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A representation of the sinking of the German battleship, 'Scharnhorst', created for the War Artists' Advisory Committee. After she had made two unsuccessful attempts to attack a convoy under Rear-Admiral Robert Burnett, the German battleship 'Scharnhorst' was intercepted by Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, in the 'Duke of York'. Following a running fight lasting about three hours, she was finally stopped, surrounded and sunk. On 23 December 1943, convoy RA55A left the Kola inlet in northern Russia for Britain, with an escort of 10 destroyers. Covering the convoy was Burnett in the 'Sheffield' with two other cruisers, 'Belfast' and 'Norfolk'. At the same time the 'Duke of York' sailed from Iceland in company with the cruiser 'Jamaica'.
In this interpretation the 'Scharnhorst' is in the right middle distance. Three shell bursts can be seen on her and a torpedo is exploding on her bow. This had come from the destroyer 'Scorpion', shown this side of the 'Scharnhorst. On the left of the picture the 'Duke of York' steams, waves splashing as she moves through the water, followed by the 'Jamaica'. Between them in the background is part of the 'Belfast' and in the middle background, the 'Sheffield' and 'Norfolk', firing. The ship in the distance in the centre is totally lit in profile on the skyline; other ships more in the foreground are darker silhouettes.
The painting, which is two-thirds sky, is lit by the eight star shells. These highlight detailing on the ships and light up the sea immediately below the star burst. Shells are exploding in the foreground to the right, visible as splashes as they hit the water. Despite the activity there is a stasis as if the whole scene has been frozen in time.
Title
Sinking of the 'Scharnhorst', 26 December 1943
Date
c.1944
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 101.5 x W 152.5 cm
Accession number
BHC0685
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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