Since the morning of 8 Mar, 1943, the Vojvoda Putnik was straggling from station #22 in convoy SC-121 due to steering difficulties after stormy weather. At 16.21 hours, she was last heard in a radio message stating that she was sinking about 600 miles east-southeast of Cape Farewell and was reported missing with 38 crew members and six gunners. At 14.05 hours, U-591 had spotted the lone freighter and tried to attack submerged about two hours later, but broke to the surface from periscope depth and was shortly thereafter attacked by a Liberator aircraft. The U-boat waited until darkness and missed the ship which was now laying stopped with two torpedoes at 20.58 and 21.17 hours, but the third torpedo fired at 21.19 hours was seen to hit aft after 2 minutes 59 seconds. The Germans then left the area due to the presence of an escort ship, but clearly heard sinking noises.