On 1 May 1941 the blockade runner Sangro was captured by the British ocean boarding vessel HMS Cavina in 44°36N/30°20W. She was then escorted to the UK by HMS Camito (F 77) (A/Cdr A.A. Barnet, RNR).

At 02.40 hours on 6 May 1941 HMS Camito (F 77) was hit aft of amidships by one torpedo from U-97 west-southwest of Cape Clear. The U-boat had spotted the two ships at 17.45 hours on 5 May and had problems to keep contact in heavy seas and bad visibility. The OBV was missed at 02.02 hours with a spread of two torpedoes and three minutes later with a stern torpedo before being hit, but continued at slow speed. U-97 then chased the tanker, which caught fire after being hit by one torpedo at 03.53 hours and afterwards returned to the first vessel. Heilmann thought that it is a Q-ship and left the badly damaged ship, which sank the next day in 50°15N/21°16W. Six officers and 22 ratings were lost. The survivors of both ships were picked up by HMS Orchis (K 76) (Lt H. Vernon, RNR) and landed at Greenock.