At 06.14 hours on 12 Sep 1944 the unescorted George Ade (Master Torlief C. Selness) was hit by a Gnat from U-518 about 125 miles off the coast of North Carolina, while proceeding on a nonevasive course at 13.5 knots. The torpedo struck on the starboard side near the rudder. The explosion threw a column of water 25 feet into the air, buckled the deck and the stern plating, demolished the steering engine, destroyed the rudder, broke steam lines and flooded the shaft alley and the after peak tank. Minutes later, a second torpedo passed under the ship. The gun crew fired two shots from the 5in gun (the ship was also armed with one 3in and eight 20mm guns) at an object thought to be a submarine. The ship lay dead in the water with all her after compartments flooded. The eight officers, 33 men and 27 armed guards did not abandon ship and tried to rig a jury rudder.

USS Barton (DD 722) contacted the Liberty ship and 14 hours after the attack, USS Escape (ARS 6) took her in tow. On 14 September, an approaching hurricane caused the tow line to break and the vessel had to anchor 12 miles off Bodie Island, North Carolina in 13 fathoms of water in 100-knot winds and 50-foot seas. One anchor was carried away, but the other held and two lifeboats and four rafts were washed overboard. The tow was resumed the next day and on 16 September, the propeller dropped off. The same day, the ship was anchored in the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. She was later towed to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she was repaired and returned to service on 18 Dec 1944.