HMS Triton sinks SS Friedenau, 10th April 1940 - Anthony Cowland

HMS Triton was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1938 and was the lead ship of the T-Class (or Triton Class) of Submarines. In September 1939, whilst off the coast of Norway, Triton sank HMS Oxley, mistaking it for a German U-boat. As the Oxley was out of position at the time, the captain of HMS Triton was exonerated. During the war, the loss of HMS Oxley was attributed to an ‘accidental explosion’: The truth was revealed in the 1950s. 

In November 1940, after leaving Malta for a patrol in the Adriatic Sea, whilst in the Mediterranean, HMS Triton was lost. The Italians claimed she was sunk by their torpedo boats, whereas the British maintained Naval mines sank her.

This painting was used to illustrate the cover of the book No Room for Mistakes. British and Allied Submarine Warfare 1939 – 1940, by Geirr H Haarr.

Original acrylic on board signed lower left.  15.5  x 12.25 inches (39cm  x 31cm)

A larger image is available on request.