Farnborough was a heavily armed merchant ship with concealed weaponry that was designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks.

The second submarine was SM U-83, which was sunk on 17 February 1917 in an action for which Captain Gordon Campbell of Farnborough received the Victoria Cross.

At 07:20, U-68 surfaced about 1,000 yd (910 m) astern of Farnborough, moved to the ship's port quarter, and fired a shot across the Q-ship's bow.

As U-68 began to sink, Campbell steered Farnborough over U-68's location and dropped a depth charge that blew the bow of the submarine out of the water.

[4] On 17 February 1917, this theory was proven correct off Southern Ireland when the lone Farnborough was struck by a torpedo fired at extreme range.

The very first shot decapitated the German captain Bruno Hoppe, and the U-boat was rapidly reduced to a battered wreck.

Campbell ordered the 12 men remaining aboard into a lifeboat and attempted to take a final survey of his vessel, only to be driven back by another exploding depth charge.

On returning to the rail he discovered that Stuart had disobeyed his order and remained on board, to make sure his captain disembarked safely.

[7] Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross in recognition of his service in the action and £1,000 of prize money was shared among the crew.