Canada's Naval History

The Second World War
The Merchant Navy - Serving with the Merchant Navy

During the Second World War, Canadian and Allied merchant mariners faced the constant hard work of operating and maintaining their ships, the threat of enemy attack, and the dangers of accidents and storms.

Artifact Record

Torpedoed, North Atlantic

Paul Goranson's 1947 painting depicts a merchant ship's crew saving themselves in a lifeboat after their ship (background) has been torpedoed.

Goranson, an official artist with the Royal Canadian Air Force, likely based this painting on his own experience. On 10 March 1943, the German U-Boat (submarine) U-221 torpedoed the merchant ship SS Tucurinca in the North Atlantic, killing one of the ship's crew. The remaining crew and passengers, including Goranson, were rescued. Escape from a sinking ship, however, did not always guarantee survival, especially in the North Atlantic's cold waters and often rough weather.

Torpedoed, North Atlantic
Painted by Paul Goranson in 1947
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-3204