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.
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