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 4341). For details of the slightly complex history of the acquisition see BHC1590, the start of the set by modern NMM catalogue number.

This work also forms part of a sub-group of eight within the set titled in the 1944 exhibition as 'The Navy's part in the invasion' (ie.D-Day and following in June 1944), with the following group caption: 'The group of pictures of the invasion of Normany are from sketches made by the artist who was present in the destroyer 'Jervis' on D-Day and for some days subsequently.' This one, titled as above, is third in the group of which the exhibition listing order is: (1) BHC1635, (2) BHC1595, (3) BHC1636, (4) BHC1621, (5) BHC1594, (6) BHC1637 (7) BHC1638 (8) BHC1590.

As with many of his ‘War at Sea’ paintings, Wilkinson here employs the potential of dramatic explosions and fires to develop particular aesthetic effects. In this inventive response to a nocturnal subject, the combination of falling shells, fires and flak, creates a network of patterns, light and mark-making across the picture’s surface.