crew managed to stabilize the cruiser and was able to turn around and head to Gibraltar accompanied by three destroyers. Admiral Burrough had to be taken off the cruiser and moved on board of destroyer . safely made it back to Gibraltar, where she stayed for over a year undergoing repairs returning to action in September 1943. Two torpedoes then struck moving at 8 knots, blowing off the stern with one of the propellers, killing 24 crew members. After the crew was evacuated, (376 survivors) was scuttled with gunfire by . Finally, the fourth torpedo struck tanker , causing heavy damage. It was probably the most important merchant ship of the convoy, being the only oil tanker carrying fuel for Malta. Within twenty minutes, the tanker's crew was able to extinguish the fires and continue at 13 knots despite damage. The ship was hit by several bombs on her journey, but the superhuman determination of her crew, and support of several destroyers that guarded her, allowed SS Ohio to reach Malta on 15 August 1942. After unloading fuel, SS Ohio finally sank, breaking in two in Malta's harbor. After four and half minutes after torpedo launch, escorts went on offensive. Axum was at 65 meters when the depth charge attack started, and captain Ferrini took the boat down to 100 meters. The hunt continued for roughly 2 hours and 60 depth charges were thrown. At 22:50 Axum surfaced to observe the damage and assess the situation. Noting enemy's destroyers in the distance, Axum submerged and went north. She surfaced again at 1:30 on August 14. The damage sustained by the submarine prevented her from diving below 40 meters; nevertheless, Axum stayed in the area patrolling for the next 2 days, and returned to Trapani on August 15, 1942, at 19:30. In October and November 1942 she patrolled off Balearic Islands. On November 7, 1942, she sighted enemy ships, but got detected and had to dive and withstand a barrage of depth charges which caused some damage. On November 9 Axum left the patrol area and headed back to the base due to sustained damage. In February 1943 she patrolled in the Gulf of Sirte but did not encounter any traffic. On April 11, 1943, while sailing in a violent storm off the coast of Sardinia, sustained flooding and lost the use of both of her periscopes forcing her to abandon