At 00.30 hours on 27 Nov, 1939, the neutral Gustaf E. Reuter (Master O. Larsson) was hit in the foreship by one torpedo from U-48 14 miles west-northwest from Fair Isle. The U-boat had spotted the illuminated tanker and a destroyer four hours earlier and missed the ship with a first torpedo at 23.32 hours on 26 November. The drifting tanker was found off Sumburgh Head by HMS Kingston Beryl (4.03) that took off eight survivors and transferred them to the tug HMS St. Mellons (W 81) from Kirkwall, which then took the ship in tow by the stern. The next day a gale parted the tow and broke off the bow of Gustaf E. Reuter. The master and 18 crew members were landed at Lerwick by the tug and were joined by 14 survivors who were rescued by the Lerwick lifeboat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland. The stern section had to be scuttled by a British warship (probably HMS Kingston Beryl (4.03)) on 28 November.