March 23, 1943 While in the Mediterranean Sea the Windsor Castle was attacked by German aircraft. The German dropped a torpedo which hit the great liner. She was carrying over 2,000 troops bound for Africa but, the damage was not terrible. The troops were removed and the Windsor Castle was taken in tow. The tow line did not work and thirteen hours after she was hit the Windsor Castle slipped under the waves. Between one and three lives were lost which was remarkable considering there were almost 3,000 people on board at the time of the attack.