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.

"Minor war vessels at Gaspé, 1942"

Fairmile motor launches (left), minesweepers (centre), a corvette (right), and other ships are tied up at HMCS Fort Ramsay, the naval base at Gaspé, Quebec.

Despite the label of this wartime photograph, vessels like these were the mainstay of Canadian naval power in the St. Lawrence in 1942. Fairmiles in particular helped fill the need for escort and patrol vessels, although their small size limited the armament and equipment they could carry.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20070195-008b_back