Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic  - Weapons and Technology

Combatants in the battle of the Atlantic relied on weapons and technology to attack the enemy, to defend themselves, to communicate, and to rescue friends and foes.

"Mae West" Life Belts, HMCS St. Laurent

Wearing a life belt, Chief Ordnance Artificer Les Gill (foreground) stands near the torpedo tubes of the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent.

In the background, another sailor (centre) wears an inflated life belt. These life belts, often nicknamed "Mae Wests" after the American film-star, replaced bulky vests of canvas-covered pads, and enabled crew working in confined spaces to go about their duties. The wearer needed to inflate the life belt, however, which did not automatically keep the wearer's head out of the water. This weakness meant that it often could not save the wounded or unconscious wearers.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20060010-16_p7b