This painting forms part of Norman Wilkinson's ‘The War at Sea’ series, depicting the work of the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and RAF Coastal Command, of which 53 were exhibited under that title at the National Gallery in 1944, and the full set of 54 presented by him to the nation via the War Artists Advisory Committee (this item's WAAC number being LD 4301). For details of the slightly complex history of the acquisition see BHC1590, the start of the set by modern NMM catalogue number.

The catalogue of the National Gallery exhbibition 'The War at Sea' reads: 'On April 13th, 1940, a naval force under the command of Vice-Admiral Whitworth, consisting of HMS 'Warspite' and six destroyers, entered Ofot Fjord where a number of German destroyers were known to be harbouring. Seven large-type destroyers were engaged and put out of action.'
The battleship to the right is HMS 'Warspite' (1913) and the rest are her brood of accompanying destroyers.