 Allied sources stated the ship having been sunk whilst running on a mine.On the German side, a "Kriegsmarine" bulletin reported that "La Combattante" was destroyed at 10.28 a.m. on 24 February by two torpedoes fired by "U-5330", a German midget submarine of the "Seehund" type commanded by lieutenant Klaus Sparbrodt, approximately off the South-Fall Bank.Sparbrodt was decorated for his alleged success.