As "U-862" did not find any worthwhile targets off New Zealand, the submarine's commander planned to return to Australian waters in January 1945 and operate to the north of Sydney. "U-862" was ordered to break off her mission in mid-January, however, and return to Jakarta. On her return voyage, the submarine sank another U.S. Liberty ship—"Peter Silvester"—approximately southwest of Fremantle on 6 February 1945. "Peter Silvester" was the last Allied ship to be sunk by the Axis in the Indian Ocean during the war. "U-862" arrived in Jakarta in mid February 1945 and is the only Axis ship known to have operated in Australian waters during 1945. Following Germany's surrender, "U-862" became the Japanese submarine but was not used operationally.