HMAS Bataan engaging enemy guns, Hae Tu Man, Korea

Place Approximate locations: At sea, Nearest landform, At sea (off Korean coast)
Accession Number ART40010
Collection type Art
Measurement Unframed: 40.3 x 45.5 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil on canvas on plywood
Maker Norton, Frank
Place made Korea
Date made 1952
Conflict Korea, 1950-1953
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Depiction of HMAS Bataan engaging enemy guns, at Hae Tu Man, on the west Korean coast in August 1952. Frank Norton depicted the engagement as seen through binoculars and noted that 'While firing on gun positions and observation posts - the enemy opened fire on the ships - but were completely out ranged. (The shells falling 500 metres short)'. Bursting explosions are visible in the water and on the large mountains on the mainland. The small island in the centre of the composition Norton described as 'the "Friendly" island of MUDO on which US Marine spotters operated for the ship'.

Frank Norton covered the Royal Australian Navy in the Korean War as an Australian War Memorial official war artist from June to October 1952.