At 19.08 hours on 20 May 1942 the unescorted George Calvert (Master Severin Broadwick) on her maiden voyage was torpedoed by U-753 about 50 miles off the Northwest coast of Cuba, while proceeding on a zigzag course at 11 knots after she had left a small convoy about eleven miles off the Dry Tortugas. The torpedo struck the #3 hold about five or six feet below the waterline. A second torpedo struck 20 feet forward of the stern. This torpedo exploded the magazine, blew the stern gun overboard and killed three armed guards. The most of the eight officers, 33 men and ten armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. At 10.03 hours, a third torpedo hit amidships and broke the ship in half, causing her to sink immediately. Some of the survivors were questioned by the Germans, asking the name of the ship, her tonnage and cargo. The lifeboats reached shore about six hours later but waited to land at Dimas, Cuba, the next day.