At 23.52 hours on 2 July 1940 the Athellaird (Master Hugh Roberts), dispersed earlier that day from convoy OB-176 in 48°N/15°04W, was hit amidships by one G7e stern torpedo from U-29 about 350 miles northwest of Cape Finisterre. At 02.10 hours on 3 July, a first G7a torpedo was fired as coup de grâce, which passed under the stopped tanker and this also happened with a second G7a torpedo. The Germans then fired a G7e torpedo that struck just before the bridge and caused the ship to sink in 15 minutes. The master and 41 crew members were picked up by HMS Sandwich (L 12) (Cdr M.J. Yeatman, RN) and landed at Greenock.