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 ship had been en route to Antwerp but was ordered by the British authorities to proceed to Weymouth for inspection when she was hit by a mine under the #2 hold. 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.