If you look at any ship in the Royal Canadian Navy today, you will see a bright red Maple Leaf proudly displayed on the funnel or helicopter hangar. This has become a unique tradition in the RCN and can be traced back to 1918 when several RCN Drifters (CD Class) used for minesweeping had placed […]
The Sacrifice of SS Beaverford “The Heroic Saga of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Ship with Teeth.”
Many will know the celebrated legacy of the Royal Navy’s armed merchant cruiser HMS JERVIS BAY and her final moments as she battled the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER protecting her North Atlantic convoy, HX-84 on 5 November 1940. The battle for the convoy did not end with the loss of JERVIS BAY. The Canadian […]
RCAF Submarine Attacks Battle Of Atlantic during WWII
Royal Canadian Air Force attacks Against Submarines during WWII -Battle of Atlantic 1939-1945 Compiled by Roger Litwiller © Date U-Boat Sqn/Base/AC/Pilot/ Latitude/Longitude Details 31 Jul 1942 U754 Sunk 113 Squadron RCAF Yarmouth, NS Hudson BW 625 S/L N.E. Small 4302N 6425W South East of Cape Sable. 1st successful attack by Eastern Air Command. 30 Oct […]
Royal Navy Submariner
Unknown Royal Navy submariner, in St. John’s, NF in 1942-43. Submarine may be one of the Royal Navy practice subs on loan to the RCN for training escorts ships in anti-submarine warfare. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM096)
Royal Canadian Navy -Victory’s/Losses Battle of Atlantic in World War II
RCN Victory’s/Losses Battle Of Atlantic in WWII 1939 to 1945 By: Roger Litwiller © 1939 26 August 1939 -Admiralty signals FUNNEL to Commonwealth & British navies. Commonwealth merchant ships placed under naval control. 31 August 1939 -HMCShips FRASER & ST. LAURENT ordered “With Dispatch” from Esquimalt to Halifax. Arrive in time to escort first convoy WWII from […]
Canada and the Battle Of Atlantic
During the Second World War a fierce and decisive battle was fought on the world’s oceans and seas. Collectively it has become known as the Battle Of Atlantic. Winning this battle would determine the outcome of the war. The momentous responsibility of winning or losing WWII fell on Canada. The Second World War would have […]
HMCS IROQUOIS Exploits After VE Day
Great detail has been recorded of the Royal Canadian Navy’s ships during the Second World War, including the Battle of the Atlantic, Operations in the Arctic, Mediterranean and many other ocean battlefronts. Sadly very little has been written about what happened to our ships after VE Day? Recently I have received a large collection of […]
MAC Ship in Convoy
Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) ship in convoy with two aircraft on her after flight deck, ready to launch. MAC ships were converted merchant tankers, given a flight deck and up to four fighter aircraft to ward off U-Boats. Photo taken from HMCS WASAGA in 1943. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM146)
The Loss of HMCS FRASER
HMCS FRASER, River class destroyer, was lost in collision with the Royal Navy cruiser, HMS CALCUTTA on 26 June 1940 off the French Coast. Of her ship’s company of 172 sailors, sixty were killed. On 21 June, Fraser was ordered to France with her sister HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and HMS CALCUTTA to evacuate British and Allied soldiers […]
HMCS WEYBURN
HMCS WEYBURN, Flower class corvette, struck a mine laid by U-118 on 22 February 1943 off the Strait of Gibraltar. Of her crew of seventy-seven, nine were killed, including one Royal Navy rating. WEYBURN had been assigned with seventeen RCN corvettes to assist in the invasion of North Africa, Operation TORCH. Â She had just left […]