On 6 November 1942 USS Leedstown (AP 73) (LtCmdr Duncan Cook, USNR) entered the Mediterranean Sea as part of a large convoy consisting of 37 transports for Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa. She landed a detachement of British troops (1st Commando) and the 3rd Battallion of the 39th US Infantry Division with her 24 landing craft off Surcouf and Ain Taya during the night of 7/8 November. At 16.30 hours on 8 November, the Allied ships off Algiers were attacked by 13 German Ju88 torpedo aircraft (III./KG 26) and USS Leedstown (AP 73), lying at anchor 3 miles east of Cape Matifou, was hit by an aerial torpedo on the starboard side aft. The explosion destroyed her steering gear and flooded the after section. Two German Ju88 aircraft attacked her with three bombs at 11.55 hours on 9 November. One attacker was shot down but the vessel was further damaged by a near miss.

At 14.04 hours on 9 November, U-331 fired a spread of four torpedoes at USS Leedstown (AP 73), heard three hits and sinking noises. In fact, the ship was hit on the starboard side amidships by two torpedoes and was abandoned after ten minutes when she settled by the bow with a heavy starboard list. The vessel sank after an unsuccessful bombing attack at 15.15 hours. The commander and 103 survivors were picked up by HMS Samphire (K 128) (LtCdr F.T. Renny, DSC, RNR) and landed at Algiers the next morning.