The convoy, escorted by two small V-Boats of the Kriegsmarine, was discovered by a patrol from the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable on the morning of 27 November, which mistakenly identified Rigel as a troopship.

The convoy was attacked by Supermarine Seafire fighters and Fairey Firefly dive-bombers from Implacable, which was taking part in Operation Provident.

[4] The attack took place between the islands of Rosøya and Tjøtta south of the port of Sandnessjøen in Nordland county.

After the attack the German captain grounded the badly damaged Rigel on the island of Rosøya, which probably saved the lives of the 267 survivors.

Also in 1970, a song ("Riegal") based on the story of the Rigel was released by the American psychedelic folk group Pearls Before Swine on their album The Use of Ashes.

[8] The Norwegian broadcaster NRK produced a short news video in 2004 to mark the 60th anniversary of the disaster, with an interview with one of the survivors, 83-year-old Asbjørn Schultz.