 The tanker had departed Aruba in Venezuela, and sailed to Lissabon with a cargo of 78,200 barrels of benzine and kerosine.For many hours, "U-575" hunted "Astral" so that she could come into a good firing position; after doing so, Captain Heydemann recognized the neutral US flag, and refrained from attacking the tanker.On the return leg, when "U-575" was looking to re-fuel at Vigo, Spain, she was depth charged.