At 11.56 hours on 17 January 1940, U-25 spotted two steamers 6-7 miles north of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Isles and fired one torpedo at 12.35 hours that missed the first ship, the Enid. 20 minutes later, another torpedo was fired at the second ship, the Polzella (Master James Harburn Thompson), which was hit on the port side near the bridge and sank in 12 seconds with the loss of the master, 35 crew members and one gunner. The other ship went to her assistance and the order was given to lower the boats, but the U-boat surfaced and subsequently sank her.