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Following the damage caused by British midget submarines in September 1943, the Admiralty decided that further attacks should be made on the German battleship 'Tirpitz', to ensure that it could not threaten the northern convoys of the Allied forces. Under the code name 'Tungsten', 21 Barracuda bombers, part of the Fleet Air Arm, and 40 fighter planes were launched to attack the 'Tirpitz' which was stationed in Altenfjord, Norway. The attack on the 'Tirpitz' was to be made in two strikes and the first arrived over the target at 5:29am on 3 April. Complete surprise was achieved, and the Barracudas scored 12 direct hits and one near miss. Although the 'Tirpitz's' upperworks were badly damaged, her vitals remained intact. She also suffered 438 casualties, of which 122 were fatal.
This shows the enclosed space of the fjord, based on a photograph of the 'Tirpitz'. It shows the top of the snow-clad mountains on the south side of Altenfjord looking down on the ship. She is on the right side of the picture with bombs falling on and around her and a great column of black and white smoke rising above her. Two tenders are steaming away from the ship and on the right a small warship is at anchor, in starboard-broadside view. Seen against the white mountains on the far side of the fjord are the attacking Barracudas. The artist has used patterns, shapes and colour in an attempt to recreate the scene. The configuration of the mountains indicates the enclosed nature of the fjord, and thus the vulnerability of the ship to an airborne attack.
Title
The 'Tirpitz' Attacked by Barracudas, 3 April 1944
Date
1944–1945
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 101.6 x W 127 cm
Accession number
BHC0687
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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