[2] A specialist Luftwaffe unit, Kampfgeschwader 100 (KG 100) had been transferred from Italy to a base near Marseilles in July 1943, having received more than fifty Dornier Do 217 Sonderkampfflugzeuge (special combat aircraft).

Two days later, Egret was hit by an Hs 293 from II./KG 100 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) west of Vigo and sunk with 198 men killed; the Canadian destroyer HMCS Athabaskan was severely damaged.

[4] Convoy KMF 25A consisted of 26 merchant ships and troop transports escorted by 15 warships, from Liverpool to Alexandria via Palermo and Naples.

On 6 November, Haydon detected an aircraft to the north soon after noon but this was transmitting Allied Identification friend or foe (IFF).

[1] On 26 November, Ju 88s on reconnaissance reported a convoy of 15–25 vessels, including a troopship, off the North African coast.

At 18:00 Tillman, on the port side of the convoy, detected a contact to the north-west at 8,000 yd (7,300 m), sighted aircraft soon afterwards and opened fire.

Concussion from the bomb-explosions damaged the fire-control radar and when torpedo-bombers flew low to the port of the convoy, the gunners resorted to aiming by sight.

[12] One officer and six men were wounded and Beatty slowly began to sink at 27°12'N, 06°16'E, 40 nmi (74 km; 46 mi) west-north-west of Philippeville.

[13] All hands were called on deck but when the ship did not settle, they assisted damage-control parties and began throwing overboard anything that moved.

[12] About three torpedo-bombers got through the fighters and the escort screen and hit Santa Elena 9,135 GRT (William C. Renaut), at 37°12'N, 06°16E, that sank some hours later at 37°13′N 6°21′E / 37.217°N 6.350°E / 37.217; 6.350.

Santa Elena, carrying 1,965 Canadian troops and nurses was also hit; four crewmen were killed and the American armed guard on board freed several men who were trapped below, 2,163 people surviving.

[14] The Dutch troopship MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde, with 2,924 troops on board, was severely damaged but had no fatalities.

[16] Destroyer Division 32 (Commander J. C. Sowell) comrpising USS Champlin, Boyle, Nields and Ordronaux sailed from Algiers but were too late to assist the damaged ships.

Rohna sank within an hour; in the growing darkness and swelling sea the rescuers had great difficulty, leading to the deaths of 1,015 American servicemen, 120 British and Indian crew members, eleven gunners and three Red Cross workers were killed.

[10] Four crew were killed in Santa Elena and the American armed guard on board freed several men who were trapped below, 2,163 people surviving.