 The promising career of "U-254" was almost cut short on this cruise, when the Norwegian damaged her with depth charges during an attack on a convoy in the same area as her previous victories.After repairs, "U-254" departed in late November 1942, returning to her old operating grounds of the North Atlantic routes.In December, the weather in the region is atrocious and visibility practically nil, so as "U-254" maneuvered to attack Convoy HX 217, to which she had been directed on 8 December, it is perhaps unsurprising that her crew failed to see come steaming out of the gloom and straight into her broadside.