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.

HMCS Chaleur at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec, 1939

One of many naval auxiliary vessels in the St. Lawrence, HMCS Chaleur was a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) cutter.

Because the outbreak of war found the Royal Canadian Navy short of vessels, it soon acquired a range of ships and boats from other government departments and agencies. One of three RCMP motor boats taken over for use at Quebec City, Chaleur was assigned to the examination service, transporting personnel who boarded, inspected, and reported on incoming ships.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19920085-1018