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.

Consolidated B-24 Liberators, Gander, Newfoundland

Land-based air power, provided by aircraft like the Liberators from the Royal Canadian Air Force's Eastern Air Command seen here, proved vital in the Allied battle against German submarines.

Aircraft could attack submarines, damaging or destroying them. The mere presence of aircraft also drove submarines under the surface, which limited their mobility and their ability to intercept Allied ships. Aircraft modified to Very Long Range (VLR) standards, like these Liberators, could operate over the middle of the Atlantic where, in mid-1943, they played a significant role in defeating German submarines operating as groups called "wolf packs".

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030014-048