The action was fought between a German U-boat (believed to be SM UC-63) and two naval trawlers, Nelson and Ethel & Millie, in the North Sea.

In response to this, fishermen had requested weapons for self-defence, and a number of trawlers been equipped with deck guns, and had gunners assigned to man them.

Ethel & Millie continued to close, but she too came under fire from the U-boat, and after several hits, she too was left sinking, her crew also abandoning ship.

Nelson's crew observed the men being taken from their boat, and lined up on the U-boat's deck, but were unable to see more as the view became obscured by the haze.

Nelson's crew were at sea for the next two days, being eventually rescued by HMS Dryad, a minesweeper assigned to fishery protection.