On 2 October, a Grumman J2F Duck aircraft from USCGC "Eastwind" spotted a trawler camouflaged in a field of unconsolidated pack ice off North Little Koldewey Island, where the Germans had set up a weather station. The camouflaged ship was visible on the aircraft's radar. Personnel from USCGC "Eastwind" captured the twelve crew of the weather station on 4 October. Documents captured revealed that the ship that they had spotted was the "Externsteine", which was apparently escorted by a U-boat. The search for "Externsteine" was delayed by the weather, but on 14 October she was found trapped in ice off Cape Borgen. At 21:00 on 15 November, USCGC "Eastwind" located "Externsteine" at a range of of her radar, and "battle stations" was ordered. Captain Thomas decided to attack at a range of , was also present, and illuminated the target with her searchlight. At a range of , the icebreaker fired three salvos from its 5"/38 guns (one short, one over and one across the bow). The shots landed around the vessel, and the Germans used their blinker light to transmit the message "We give up" in English. The reply, sent back in German, was "Do not scuttle ship". Both icebreakers approached the ship, and the surrender was formally accepted. It was discovered that scuttling charges had been placed in the ship, but these were disarmed with the assistance of "Externsteine"s engineering officer. Her three officers were taken back on board the vessel during the disarming as a way of guaranteeing that the ship would not be scuttled.