During the next stage of the attack, a jammed empty limpet container prevented the jettisoning of the side cargoes of explosives, which gave the submarine an uncontrollable list. Magennis volunteered to go back outside, and spent 15 minutes freeing the load. All this time the submarine and the diver were vulnerable, lying in the crystal clear water. XE3 eventually made her escape and, whilst returning to base unscathed, the charges detonated - sinking the 11 000-ton vessel. Lieutenant Fraser and Leading Seaman Magennis were both awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery in performing this operation.
Five additional XE-craft were built - four were scrapped in 1952, and XE11 was lost in a collision with the boom defence vessel Loch Striven in March 1945.
