated in landings in North Africa, Italy and Far East. In December 1945 she was seriously damaged after triggering a magnetic mine and was towed back to the United Kingdom. After the war she was converted back into an oiler. Scrapped in 1959.
Echodale	After the war Echodale was employed mainly as a freighting tanker. Entered reserve in 1961 to await disposal. Scrapped in the same year.

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