Cargo ship Clunepark, 3,491grt, (Denholm Line SS Co.) had sailed from Freetown in the Liverpool bound 19 ship Convoy SLS-64 which sailed on the 30th January 1941. On the 12th February sailing unescorted 200 miles South-East of the Azores a large unidentified cruiser sailed between the centre column of the Convoy. The ship suddenly declared her identity as the German Cruiser Admiral Hipper and opened fire sinking 6 ships and damaging another 3 before speeding away in case any distress signals had been sent which would alert the Royal Navy. The Clunepark was only damaged in the attack and was transferring part of her crew in all the confusion to the British Merchant ship Blairatholl, 3,319grt, (G. Nisbet & Co.) when 8 of her crew were lost in the process. Both ships eventually made it to Madeira.