Canada's Naval History

Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic - Atlantic Battleground

Allied forces, including the Royal Canadian Navy, fought against Axis forces in the battle of the Atlantic over a vast and often dangerous oceanic battlefield. Harbours and bases like Halifax were essential for ships, and commanders on shore planned and coordinated the movements of convoys and anti-submarine forces.

Plotting Room, Ottawa, 29 November 1943

At Naval Service Headquarters in Ottawa, members of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service plot the locations of Allied units and the suspected locations of German U-Boats (submarines) on large, wall-mounted maps (right and background).

During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy established an Operational Intelligence Centre. Its functions included using decoded enemy signals to track German U-Boats. U-Boat data, weather information, and other factors allowed Allied commanders to plan convoy routes and conduct naval operations.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19870211-148