At 21.50 hours on 11 Oct 1940 the Brandanger (Master Elling J. Andresen) in convoy HX-77 was hit on the port side in the engine room by a torpedo from U-48 and sank. Bleichrodt misidentified his victim as the Norwegian steam merchant Emma Bakke (4706 grt). Two crewmen died on watch below and four men drowned when they fell overboard during the launching of their lifeboat. The master and 15 survivors were picked up from a lifeboat and a raft the next morning by HMS Clarkia (K 88) (LtCdr F.J.G. Jones, RNR) and landed at Liverpool on 15 October. Eight survivors in another lifeboat were picked up by the British steam merchant Clan Macdonald (Master A. Mackinley) in 54°09N/13°28W in the afternoon of 16 October and landed in Liverpool three days later.