 "U-331" departed La Spezia on her final voyage on 7 November 1942 to attack the massed ships of "Operation Torch".Two days later, on 9 November, "U-331" sighted the American 8,600 ton troopship off Algiers.The "Leedstown" had landed troops on the night of 7/8 November, and the next day had been hit by an aerial torpedo from a Ju 88 torpedo bomber of III./KG 26 destroying her steering gear and flooding the after section.