On 5 July 1940, while on patrol off Skudesnes, south-west Norway, HMS SHARK (Lieutenant Commander Peter Noel Buckley, RN) was on the surface when a seaplane was sighted astern. As the submarine dived to avoid the aircraft, bombs exploded close to the stern, followed closely by at least two more. The explosions caused considerable damage. Without steering gear and with the hydroplanes jammed hard to rise, SHARK’s bow broached the surface to be greeted by more bombs. SHARK began to sink by the stern and all of the high-pressure air was used to return her to the surface. Once on the surface SHARK got underway steering on main engines. Being sighted yet again the submarine came under sustained attack and No. 4 ballast tank was holed. Finally, more aircraft arrived, and SHARK had no option but to surrender.  Twelve of the crew were injured in this action and two were killed.

The next morning, three German minesweeping trawlers arrived at the scene and took the crew on board. SHARK was taken under tow, but the crew had scuttled her prior to leaving. Amidst cheering from the captured British sailors, the German trawler crews were forced to cut the hawsers before Shark sank and took the towing vessels with her. SHARK sank stern first about 25 nautical miles (46 km) west-south-west of Egersund, Norway.

This photo shows HMS SHARK as seen from one of the German trawlers before the submarine was scuttled by her crew.