At 02.22 hours on September 22, 1941, SS Silverbelle, while in convoy SL.87, was torpedoed and damaged by U-68. The position was 25.45N, 24.00W. The vessel was taken in tow by FFL Commandant Ducoc but she was cut free the next day in position 26.30N, 23.14W (SW of the Canary Islands). The master (Hilon Rowe), forty-seven crew members, seven DEMS gunners and five passengers were rescued by Commandant Ducoc and taken back to Freetown. There was no loss of life.