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Conflict and Change
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Post War Conflict: Surface Fleet
Article Highlights
The Cod Wars
Fishermen had commercially caught cod for over a thousand years and was a major factor in international trade well up until the nineteenth century. Between 1958 and 1976, Britain and Iceland had three disputes over fishing rights in the waters around Iceland.
The first Cod War started on 1st September 1958 after the First Conference of the Law of the Sea in Geneva failed to muster a the two-thirds majority to adopt a 12-mile limit on territorial seas. Even before the first Cod War the Royal Navy maintained a patrol in Icelandic waters for about 15 weeks a year. The mission of the Royal Navy was to prevent the interference with British fishing vessels.
The Icelandic Coastguard started with seven ships and two aircraft, the largest ship was the Thor of only 920 tons. The first encounter involved the trawler Northern Foam when boarded by an unarmed boarding party from the Icelandic gunboat Thor. The frigate HMS Eastbourne interceded eventually managing to obtain the release and transfer of the fishermen to Eastbourne.
In 1971 the fishing limit was extended to 50 miles, this would have a dramatic effect on British deep-sea fishing business so another Cod War was inevitable. The MoD issued a political directive and ‘Rules of Engagement’.
HMS Galatea and the Icelandic vessel 'FPV Odin' intercepting the British trawler H350, taken in April 1976. (RNM)
During 1972 eight British trawlers had their trawls cut by Icelandic gunboats. Despite political negotiations about limits and cod quotas the war escalated; a notable incident in this period is when the British trawler Aldershot was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Aegir. The Aegir seriously damaged the Aldershot in the stern, the hole was patched up with cement in the Faeroes.
The aggression levels increased dramatically in March 1973 with many trawl cuts and shooting incidents. The most dangerous was when the trawler Brucella was hit by about ten rifle shots from the gunboat Arvakur, hitting her lifeboat and bridge. During this second cod war there were many incidents of near misses and actual collisions between opposing vessels.
HMS Bacchante and the Icelandic vessel 'FPV Baldur' during the Third Cod War in 1976. (RNM)
On the 15th July 1975 Iceland declared a 200 mile fishing limit. Serious contingency planning for a third Cod War started immediately as there was little chance of a negotiated settlement. On the 25th November HMS Falmouth and Brighton arrived on station. Icelandic gunboats had already commenced trawl-cutting operations and the trawler men requested urgent Naval protection.
HMS Mermaid and the Icelandic vessel 'FPV Baldur' clashing, taken on 26th May 1976. (RNM)
The third cod war lasted until 28th May 1976 when an agreement was reached after a Foreign Ministers meeting in Oslo which limited the number of trawlers fishing in Icelandic waters and implementing conservation areas, including extra prohibited areas. HMS Berwick was the last RN’s distant-water fishery patrol ship, ending the 500-year old task.
