Canada's Naval History

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Birth Of the Navy

First World War

Between the Wars

Second World War

Early Cold War

Later Cold War
- - From RCN to Maritime Command
  - A Changing Fleet

Navy Today
- - The Gulf War
  - Continuing Commitments

First World War (1914-1918)
The Home Front

The war at sea affected Canadians in a variety of ways. While extensive recruiting efforts at home sought men to become sailors in the Canadian and British navies, Canadian shipyards built warships and merchant ships to expand Allied navies and to replace vessels lost to submarine attack.

Merchant Ships under Construction, J. Coughlan & Sons Shipyard, Vancouver

The increasing success of the German U-Boat campaign prompted an extensive programme of shipbuilding in Canada and other Allied countries.

Here, two vessels can be seen under construction at the J. Coughlan & Sons Shipyard in False Creek, part of Vancouver's waterfront. The one on the right is at a relatively early stage in construction, its hull visible at bottom right. The ship on the left is at a more advanced stage, its decks beginning to take shape amidst a forest of scaffolding.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20070035-007