The Early Cold War
Rebuilding and Transformation

The Canadian navy's main Cold War mission was anti-submarine warfare, as it had been in the two world wars. It sought to build a force of ships, personnel, and facilities to fulfill this mission, as well as to pursue other national objectives like sovereignty protection.

HMCS Sussexvale

Edward Goodall's drawing shows the Second World War frigate HMCS Sussexvale following its post-war conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort.

The conversion required substantial changes to Sussexvale's superstructure (the structures above its upper deck) as well as to its armament. These alterations noticeably improved the ship's anti-submarine capabilities. The conversion of existing wartime frigates allowed the Royal Canadian Navy to meet the demand for larger numbers of escort ships. Like the other converted frigates, Sussexvale remained hampered by a relatively low speed compared to modern submarines.

HMCS Sussexvale
Drawn by Edward Goodall in 1960
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19920231-001