A reconstruction of an event during the Second World War, created as an assignment for the War Artists Advisory Committee. 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'. This was 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. When Russian convoy JW58 sailed, it was accompanied by the fleet carriers 'Victorious' and 'Furious', each carrying the Barracudas together with the escort carriers 'Emperor', 'Searcher' and 'Pursuer', carrying Hellcat and Wildcat fighters.

The attack on the 'Tirpitz' was to be made in two strikes and the first arrived over the target at 5:29 am on 3 April. Complete surprise was achieved, and the Barracudas scored 12 direct hits and one near miss. As well as the bombing, the fighters strafed the ship and the shore defences. Although the 'Tirpitz'’s upperworks were badly damaged, her vitals remained intact. She also suffered 438 casualties, of which 122 were fatal. Two Barracudas and one fighter did not return to the carriers, and one Barracuda crashed into the sea on take-off. Further attempts to launch similar attacks failed because the Germans had time to cover the area with smoke and finally it was left to Lancaster bombers carrying 12-ton bombs to finish her off. With the last of the German capital ships out of the way, major units of the Home fleet could be released to fight the Japanese in the Pacific.

This is an interpretation showing 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, port-broadside view. 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. Two are diving in from the left, the leading one trailing smoke. On the right, a Barracuda climbs away, banking to port and ahead of her, across the upper part of the picture, eight others are heading back to the carriers. In the right foreground, white smoke is being released in an attempt to conceal the 'Tirpitz'. 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.

Charles Pears was employed during the Second World War to reconstruct notable maritime actions and events. Pears painted some fine war paintings characterized by a visually exciting style derived from his work as a poster designer. The War Artists Advisory Committee was created at the start of the Second World War to establish an historical record of the war in all its aspects. There were three main categories: actions and events, documentary scenes of everyday life afloat and ashore, and portraiture. The painting was presented by the War Artists' Committee in 1946, and it is signed 'Chas. Pears'.