At 06.22 and 06.23 hours on 13 Sep 1942, U-558 fired three torpedoes at ships in convoy TAG-5 and observed hits on three ships after 1 minute 50 seconds, 1 minute 59 seconds and 2 minutes 40 seconds, but made no visual confirmation due to operations of the escorts. In fact, two ships had been hit, the Suriname and Empire Lugard.

The Suriname (Master W.J.L. Heis) was hit by a torpedo on the starboard side aft and fell behind convoy while the crew abandoned ship. At 06.38 hours, the U-boat fired a coup de grâce from 1800 meters at Suriname, which was hit amidships, capsized and sank by the bow in seven minutes. Unfortunately the second torpedo hit just under a lifeboat that was being lowered and the explosion killed the twelve occupants instantly. The master and 68 survivors were picked up by an American escort, which had been directed to them by an aircraft and landed at Willemstad the next day.