The Battle of the Atlantic, lasting from 1939 to 1945, was the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War, fought across the treacherous waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At the onset of the conflict, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was a modest force, consisting of just six destroyers and a few smaller ships.
When the German submarine U-30 sank the passenger liner SS Athenia on September 3, 1939—the very day Britain declared war—it was widely believed that Germany had resumed its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. In response, the Allies quickly reintroduced the convoy system to safeguard merchant ships. The first convoy to depart from Halifax, designated HX-1, set sail on September 16 under the protection of Canadian destroyers HMCS Saguenay and HMCS St. Laurent, which provided anti-submarine defense near the coast. Once the convoy reached deeper waters, larger escort vessels took over to defend against enemy surface ships—a threat that persisted until 1941.
The main goal of the convoy system was to ensure that cargo ships reached their destinations safely and on schedule, while avoiding enemy contact whenever possible. On certain occasions, valuable intelligence—known as Ultra—derived from decrypted German naval codes, allowed convoys to be steered away from danger with remarkable precision. However, encounters with enemy submarines were not always avoidable. As a result, convoys became central to the Royal Canadian Navy’s extensive anti-submarine efforts during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Over 2,075 grueling days, Allied naval and air forces engaged in more than 100 convoy battles and approximately 1,000 individual ship encounters with German and Italian submarines and surface vessels. The enemy’s primary objective was to disrupt the vital flow of supplies and resources transported by merchant convoys from North America to Europe.
Throughout the campaign, Canada’s navy played a crucial role in securing victory at sea. By the war’s end, the RCN had expanded dramatically, ranking among the largest navies in the world. Canadian forces were credited with the destruction or shared destruction of 33 enemy submarines and 42 surface vessels, though at a heavy cost: 2,210 lives were lost, including nine women, along with 33 ships.
Today, Canadian sailors continue to proudly uphold this legacy, representing the nation both at home and around the globe.
Thanks to its distinguished record during the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN has earned the reputation of being Canada’s “force of first resort” in times of crisis. Since 1945, it has responded to numerous global emergencies, including the Korean War, the Suez Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Gulf War, operations following the attacks of 9/11, humanitarian missions after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and aid efforts following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
We honour the bravery and sacrifice of Canadian sailors who contributed to Allied victory and celebrate the Royal Canadian Navy’s ongoing commitment to protecting Canada’s interests and upholding peace and security around the world.
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