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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.

Graveyard, Sorel, P.Q.
Graveyard, Sorel, P.Q.

These corvettes, moored at Sorel, Quebec and soon to be sold for scrap, attest to the scale of post-war demobilization.

This painting by Tony Law, a naval officer and official war artist, also captures the sadness felt by many sailors at the decommissioning of their ships. After the end of the Second World War, the Canadian navy quickly shrank, and by late 1946 had an active strength of one aircraft carrier, two cruisers, two destroyers, a frigate, a minesweeper, and a captured German submarine.

Graveyard, Sorel, P.Q.
Painted by Tony Law in 1945
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-4075





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