Eidsvold was built as part of the general rearmament in the time leading up to the political events in 1905, and remained, along with her sister ship Norge, the backbone of the Royal Norwegian Navy for just over 40 years.

Considered to be quite powerful ships for their time, with two 21 cm (8.26 inch) guns as their main armament, they were soon outclassed by the new Dreadnought battleships.

In the morning of 9 April 1940, a German force of ten destroyers, carrying troops of a mountain division, entered Narvik harbour under cover of fog and heavy snow.

Gerlach and a signalman were received on the aft deck of Eidsvold by the second in command, and were taken to the bridge to speak to Captain Willoch.

Due to the short distance, the trajectory of the shells would have been flat, making it hard not to hit the thinly armoured vessel.

However, instead of considering surrender, Willoch used this time to contact his superiors, as well as the captain of Norge, informing them of his intent to attack the German forces.

While this was going on, another German destroyer had crossed behind Eidsvold and took up a position 700 metres (2,300 ft) from the vessel, ready to fire her torpedoes.