Chronology of Canadian Military History Canadian Military History, Colonial Period, New France, First Peoples, Seven Years War, French Indian War Canadian Military History, British North America, American Invasion, War of 1812, Dominion of Canada, Riel Rebellion, South African War Canadian Military History, World War 1 History, 1914-1918, Canadian Armed Forces, conscription Canadian Military History, World War 2, 1939-1945, Battle of the Atlantic, conscription, invasion, Dday, Normandy, Germany, axis, allies, Hong Kong, Dieppe 1946-today
Canada and the 
Second World War
The World Crisis
Canada goes to War
Canada at Britain's side
The Battle of the Atlantic
Canada's War at sea
The War comes to Canada
The Battle for Hong Kong
Disaster at Dieppe
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
Bomber Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force
The Home Front
Conscription
The Italian Campaign
Canada at D-Day
The Normandy Campaign
Liberating Northwest Europe
Victory
The War against Japan
Forced Relocation: the Japanese-Canadian Story
Going Home
Counting the Cost
A Nation Transformed

CANADA’S WAR AT SEA

1939-1945

Canada played a major role in protecting trans-Atlantic convoys.

The Royal Canadian Navy’s ‘small-ship’ fleet of destroyers, corvettes, frigates, and minesweepers (supported by maritime patrol bombers of the Royal Canadian Air Force) escorted Allied shipping across the Atlantic and along the northeastern seaboard of North America. Despite early growing pains, the R.C.N. grew into a formidable anti-submarine force. The navy also made major contributions to Allied operations in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Arctic, and in European waters.

By war’s end, the Royal Canadian Navy, the world’s third-largest fleet, had enlisted some 100,000 men and 6500 women and operated 471 warships and smaller fighting vessels, most Canadian-built. The R.C.N. sank 28 enemy submarines and numerous surface vessels but lost 24 of its own warships. Approximately 2000 Canadian sailors were killed. Another 12,000 Canadians served in the Merchant Navy, of whom more than 1600 died.

See also :
Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War : The Royal Canadian Navy

Canada's War at Sea


CANADA’S WAR AT SEA
NAC-pa- 115353


Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M8
1-800-555-5621