The Navy: A Century in Art
The Navy at Sea

The Canadian navy is a creature of the sea. Its ships, equipment, tactics, and experiences have been conditioned by the major environments in which it serves. Historically, the most important of these have been Canada's long and ragged coasts and the storm-tossed northern waters connecting Canada to the world.

Tangled Float No.2
Painted by Leonard Brooks in 1944

This painting of HMCS Cowichan off the Normandy coast in 1944 shows both the complexity and the hazards of wartime minesweeping.

In this work, a paravane - a device towed by naval vessels to help destroy underwater mines - has become tangled in its own cable. Crew attempt to manoeuvre the cumbersome object as it hangs from one of the ship's derricks (cranes).

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-1165