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.

Corvette in Ice

Allied escort ships, including the Canadian corvette HMCS Hawkesbury (foreground) encounter sea ice off the Newfoundland coast.

Relatively thin sea ice like that pictured here was not tremendously dangerous, but thicker, larger accumulations could interfere with movement and damage ships. Icebergs drifting south from the Arctic could also be a threat, particularly off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19900279-001_14