At 06.44 hours on 18 January 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Frances Salman (Master Rasmus Wathne) was hit by one G7e torpedo from U-552 about 7 miles south of Cape Race, after being missed by four torpedoes in four unsuccessful attacks. The ship attempted to escape and several distress signals were sent, but were not heard by Allied stations. The torpedo, fired from about 500 yards, struck the ship aft and caused her to sink by the stern within ten minutes in rough seas. The bow remained above the water for about 25 minutes before disappearing. Some of the eight officers and 20 crewmen managed to launch a lifeboat, but due to the state of the seas, none of the men in the boat survived.