On 23 Dec 1941, HMS Salvia (K 97) (LtCdr John Isdale Miller, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR) was escorting convoy TA-5 when Shuntien was sunk by U-559 (Heidtmann). The ship carried 850 prisoners of war and the corvette stayed behind to collect survivors but was not seen again, only oil and wreckage was found by HMS Peony (K 40) about 100 miles west of Alexandria. At 01.35 hours on 24 December, U-568 had fired a spread of four torpedoes at HMS Salvia (K 97) which was hit by one of them and broke in two. The stern part sank rapidly while burning oil covered the sea and the fore part followed after a few minutes. All four officers and 54 ratings were lost together with the master, 47 crew members and an unknown number of gunners and prisoners from the Shuntien.