It was one of a series of four convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of March 1943 and is notable for the loss of the Escort Group leader Commander AA "Harry" Tait.

HX 228 was an east-bound convoy of 60 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from New York on 28 February 1943 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials.

The group was backed by the escort carrier USS Bogue and two destroyers which sailed from Argentia on 5 March.

In early March, the U-boat rakes came into contact with Convoy SC 121, which was several days ahead of HX 228, and engaged it.

The Admiralty diverted HX 228 north-east to avoid the conflict and thus straight into the Neuland patrol area.

Ironically, at this point, the weather forced Bogue and her group to detach, as it was impossible to fly off aircraft in the storm.

Arriving on the scene, Aconit gained Asdic contact on U-432 which was lying motionless at periscope depth, her commander and crew celebrating their victory.