Plante witnessed a number of attacks on North Atlantic convoys. Here the the pre-designated rescue ship breaks from the convoy to attempt a rescue. Plante's description of a torpedo hitting a tanker carrying a cargo of benzene fits closely with this image: 'The effect was complete and instantaneous - a great blossoming of flame as torpedo and benzene exploded together.' There were no survivors from this incident and the desperation of the crew on duty is evident. In contrast, other crew wash and chat.
Looking down from an upper deck of a ship, the funnels on the left of the composition, and crew dressed in oilskins standing on the deck below. There is another ship in flames on the horizon, sending a thick cloud of smoke into the sky. It is an oil painting on canvas. It is framed with a silver and coloured frame. The glazing is a laminated low reflective glass. It has a foam centred backboard sealed with paper tape.
