Ten days after the departure from Trinidad, some of the engine personnel refused to work and the master then ordered to change course to Freetown, where he threatened to turn them over to the military authorities. This threat worked, they resumed work and a new course was plotted to Capetown.

At 00.21 hours on 7 Aug 1942, U-572 missed the Delfshaven with three torpedoes but this was not noticed aboard the ship. Also a stern torpedo fired at 00.28 hours missed. At 02.25 hours the only bow torpedo was fired and hit on the portside amidships. The crew immediately abandoned their ship in two lifeboats but the vessel did not sink and Hirsacker had to fire a stern torpedo at 04.42 hours, which caused the ship to explode (this was also witnessed by the survivors in the lifeboats).
One of the lifeboats landed in French Guinea, about 100 miles north of Freetown and the other landed near Cape Verga, about 100 miles north of the first boat. All survivors were interned by the Vichy French, but were released in December 1942.