Canada's Naval History

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The Navy: A Century in Art

Naval Traditions and Culture

The Navy: A Century in Art
The Navy's Wars

A long and distinguished combat record is central to the navy's history and traditions. An armed force in support of Canadian national interests, it continues to perform a wide variety of important roles, from war fighting and peace support operations, to disaster relief and search and rescue.

Artifact Record

HMCS St. Croix and U-Boat in North Atlantic
Painted by Ronald Weyman in 1943

The story of HMCS St. Croix is one of desperate victory and crushing defeat.

An aging American destroyer transferred to Canadian service in 1940, St. Croix was busily engaged in north Atlantic operations for several years. The ship sank one German submarine in 1942, assisted in sinking another the following year, and was destroyed by U-305 in September 1943. Only one crew member survived.

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-5628