Ships carrying commodities bound to the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean travelled independently to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage.

[4] Forty-one merchant ships[5] were left in the care of Flower-class corvettes Petunia,[4] Cowslip, Crocus, HMS Dahlia,[citation needed] and Woodruff.

After moonrise, U-604 sank the damaged Anglo Maersk[3] while U-509 torpedoed the British freighters Pacific Star and Stentor.

[7] The Norwegian freighter Alaska was damaged by U-510, but reached England safely with the help of newly arriving escorts.

[4] Some historians have suggested that the trade convoy SL 125 was an intentional tactical diversion to keep U-boats away from the loaded troop transports.