Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic  - Sea Battle: HMCS Assiniboine vs. U-210

On 6 August 1942, the Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine, escorting straggling ships at the rear of convoy SC 94, sighted German submarine U-210 on the horizon. In a pursuit that culminated in a running gun battle, Assiniboine, damaged and set on fire by U-210's guns, rammed and sank the submarine.

U-210, Seen from HMCS Assiniboine

This photograph shows the German submarine U-210, caught on the surface, maneuvering to escape Assiniboine in the thick fog.

Canadian sailors rarely saw the elusive submarines that stalked the convoys. Catching a surfaced U-Boat that had not already been disabled by depth charges was rarer still. This photograph shows the close proximity Assiniboine had to keep to prevent the U-Boat from escaping in the fog. For most of the chase, the two combatants were so close that Assiniboine's main guns, intended for use at longer ranges, could not be brought to bear on U-210.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20000224-028_1