Icelandic Cod War

During my service in the Royal Navy (1971-1981) I served aboard HMS Scylla, a Leander Class frigate. During 1973 we were deployed on fishery protection duties in Icelandic waters with a brief to protect British fishing trawlers from Icelandic gunboats who were cutting their nets. The conflict became known as the Cod Wars.

This painting depicts the |celandic Gunboat Aegir ramming Scylla causing damage to the hull starboard-aft. Although damaged Scylla completed her deployment.

The chess pieces in the painting are a nod to our pastimes while at sea in Iceland which included a chess competition and a beard growing competition.