The Sierra Leone convoys carried strategically important goods from Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, making SL 67 a valuable target. Destroying an entire convoy could do more than add to straggler losses: it could corrode British national confidence and the image of Atlantic control. Its escort included HMS Malaya, whose aircraft spotted the German ships near Cape Verde. Lütjens tried to have submarines sink the battleship before attacking, but their ambush left Malaya intact, and the raiders withdrew at high speed when she moved toward them. The surface-attack plan depended on submarines removing one specific protected target on demand, a result they could not guarantee.
Chapter · 1:10:33-1:18:27
Malaya blocked the attack on SL 67
After aircraft from Malaya sighted the raiders, Lütjens asked U-boats to remove her; they sank five merchants but left the battleship untouched.