On 24 Jan 1943 the Kollbjørg (Master Edvin Apall-Olsen) in convoy HX-223 broke in two behind midships, when an enormous breaker swept across the foredeck during a storm of hurricane force in 58°28N/41°34W. The two parts drifted away from each other, the engine was stopped and the crew on the stern section stayed on board. They saw some crew members on the forepart, which was still afloat with the bow high up in the air. The Nortind and the American steam tanker Pan Maryland left convoy and stayed close to the broken ship all day, but a rescue operation was not possible in the storm. By the evening the forepart was not seen anymore. On 25 January, 25 survivors were rescued from the stern part by the American tanker, but one man was badly injured during the transfer and died that night. The American tanker searched for the forepart, but then proceeded to catch up with convoy and landed the survivors in Avonmouth on 3 February. The master and ten crew members from the Kollbjørg were lost. The Nortind was sunk with all hands on 26 January by U-358 (Manke) far behind convoy.

At 04.50 and 05.06 hours on 26 Jan 1943 U-607 (Mengersen) hit the forepart of Kollbjørg with two coups de grâce. The forepart capsized and the U-boat tried to sink her by gunfire, but had problems with the deck gun. At 16.09 hours, U-594 missed the capsized wreck with a coup de grâce and sank her at 16.21 hours by gunfire.