At 06:30 the five German torpedo boats that the convoy had evaded the previous day were sighted by HMS "Atherstone" and "Tynedale". The destroyers turned toward them and opened fire at a range of . After ten minutes the German boats turned away, making smoke. The destroyers sighted the MGB and two accompanying MLs soon after and transferred their casualties to "Atherstone". Not expecting any more boats to arrive, they headed for home. Just after 09:00 the Hunt-class escort destroyers "Brocklesby" and "Cleveland" arrived, sent by Commander-in-Chief Plymouth. Shortly after this the ships were spotted by a Heinkel 115 floatplane of the "Luftwaffe".