Canada's Naval History

Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic - The Battle of the St. Lawrence

The struggle on the Atlantic between Allied navies and German U-Boats (submarines) brought the naval war into Canada, turning the river and Gulf of St. Lawrence into a battleground. From 1942, German U-Boats sank 23 merchant and naval ships; improvements in anti-submarine defences ultimately stemmed these losses.

The Torpedoing of HMCS Magog

These four photographs show the aftermath of U-1223's attack on the frigate HMCS Magog, including the rescue of badly injured crew.

Using an acoustic torpedo that homed in on the ship's noise, U-1223 attacked Magog near Pointe-des-Monts, Quebec, on 14 October 1944. The explosion killed three crew, severely wounded three others, and severely damaged the ship. Some of the badly injured crew, seen at upper left, were evacuated by a Royal Canadian Air Force flying boat, seen at bottom left. Extraordinary efforts by Magog's crew prevented their heavily damaged ship from sinking.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030315-002_p1