At 01.45 hours on 15 Nov, 1942, the unescorted Adviser was hit by two torpedoes from U-178 off Durban. The U-boat had spotted the ship at 12.00 hours the day before and chased her despite of an air attack at 14.23 hours and an unsuccessful attack with a spread of two torpedoes at 23.23 hours. The Germans observed how the crew abandoned the stopped and apparently sinking ship and left the area when they heard depth charges being dropped in some distance. However, the Adviser was taken in tow and arrived in Durban on 19 November, where she was repaired and returned to service in August 1943.