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.

Damaged Fairmile Motor Launch, 1944

These photographs show the damage caused by a fuel explosion in Fairmile motor launch Q-082 on 7 September 1944.

Sailors faced a variety of dangers in addition to the enemy. The gasoline engines in wooden-hulled Fairmiles brought with them the risk of explosion. In this instance, gasoline fumes ignited and blew open the engine room, causing extensive damage. One sailor was killed and two others severely burned.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20010066-039_p22