Canada's Naval History

Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic - Lost at Sea: HMCS St. Croix

In September 1943, in a battle surrounding two convoys in the North Atlantic, German submarines sank the Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Croix and eight other Allied warships and merchant vessels. The loss of St. Croix, like the loss of many Canadian ships during the battle of the Atlantic was felt across the country.

HMCS St. Croix

HMCS St. Croix, which entered Canadian service in 1940, was an overage American destroyer built shortly after the First World War.

In 1940, Britain's Royal Navy obtained 50 American destroyers in return for granting the United States the use of naval and air bases in several British possessions, including Newfoundland. The Royal Navy promptly transferred St. Croix, along with five other destroyers, to the Royal Canadian Navy; two more followed later. St. Croix helped meet Canada's need for warships, but its armament and equipment had to be updated, and its high speed was offset by its terrible pitching and rolling in rough seas.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19900085-1039