Germany learned that a troop convoy, including and were bringing 25,000 Australian soldiers to Britain. "U-48" was ordered to Cape Finisterre where a U-boat 'wolfpack' was being assembled to intercept the convoy. However, the U-boats attacked other ships in the vicinity, alerting the convoy to their presence, so they altered direction, avoiding the 'wolfpack'. On 19 June 1940, Convoy HG-34 was attacked. "U-48" sank (three died), (all 40 on board died) and (one death). Convoy HX 49 dispersed; "U-48" sank "Moordrecht", which had been in that convoy; 25 died. Ireland had chartered neutral Greek ships; "U-48" sank "Violando N. Goulandris" (six died) while "U-28" sank "Adamandios Georgandis" (one death). Ireland sought an explanation from Germany "... steamships, the entire cargoes of which comprised grain for exclusive consumption in Éire were sunk by unidentified submarines ..."