At 18.00 hours on 16 April 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Desert Light (Master Charles B. Dunn) was hit by two torpedoes from U-572 on the starboard side amidships just forward of the boiler room. The explosion blew out the bottom plates and tore the side of the hull up to the deck. Extensive damage was done to the midship house and the bulkhead holding the coal bunkers was ruptured. The engine room and fireroom quickly flooded causing the ship to sink after one hour. One Fireman was killed. The survivors abandoned ship in the port lifeboat and the port raft, because the starboard boat had been destroyed. All survivors transferred to the boat and were picked up by the USS Roper (DD 147) on 23 April and were taken to Morehead City, North Carolina.

The master had to sign three crews before he could get one to sail the ship. The first two crews signed off after they learned that the ship was carrying explosives. The company found it necessary to get most of the third crew from Canada in order to take the ship to sea.