At 19.58 hours on 30 Jul 1942 the unescorted Cranford (Master James Henry Donlon) was hit by one torpedo from U-155 about 250 miles east-southeast of Barbados, as she was proceeding on a nonevasive course at 8.6 knots because of a lack of fuel and daylight conditions. The torpedo struck on the starboard side between #2 and #3 holds. Her cargo caused the ship to sink bow first within three minutes. The complement of nine officers, 27 men and 11 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 3in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) left the ship in one lifeboat and two rafts, but the most men had to jump overboard. Six officers (among them the master), three crewmen and two armed guards died. U-155 surfaced, questioned the survivors and asked them if they could do anything for them. Two injured survivors were treated on board the U-boat and water, supplies and directions to land were given before U-155 left. Several hours after the sinking the survivors were picked up by the Spanish steam tanker Castillo Alemenara and landed at Curaçao on 3 August.