Canada's Naval History

Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic - U-Boats and Convoys

The struggle between German U-Boats (submarines) and Allied convoys was the core of the battle of the Atlantic. U-Boats sought to destroy Allied merchant vessels and warships, while Allied convoys sought to transport food, supplies, weapons, and personnel across the Atlantic.

Survivors from U-569

These photographs show the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent's efforts to rescue survivors from German U-Boat (submarine) U-569, destroyed in the mid-Atlantic in 1943.

Despite the caption claiming that St. Laurent sank this U-Boat, U-569 had been badly damaged by aircraft from the United States Navy escort carrier USS Bogue, and the submarine's crew deliberately sank their vessel as the St. Laurent came into view. The photographs include a distant view of U-569 when first sighted (top right), and a "net float," (bottom left), which eased the rescue of survivors in the water.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20060010-016_p3a

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