HMS Sickle by Ivan Berryman. [Original Painting]

An S-Class submarine of the Royal Navy, HMS Sickle took part in operations in the Mediterranean in the Second World War after an uneventful first patrol off Norway. On the morning of 23rd of April 1943, five days into her second war patrol, HMS Sickle intercepted the Italian merchant Mauro Croce as it left Spanish waters from Valencia. Two torpedoes were fired but passed under the target. Immediately the submarine surfaced and, as seen in this painting, opened fire with the 76mm deck gun, scoring 15 hits from 19 rounds fired before the weapon jammed. HMS Sickle dived and broke off the action, but Italians later claimed three killed and four wounded in their complaint that the attack happened in Spanish territory. That May, HMS Sickle went on to attack German U-Boat U-755 unsuccessfully, but next day torpedoed and sank U-303. On her 11th war patrol in June 1944, HMS Sickle disappeared and is thought to have been lost to mines while returning to Malta.

Original painting, oil on canvas, by Ivan Berryman.

Size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm)