Thirty-eight ships escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay departed from Halifax on 28 October 1940, eastbound to Liverpool.

[2][3] Having been thwarted from using its Arado Ar 196 seaplane the previous day, on 5 November the weather was suitable for Admiral Scheer to utilise its air reconnaissance.

This meant that the intervening distance between Admiral Scheer and the convoy was approximately 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi).

Unsure as to the identity of the vessel Krancke decided to maintain his course, as to turn away to the east would significantly reduce his ability to intercept HX 84 before darkness fell.

On the bridge of Admiral Scheer, as the range decreased, it was decided that the vessel was an armed merchantman, acting as a screen, and stationed ahead or on the flank of the convoy.

This caused some rancour onboard Mopan with her wireless officer, James Macintosh, on more than one occasion pleading with Captain Sapsworth to ignore the request from Admiral Scheer and transmit the internationally recognised signal: R-R-R "(I Am Being Attacked By A Raider)," thereby affording Convoy HX 84 the ability to take some form of evasive action.

[2][3] If he was to make a successful interception of HX 84 before nightfall, Krancke knew that time was beginning to run short.

[2][3] Almost two hours had been lost by Admiral Scheer having devoted time to Mopan and the onset of dusk arrived as the cruiser closed with the convoy, a situation that caused significant annoyance to Krancke.

Incensed with the earlier delay and the approach from the Jervis Bay, Krancke was determined to sink the British vessel.

Krancke paid generous tribute to the courage of Jervis Bay, and of a small burning freighter that fired back just before she sank (this must have been Kenbane Head).

He did not mention any battle with Beaverford, which he records only as a ship carrying a deck cargo of timber that Admiral Scheer caught up with as it fled at speed far to the south of the main action.

Maiden, Trewellard, Kenbane Head, and Fresno were sunk and the tanker San Demetrio damaged, but failing light now allowed the rest of the convoy to escape.

The largest ship in the convoy, RMS Rangitiki, was straddled by heavy shells but escaped without casualties amongst her 230 crew and 25 passengers, including women and children; her radio officer was able to transmit a warning signal that was picked up and repeated by a station in Long Island.

It is debatable, given the unimportance of intercepting a sole merchantman instead of attacking a 38-ship convoy with negligible protection, that Admiral Scheer should have allowed such operational delay.

The time taken to intercept, evacuate and sink Mopan, followed by the actions involving Jervis Bay and Beaverford, undoubtedly enabled HX 84 to escape extensive destruction.

[2][3] A monument to Jervis Bay was unveiled on 5 November 1941 at Albouy's Point, in the City of Hamilton, Bermuda, in front of a Guard of Honour provided by the Royal Marines detachment of HMS Despatch, by Vice Admiral Sir Charles Kennedy-Purvis, Commander-in-Chief of the America and West Indies Station, who said: To-day is the anniversary of a very gallant naval deed, that of the action of H.M.S.