After 20 minutes of running in this manner, one of the destroyers closed in, spotted "O 20" with her searchlight and opened fire. The shot missed. The commander now ordered the machine guns manned, and the ship turned about to fire the torpedoes. She couldn't get in position until after the fourth volley, which struck the conning tower and main hull. "O 20" returned fire with her 40 mm machine gun. The port side torpedo was ordered to be fired, but because of extreme vibrations due to the speed, both sides fired. Both torpedoes missed.