On 26 December 1943 "Duke of York" was part of a task force which encountered the off the North Cape of Norway. During the engagement that followed, "Scharnhorst" hit "Duke of York" twice with little effect, but was herself hit by several of "Duke of York"s 14-inch shells, silencing one of her turrets and hitting a boiler room. After temporarily escaping from "Duke of York"s heavy fire, "Scharnhorst" was struck several times by torpedoes, allowing "Duke of York" to again open fire, contributing to the eventual sinking of "Scharnhorst" after a running action lasting ten-and-a-half hours.