The German task force resumed patrol on 17 February. Admiral Lütjens hoped to meet up with convoy HX-111 which was eastbound. After two days of fruitless searching the Germans gave up and headed westwards. It seemed as if the Atlantic in its immensity had become barren of ships.
On 22 February the Gneisenau's lookouts reported a promising feather of smoke on the horizon. Immediately, the men went to their action stations, and the two ships put on speed to intercept. As the convoy came into closer range, the picture turned out to be disappointing. The vessels were not fat with food and war materials for Britain. They were returning to the United States. They were hardly worth the trouble of an attack.
But, as Admiral Lütjens quickly realized, he had no alternative. As soon as the convoy noticed the lean grey hulls of the battleships, with their towering super structures, the ships began to scatter. Simultaneously, the air became alive with radio signals. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had undoubtedly been identified. When the first warning shots were fired, the captains of the merchant vessels seemed to pay no attention. They maintained their courses and the chatter on the wavelengths increased. It was now almost 11:00 and Admiral Lütjens decided it was time to exercise his guns in anger.
At 10:55 the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau together sank the passenger-cargo ship Kantara (3.237 grt). Gneisenau sank at 13:12 the passenger-cargo ship Trelawny (4.689 grt). Scharnhorst dispatched the tanker Lustrous (6.156 grt). At 16:23 the Gneisenau sank the cargo ship A. D. Huff (5.866 grt) whilst Scharnhorst steamed off in pursuit of another tanker, which escaped.
A passenger-cargo ship of 5.483 grt. named the Harlesden was known to be about fifty miles away. Something had to be done about her, if only to put her wireless out of action. The crew of one of Gneisenau's seaplanes was given the task. When, about an hour later, the aircraft returned, the pilot reported that he had destroyed Harlesden's W/T aerial. He had, however, been subjected to machine gun fire. But the freighter's time was running out. She was picked up on the radar screens, pursued, and, at 23:08, sunk.
Within the last twelve hours, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst had sunk 5 ships totalling 25.431 gros registered tons. But, since the firing took place at very long range, the cost in ammunition was high. That night, Admiral Lütjens used his radio for the first time since 8 February. He reported his success and ordered the tankers Schlettstadt and Esso Hamburg to meet him at a point near the Azores.
