Over the next two days these groups of ships manoeuvred around each other without coming into contact, though on two occasions they were 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) apart.

Finally on 9 March as Tirpitz headed for home, she was sighted by aircraft from Victorious and attacked, though also without success.

On 24 March, Lancaster Castle was dive-bombed alongside the quay in Murmansk and ten men were killed.

PQ 12 provided valuable military equipment and other materials for the Soviet war effort.

The distribution of equipment and supplies delivered with PQ 12 was the subject of a Soviet State Defence Committee decree.