Canada's Naval History

Second World War (1939-1945)
The Navy in European Waters - The Arctic Convoys and Scandinavia

Following the Soviet Union's entry into the war against Germany, the western Allies established convoys carrying much-needed supplies to Soviet Arctic ports, most notably Murmansk. Canadian ships participated in these convoys, and also visited Scandinavian countries in the wake of Germany's surrender.

Commander Kenneth F. Adams and HMCS Iroquois

Commander Kenneth F. Adams, HMCS Iroquois' captain, poses with his ship in May or June of 1945.

Adams skillfully directed Iroquois' experienced crew on one of the last Arctic convoys in April 1945. Convoy JW 66 entered Kola Inlet near Polyarny, Russia, without any losses despite attempted attacks by more than a dozen German U-boats (submarines). Iroquois and HMCS Haida dropped patterns of depth charges to scare away submarines and laid a smokescreen to hide the arriving convoy.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20020039-001_p46e