The Alexander Macomb (Master Carl Monsen Froisland) was on her maiden voyage. During the night of 3 July 1942, heavy fog and fear of collision caused the ship to fall astern of convoy BX-27. The master maintained an intermittent zigzag course and was attempting to catch convoy in daylight. She had reached the rear of convoy and had about seven ships and a escort vessel in sight when at 12.30 hours a torpedo from U-215 struck between #4 and #5 holds, causing the cargo of explosives to ignite and burst into flames. The eight officers, 33 crewmen and 25 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in, four 20mm and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats and one raft, but because the ship was still under way one boat capsized. Other survivors jumped into the water and hung onto pieces of wreckage. At 13.00 hours, the ship sank by the stern about 175 miles east of Cape Cod. 15 minutes later HMS Le Tiger (FY 243) (T/Lt C.A. Hoodless, RNR) rescued 23 crew members and eight armed guards and brought them to Woods Hole on 4 July. HMCS Regina (K 234) (T/Lt R.S. Kelley, RCNR) picked up 14 crew members and 11 armed guards and taken to Halifax. Six armed guards and four crew members died in the attack.

U-215 had been sunk with all hands by depth charges from HMS Le Tiger (FY 243) shortly after this attack.