It was screened against submarine attack by two destroyers--the _Pellew_ and _Partridge_--and four armed trawlers, and comprised six vessels, one being British and the remainder neutrals.

The attack took place in approximately Lat.

59.50 N., Long.

3.50 E., and the action resulted in the _Partridge_, the four trawlers, and the whole of the convoy being sunk, and the _Pellew_ was so severely damaged as to be incapable of continuing the action.

At the time of this attack a west-bound convoy was at sea to the westward of the other convoy, and two armoured cruisers--the _Shannon_ and _Minotaur_--with four destroyers were acting as a covering force for the convoys against attack by surface vessels.