Six days later, she sighted a small Italian convoy of five merchant ships protected by destroyers and torpedo boats heading towards the port.

Evidence show that an internal explosion flooded the portion of the boat forward of the control room, killing the eight crew members in that part of the vessel.

However Abdy, the coxswain Petty Officer Kirk, and ERA Martin attempted to escape using the conning tower.

Martin was killed in the attempt but the other two men survived and were picked up by the Italian motor torpedo boat MAS 528.

The wreck was discovered in 1999; it lies about 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) east-north-east of Tripoli, at a depth of about 200 feet (61 m).