Torpedo-Nilsen

Handmade 60 mm tin soldier of Norwegian Torpedo Specialist Håkon Nilsen.
Håkon Nilsen served on the torpedo destroyer "Stord" and participated in the sinking of the German battleship "Scharnhorst" on December 2, 1943, in what is known as the Battle of North Cape. 12 British warships and "Stord" took part in the naval battle when "Stord" and the English destroyer "Scorpion" managed to approach the starboard side of Scharnhorst undetected. When they were discovered, they were so close that they were within the shooting range of the ship's powerful artillery. Both destroyers managed to fire their eight torpedoes across the battleship's course line. Scharnhorst managed to change course, but the ship slowed down and allowed two other destroyers to target it with their torpedoes. Nilsen fired his torpedoes at "Scharnhorst" and hit it with two torpedoes, which greatly contributed to the sinking of the German battleship. According to the ship's commander Skule Valetin Storheill, Nilsen was given the nickname "Torpedo-Nilsen" after this. The sinking of Scharnhorst was one of the most dramatic naval battles during World War II.