HMCS OJIBWA being towed by Florence M, along the St. Lawrence waterway approaching Iroquois Lock.
Roger Litwiller Collection, photo courtesy Alex Litwiller. (RTL-AJL DSCF9634)

On June 3 2012, my son Alex and I traveled to Iroquois Lock on the St. Lawrence River west of Cornwall to witness a historic occasion. The retired Cold War submarine HMCS OJIBWA was being moved from Halifax through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

HMCSubmarie OJIBWA began her career as the Royal Navy’s Oberon class, HMS ONYX. Taken over by the RCN during her construction she was renamed OJIBWA and commissioned on 23 September 1965.

OJIBWA had a very successful career in the Canadian Navy, her duties ranging from training submariners, providing an operational target for the surface ships to practice anti-submarine warfare and clandestine operations during the Cold War. Almost her entire career was spent under the waters of the Atlantic, attached to MARLANT, with the exception of a short assignment to the Pacific fleet.

With the acquisition of four new Upholder class submarines, OJIBWA was declared surplus and decommissioned in May 1998. She remained in Halifax waiting for disposal.

In 2010 The Elgin Military Museum announced they had acquired OJIBWA and would be moving the submarine to Port Burwell on Lake Erie, as a Cold War Museum.  That is a voyage of over 1200 nautical miles.

Tug, Florence M leading retired O class submarine OJIBWA, having traveled by barge from Halifax in route to her final resting place on Lake Erie.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller (RTL33757)

Heddle Marine of Hamilton designed and built a submersible drydock, specifically for the project. OJIBWA would ride from Halifax into the Atlantic Ocean, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the St. Lawrence River and the Seaway into Lake Ontario to her temporary home in Hamilton. Nadro Marine provided two tugs for the operation, Florence M and Lac Manitoba.

OJIBWA’s journey began on 23 May 2012 with the arrival of the drydock in Halifax.  Secured and fastened to the drydock, towing operations began. Along the entire route, many Canadians came to witness and pay respect to this Cold War Canadian sub.

On 5 June OJIBWA arrived in Hamilton where she would spend the summer undergoing her final refit. Turning the submarine into and accessible museum. OJIBWA’s final journey took place in November 2012 when she was moved from Hamilton, through the Welland Canal to Lake Erie and her final resting place, high and dry on shores of Port Burwell.

OJIBWA is open for tours and has become one of the “Must See” attractions in the area.

More details on Project OJIBWA and the Elgin Military Museum can be found on their website. Please take a look.

HMCS OJIBWA under tow in the St. Lawrence river approaching the seaway lock at Iroquois, Ontario on 3 June 2012 with Nadro Marine tugs, Florence M (leading) and Lac Manitoba. The cold war RCN submarine is being moved to Port Burwell and will become a museum ship.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Alex Litwiller. (RTL-AJL DSCF9645)

HMCS OJIBWA under tow in the St. Lawrence River approaching the seaway lock at Iroquois, Ontario on 3 June 2012. The cold war RCN submarine is being moved to Port Burwell and will become a museum ship.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33747)

With only a few inches of clearance on either side of the barge, Florence M. pulls OJIBWA through the Iroquois lock.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33788)

OJIBWA on the barge enters Iroquois lock with mere inches of clearance between the barge and lock wall.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller (RTL33782)

OJIBWA’s bow show the effects of many years of neglect since her decommissioning on 3 June 2012 passing Iroquois Lock.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33794)

OJIBWA’s sail now promotes the project that will restore the cold war submarine to her former glory. OJIBWA Passing through the Iroquois Lock on 3 June 2012.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33796)

Tug Lac Manitoba is tucked close under the stern of HMCS OJIBWA while passing through the Iroquois Lock.
OJIBWA’s stern show the extent of the corrosion that this submarine has suffered while laid up in Halifax waiting for disposal.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33798)

Florence M., OJIBWA and Lac Manitoba pass through the Iroquois lock on the St. Lawrence Seaway on 3 June 2012.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33805)

HMCS OJIBWA is towed through the Iroquois Lock on 3 June 2012, to start her next career. The decommissioned Canadian submarine from the Cold War will be refitted and rest at Port Burwell, Ontario as a museum and memorial to the Canadian men and women who fought the Cold War.
This photo was Published in Action Stations Magazine, Summer 2012, Vol 30 Issue 4, pg 15.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL33818)

If you enjoy the content I create and find value in the articles on this website, please feel free to click on the coffee icon on the bottom right of the webpage and “Buy me a Coffee!” Your contribution will ensure that I can continue to provide the stories of these incredible Canadians and the Canadian Navy. Thank you for your support. Cheers, Roger