Rieve and his executive officer were severely criticized in an investigation into the sinking for failing to take all possible steps to save "Karlsruhe" . The report concluded that since the ship was still afloat after two hours, and two additional torpedoes were required to sink her, it might have been possible to take her under tow back to Kristiansand or another port. In addition, the forward pumps still had power, and so the flooding could have been slowed enough to permit a return to a safe harbor.