At 11.31 hours on 20 Feb 1942 the unescorted Delplata (Master Roelaf Brouver) was hit by one torpedo from U-156 about 60 miles west of Martinique. The torpedo struck on the starboard side aft of the #2 hold and damaged the superstructure, the wheelhouse, the chart room and the quarter of the master. The freighter took an immediate list to starboard, while the whistle cord become fouled and let the whistle blow continuously. Most of the ten officers, 30 men and 13 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and four .30cal guns) abandoned ship in the four lifeboats and the three rafts. The master, seven crewmen and seven armed guards remained on board. One hour after the first hit, the U-boat fired a second torpedo, which struck on the starboard side and five minutes later another on the port side at the #2 hold. The gun crew fired twelve shot in the direction of the U-boat, but they had to left the ship as her heavy list to port increased.

The next day, all men were picked up by USS Lapwing (AVP 1). Some of the crew returned to consider salvage possibilities and to recover belongings. The seaplane tender then sank the wreck by gunfire after it was determined that she could not be salvaged.