At 04.00 hours on 14 Sep, 1942, U-457 (Brandenburg) attacked the convoy PQ-18 southwest of Bear Island (grid AB 3643) and reported one tanker and one other ship sunk and two hits on a Javelin-class destroyer.
In fact, only the Atheltemplar (Master Carl Ray) was hit and the crew immediately abandoned the burning tanker. The minesweeper HMS Harrier (N 71) (Cdr A.D.H. Jay DSO) attempted to scuttle the vessel by gunfire but failed and the tanker was left behind, last seen burning furiously but still afloat. The master, 42 crew members and 18 gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Copeland (Master W.J. Hartley DSC) and the British destroyer HMS Offa (G 29) (LtCdr R.A. Ewing) and transferred to the British minesweepers HMS Harrier and HMS Sharpshooter (N 68) (LtCdr W.L. O´Mara). Later they were transferred to the British cruiser HMS Scylla (98) (Capt J.A.P. MacIntyre CBE) and landed at Scapa Flow. 16 crew members later died from their injuries.
The master of the rescue ship, W.J. Hartley, was awarded the Lloyd´s War Medal for bravery at sea.

At 14.30 hours on 14 September, U-408 came across the capsized wreck of the Atheltemplar and sunk her with a few shots from the 88mm gun.