First World War (1914-1918)
Atlantic Theatre

In response to the threat of German naval activity, the east coast navy expanded from its tiny pre-war establishment to include a wide assortment of ships. Their range of duties included blockading, convoy escort and minesweeping.

Canadian Minesweepers

These vessels patrolled near Halifax and searched for mines laid by German submarines.

The Royal Canadian Navy hastily ordered 48 TR class trawlers (top) during the course of the war. To supplement these ships, the navy also purchased a number of American-built herring trawlers (bottom). Both types carried a bow-mounted 12-pounder gun as their main armament (bottom, at right on deck), and also carried a number of depth charges. Finding experienced sailors would prove more difficult than finding ships.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20080060-001_10f