Dale Class Tankers (First Group)

These tankers were ordered as merchant vessels by the British Tanker Company but were purchased whilst under construction in 1937.

Although they were similar in design, they varied slightly in size. Abbeydale and Arndale measured 481ft in length, 62ft in beam and 17,210 tons in displacement while Aldersdale measured 482ft in length, 62ft in beam and displaced 17,231 tons. Bishopdale measured 581ft 5ins in length, 61ft in beam and displaced 17,357 tons. Finally, Boardale and Broomdale measured 483ft in length, 61ft 8ins in beam and 17,388 tons in displacement.

The Early Dale Class tankers had a complement of 40 and an 11.5 knot speed. Abbeydale and Arndale were fitted with Droxford Diesel Engines while Bishopsdale and Broomdale were fitted with Burmeister and Wain Engines. They could carry 880 tons of fuel oil.

Ship	Pennant No.	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Completed
Abbeydale	A109	Swan Hunter		December 28th 1936	March 1937
Aldersdale		Cammal Laird		July 7th 1937	September 17th 1937
Arndale	A133	Swan Hunter		August 5th 1937	September 1937
Bishopsdale	A128	Ligthows		March 31 1937	June 1937
Boardale		Harland and Wolff		April 22nd 1937	July 7th 1937
Broomdale	A168	Harland & Wolff (Govan)		September 2nd 1937	November 1937

Ship	History
Arndale	Purchased whilst under construction at Swan Hunter. In 1945 Arndale participated in the Okinawa Operations in the Pacific War. Sold for breaking up in Belgium in 1960.
Aldersdale	Aldersdale was sunk on July 5th 1942 by an air attack, whilst serving with Arctic convoy PQ17.
Abbeydale	During the Second World War Abbeydale mainly served in the Mediterranean. Whilst off Bizerta in the Western Mediterranean on June 27th 1943, Abbeydale was torpedoed. Although her hull broke in half, the two sections remained afloat and were towed to Taranto in 1944, where they were rejoined. For disposal 1961.
Boardale	Lost in Second World War- In 1940 she struck a reef at Narvik and sunk. Her crew survived.
Bishopdale	Served in the Pacific during the Second World War, where she was attacked by a Kamikaze bomber but (just) survived. Discarded 1967, for sale 1969. Broken up in Bilbao Spain in 1970.
Broomdale	Whilst at Trincomalee in September 1944, the submarine Severn accidently fired at torpedo at Broomdale. She was badly damaged and required months of repair. Broomdale was the first RFA vessel to be fitted with gantry king posts, which enbaled side-by-side refuelling at sea. For disposal 1960.

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