The Navy: A Century in Art
The Navy's Wars

A long and distinguished combat record is central to the navy's history and traditions. An armed force in support of Canadian national interests, it continues to perform a wide variety of important roles, from war fighting and peace support operations, to disaster relief and search and rescue.

HMCS Ville de Québec Gets a Sub
Painted by Harold Beament in 1943

Naval battles are often defined by their intensity and lethality.

HMCS Ville de Québec, on escort duty in the western Mediterranean in January 1943, responded to a sonar contact by dropping a pattern of depth charges. When the damaged submarine came to the surface, Ville de Québec fired its guns and raced to ram it. The submarine rolled over, sank, and exploded. The entire battle had lasted approximately 12 minutes.

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-1031