USS Electra (AK 21) (Cdr James Joseph Hughes, USN) was participating in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, in the Task Group 34.8 as part of convoy MKF-1. The ship had landed troops and material at Port Lyautey where many of her landing boats were lost.

At 07.40 hours on 15 Nov 1942 the unescorted USS Electra was hit on the starboard side in #3 hold by one torpedo from U-173 while steaming on a zigzag course at 14 knots off Casablanca. This hold and #2 hold flooded after a secondary explosion from ammunition carried as cargo. One passenger, an US Army sergeant, sleeping in #3 hold was killed. The ship immediately headed for the nearby coast until the engines stopped when water entered the engine room after 20 minutes. At 07.15 hours, the order was given to abandon ship and USS Cole (DD 155) (LtCdr G.G. Palmer, USN) came alongside to take off all crew members and passengers except a rescue party. Shortly thereafter the disabled ship was taken in tow by the tug USS Cherokee (AT 66) (Lt J.H. Lawson, USN) and USS Stansbury (DMS 8) (LtCdr J.B. Maher, USN). During the afternoon, the tow convoy was joined by USS Raven (AM 55) (LtCdr C.G. Rucker, USN) and USS Auk (AM 57) (LtCdr W.D. Ryan, USNR) to assist by pumping out the engine room and #2 hold. The next day USS Electra was docked by two French tugs in Casablanca Harbor, where she was unloaded and temporary repairs were carried out over the next months. On 11 April 1943, she left Casablanca in convoy under her own power and arrived at Charleston for permanent repairs on 30 April, returning to service as USS Electra (AKA 4) in July 1943.