As Garm's commander, Captain Sigurd Skjolden, attempted to close to torpedo range of the cruiser (the distance between the ships was about 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) and the torpedoes were pre-set for 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) range) Königsberg opened fire and straddled the Norwegian ship with 15 cm shells.

After a number of near misses from the German guns Garm broke off her attack and fled to the north, pursued by Luftwaffe bombers.

She was sunk by a direct hit from Luftwaffe bombers while anchored near her sister ship Troll at their Sognefjord base of Bjordal on 26 April.

Five German bombers attacked the two destroyers and one of the around thirty bombs dropped hit Garm right behind the front funnel, detonating two of her torpedoes and some other ammunition.

All members of the crew had abandoned ship when the attack came as she had no effective anti-aircraft weapons to defend herself with, hence no casualties were endured during Garm's sinking.