As the enemy would naturally make the northward passage by night we could hardly expect to sight his ships on the outward trip.
The first attack took place at daylight on October 17.

The convoy on this occasion consisted of twelve ships, two British, one Belgian, one Danish, five Norwegian and three Swedish, and was under the anti-submarine escort of the destroyers _Mary Rose_ and _Strongbow_, and two trawlers, the _Elsie_ and _P.Fannon_.At dawn, shortly after 6.0 A.M., two strange vessels were sighted to the southward, and were later recognized as German light cruisers.

They were challenged, but replied by opening fire at about 6.15 A.M., disabling the _Strongbow_ with the first salvo fired.

The _Mary Rose_ steamed gallantly at the enemy with the intention of attacking with torpedoes, but was sunk by gunfire before she could achieve her object.

The enemy vessels then attacked the convoy, sinking all except the British and Belgian vessels, which escaped undamaged.