HMS Bickerton (K 466) (Cdr D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), as part of the 5th Escort Group was escorting the second group of escort carriers (HMS Trumpeter (D 09) and HMS Nabob (D 77)) from the Home Fleet (Adm Moore), which covered convoy JW-59 and launched further attacks (Operation Goodwood) on the German battleship Tirpitz in the Altenfjord.

Before the group was able to launch an attack on the battleship, U-354 encountered them on her search for convoy northwest of the North Cape in the Barents Sea. At about 01.00 hours on 22 Aug 1944 the U-boat badly damaged HMS Nabob (D 77) with a FAT torpedo spread and tried to sink her at 01.22 hours with a Gnat, which struck HMS Bickerton (K 466). The frigate was subsequently scuttled by a torpedo from HMS Vigilant (R 93) (LtCdr L.W.L. Argles, RN). One officer and 37 ratings were lost.