Welcome to for posteritys sake a site dedicated to the men and women of the royal canadian navy, the canadian forces navy and the ships they lived and served in. I took basic training in cornwallis, ns, and in january 1961 was posted to hmcs ste. Canadian naval forces and german sea raiders 18801918. List of royal canadian navy ships of the cold war wikipedia. Royal canadian navy history official history about the royal canadian navy, including historical resources, records of specific vessels, commanders, flags and uniforms, naval museums, commemorations and films. Canadian navy of yesterday and today naval history and. Difficult for many to comprehend the terrible risks and loss of life on convoy duty in the north. Service files of the royal canadian navy, 19101941.
The royal navy was responsible for all of british north america, until canadian confederation in 1867. Frigates of the royal canadian navy 19431974 by ken macpherson. Jul 04, 2019 library and archives canada lac has recently announced the launch of a new online database, royal canadian navy ledger sheets. The nautical mind bookstore has been delivering personal and professional service from our storefront in toronto harbour since 1980, and from since 1995. The royal canadian navy and the battle of the atlantic. Navy mine forces battling uboats in world war i david bruhn and rob hoole. History of the royal canadian navy including records of ships and sailors, flags and uniforms, museums and films. As the second world war drew to a close the royal canadian navy rcn stopped its rapid. The french revolutionary and napoleonic wars were the first truly global conflicts.
Apr 01, 2004 the royal canadian navy was called upon to participate in virtually every phase of war at sea. This is a personal website and is not affiliated with the. See more ideas about royal canadian navy, navy and navy news. See more ideas about royal canadian navy, navy ships and navy. Books related to the rcn and navy in general for posteritys sake. In the following year the royal navys african squadron was formed, its mission to stop and search ships at sea suspected of carrying slaves from africa to. After confederation the royal navy increasingly shared naval responsibilities with canada but retained sole responsibility for other british colonies in north america, until they joined canada. The ships, men, and organization, 17931815 by brian lavery, the fortune of war by p.
The book is very brief and doesnt really go into any detail about anything. Hmcs bonaventure 19451970 of the royal canadian navy. The seabound coast, volume i of a threevolume official history of the rcn, traces the story of the navys first three decades, from its beginnings as prime minister sir wilfrid lauriers tinpot navy of two obsolescent british. The top 10 most important books of canadian military history. A breif history of the royal canadian navy youtube. There are numerous traditions and customs in the royal canadian navy, a branch of canadas armed forces with an illustrious history. The mission of the royal canadian navy is to generate combatcapable, multipurpose maritime forces that support canadas efforts to participate in security operations.
An excellent collection of photos, drawings and paintings of the rcn from 1910 to 1989, with a brief accompanying narrative. In addition to the standard uniforms, ranks and salutes that all. One mans memories of the canadian navy, 193945 by hal lawrence, on the triangle run by james b. Halifax and the royal canadian navy paperback april 6 2010. The royal canadian navy rcn is one of the three environmental commands of the canadian forces. He is the author of thirteen books and more than 500 magazine and newspaper articles. Granatstein and marc milner in their accounts of the canadian army and the royal. Haze gray is in no way associated with this mailing list, and accepts no responsibility for it. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. When you visit one of the five naval museums, you can read about a battle, discover historic artefacts, including anchors and weapons systems, or explore vast archival holdings.
Library and archives canada lac has recently announced the launch of a new online database, royal canadian navy ledger sheets. I joined the royal canadian navy in september 1960, in thunder bay, ontario, under the threeyear on the job training ojt programme. Royal canadian navy history museums and historic sites. The royal canadian navy rcn is the maritime component of the canadian armed forces. A royal canadian navy historical project hmcs stettler 311. Hms belfast, originally a royal navy light cruiser, is now permanently moored on the thames in london. Difficult for many to comprehend the terrible risks and loss of life on convoy duty in the north atlantic during the early years of the second world war. We are licensed chart agents and distributors of imo and many other publications. This page was last edited on 17 august 2018, at 15.
This impressive book chronicles how the rcn expanded more rapidly and played a greater part in allied operations, than could possibly have been foreseen when the war. Commended for the 2011 keith matthews award from its creation in 1910, the royal canadian navy was marked by political debate over the countrys need for a naval service. Over the course of its history, the rcn has played a role in the first world war, contributed significantly to the battle of the. Until the us entered the war in late 1941 the rcn gave the royal navy the vital help it so badly needed. Commended for the 2011 keith matthews award from its creation in 1910. Royal canadian navy license plates by miller concepts. Two of his books, fastest in the world and halifax and the royal canadian navy, have both been shortlisted for the dartmouth book award for nonfiction. The royal canadian navy reserve rcnr the reserve is made up of officers and men with significant experience of life at sea, gained mostly through service with the merchant navy. Feb 04, 2020 the naval reserve division at hmcs brunswicker located in lower cove enlisted nearly 2,300 recruits for the royal canadian navy volunteer reserve rcnvr. This book is a very lightweight history of the royal navy. Thanks to bob moore for this official rcn photo of the crew of hmcs loch morlich, taken in 1944 or 1945.
Our transport canada exam guides are one of many ways we try to keep sailors informed. The rcn is one of three environmental land army, sea navy, and air air force commands within the unified canadian armed forces. The official operational history of the royal canadian navy in the. On 16 march 1807, the british parliament passed the abolition of the slave trade act. The navys early history was shaped by the first world war, especially the halifax harbour explosion in 1917. Royal canadian navy photographs by the men and women who were. Periods highlighted in light green signify approximately when these ships or ship classes were commissioned into service with the canadian navy in their intended roles. Douglas, roger sarty and michael whitby, a blue water navy.
Royal canadian navy simple english wikipedia, the free. Canadian navy ship timeline naval history and photography. The canadian navy played an important role in the battle of the atlantic from 19391940. A pictorial history of the royal canadian navy by j. As of 2017, the royal canadian navy operates 12 frigates, 4 attack submarines, 12 coastal defence vessels and 8 patroltraining vessels, as well as several auxiliary. John and his wife, miriam, live in bedford, nova scotia.
In wwi under a crippling naval blockade of its north sea ports which ultimately resulted in the starvation of thousands of its citizens and as land warfare in europe drags on, germany end. Conservatives to restore royal moniker to canadas navy, air force. Im charlie dobie, the creator and maintainer of this website. Like lambs book, one of the very best by a participating ships captain of corvettes and destroyers, from the. The official operational history of the royal canadian navy in the second world war, 19391943 appeared in the latest issue of the canadian military journal. Ken macpherson and ron barrie, t he ships of canadas naval forces, 1910 2002 2002. The royal canadian navy served with the royal navy in world wars i and ii, but during the suez crisis of the 1950s canada and the united kingdom had different political views. Welcome to navybooks a leading online maritime bookseller and publisher. List of ships of the royal canadian navy wikipedia. Royal canadian navy library and archives canada blog. It was the second world war, with its huge atlantic and pacific theatres, which forged the rcns vessels, men and women into a true royal canadian navy and by 1945, the. Search specific wars or find dates and milestones in canadian military history. The canadian navy discussion group is a mailing list intended for the discussion of the history of the canadian navy.
Official history about the royal canadian navy, including historical resources, records of specific vessels, commanders, flags and uniforms, naval museums, commemorations and films. This is the official history of the royal canadian navy during the second world war. A royal canadian navy historical project for posteritys. When the conflict in southeastern ukraine flared up, a contract signed in 2010 for the french shipbuilder dcns to build two french mitralclass amphibious ships for the russian navy was cancelled. Before the war broke out, reserve personnel followed training at the halifax, nova scotia, or esquimalt, british columbia, bases once or twice a year. Royal canadian navy photographs by the men and women who. The royal canadian navy rcn is canadas naval force consisting of approximately 8,300 regular force and 3,600 reserve sailors, supported by around 3,800 civilian employees. The history of the royal canadian navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the naval service of canada and renamed a year later by king george v. A royal canadian navy historical project for posteritys sake. The royal navy was a key player in the wider wars and, for britain, the key factor in her eventual emergence as the only naval power capable of sustained global hegemony.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The royal canadian navy replaced the royal navy for maritime security in canadian waters. Ready, aye, ready, an illustrated history of the royal canadian navy by lieutenant commander jack macbeth. The sea is at our gatesthe history of the canadian navy. The navy will again be the royal canadian navy, the air force will be. In wwi under a crippling naval blockade of its north sea ports which ultimately resulted in the starvation of thousands of its citizens and as land warfare in europe drags on, germany endeavours to counterblockade britain via uboat attacks on shipping and by. The royal canadian navy and the battle for the convoys marc. Canada had no navy to speak of in 1939 but ended the war in 1945 with the third largest navy in the world with over 90,000 men and over 400 ships.
Separate fleet listing time periods are noted in purple. The rcn protects canadas interests by safeguarding its maritime approa. Through this online database, researchers can access more than 16,700 references to individuals who served in the royal canadian navy and the naval reserve between 1910 and 1918. To be honest if you want a good concise history of the royal navy, try empire of the deep ben wilson. Albertas and is a former member of the writing team for the official history of the royal canadian navy. Marine royale canadienne is the naval force of canada. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. On may 4, 1910, the enactment of the naval service act created the department of the naval service and the establishment of a canadian navy. One of ten townclass cruisers she saw service on the icy arctic convoys during the second world war and was also present for the bombardment of the dday beaches in 1944. Until the us entered the war in late 1941 the rcn gave the royal navy the vital help it so badly needed canada had no navy to speak of in 1939 but ended the war in 1945 with the third largest navy in the world with over 90,000 men and over 400 ships. The official operational history of the royal canadian navy in the second world war, 194345, volume ii, part 2 2007.