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The Early Cold War
Rebuilding and Transformation

The Canadian navy's main Cold War mission was anti-submarine warfare, as it had been in the two world wars. It sought to build a force of ships, personnel, and facilities to fulfill this mission, as well as to pursue other national objectives like sovereignty protection.

HMCS Magnificent and Destroyer
HMCS Magnificent and Destroyer

The Canadian aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (left) was a key element of the Canadian fleet in the early post-war period.

Seen here with Hawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft (left) on its flight deck, Magnificent, originally built for Britain's Royal Navy, served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) between 1948 and 1956. A destroyer (right) escorts the carrier and is ready for rescue duties if an aircraft crashes during takeoff or landing. The result of wartime plans, the post-war acquisition of aircraft carriers by the RCN enhanced the navy's anti-submarine and air defence capabilities.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19840132-016





Graveyard, Sorel, P.Q.
HMCS Micmac
HMCS Sussexvale
Twin 40mm Bofors Gun
HMCS Magnificent and Destroyer
Royal Canadian Navy Recruiting Advertisement
Canadian Ships in Halifax Harbour
Model, HMCS Mackenzie
Desktop Radar Model
Model, HMCS Provider
HMCS Assiniboine and Sea King Helicopter
Twin 3-Inch Naval Gun and Mount
Uniform, Rear Admiral Sturton Mathwin Davis
HMCS Porte St. Louis and HMCS Porte St. Jean
Ship's Crest, HMCS Porte de la Reine
HMCS Ontario in the Panama Canal
Life Ring, HMCS Quebec
Royal Canadian Navy Recruiting Poster
Master-at-Arms Ron Crawford, HMCS Cornwallis, 1953
Wrens Recruiting Advertisement
Naval Reserve Recruiting Poster
HMCS Malahat Crew, 1957
Naval Fire Fighting Training
Cadets in Summer Training