Atlantic

The Second World War

Date

1939 - 1945

Geographical parameters

The North Atlantic, from the Equator to the Arctic Circle.

Context

Eligible to all “ships and submarines which were employed as escorts to ocean convoys in the North Atlantic, and also those ships of Support Groups which took part in a successful action.” An area battle honour formally entitled “Atlantic 1939-45” with year dates according to the service of the unit concerned ^{Footnote 1}

Description

The Second World War saw both ships and sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy serving around the world. The principal battleground, however, was the North Atlantic. The campaign on the North Atlantic opened on 3 September 1939 with the torpedoing of the SS Athenia by the German submarine U 30 killing, among others, 54 Canadian civilians. The last Canadian ship to be lost in action was HMCS Esquimalt, torpedoed by U 190 on 16 April 1945 near the approaches to Halifax harbour. The Royal Canadian Navy lost a total of 33 ships over the course of the war, 19 due to enemy action and 14 due to the hazards of the sea. Of these losses 15 were incurred in the Atlantic.

Awarded to:

Ships in commission

• HMCS Brandon - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 2}
• HMCS Calgary - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 3}
• HMCS Charlottetown - 1942 ^{Footnote 4}
• HMCS Chicoutimi - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 5}
• HMCS Fredericton - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 6}
• HMCS Glace Bay - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 7}
• HMCS Halifax - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 8}
• HMCS Iroquois - 1943 ^{Footnote 9}
• HMCS Moncton - 1942-43 ^{Footnote 10}
• HMCS Montréal - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 11}
• HMCS Nanaimo - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 12}
• HMCS Ottawa - 1939-45 ^{Footnote 13}
• HMCS Regina - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 14}
• HMCS Saskatoon - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 15}
• HMCS Shawinigan - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 16}
• HMCS Summerside - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 17}
• HMCS Vancouver - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 18}
• HMCS Ville de Québec - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 19}
• HMCS Winnipeg - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 20}

Ships not currently in commission

• HMCS Agassiz - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 21}
• HMCS Alberni - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 22}
• HMCS Algoma - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 23}
• HMCS Amherst - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 24}
• HMCS Annan - 1944 ^{Footnote 25}
• HMCS Annapolis - 1941-43 ^{Footnote 26}
• HMCS Antigonish - 1944-1945 ^{Footnote 27}
• HMCS Arnprior - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 28}
• HMCS Arrowhead - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 29}
• HMCS Arvida - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 30}
• HMCS Asbestos - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 31}
• HMCS Assiniboine - 1939-45 ^{Footnote 32}
• HMCS Atholl - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 33}
• HMCS Baddeck - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 34}
• HMCS Barrie - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 35}
• HMCS Battleford - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 36}
• HMCS Bayfield - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 37}
• HMCS Beacon Hill - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 38}
• HMCS Beauharnois - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 39}
• HMCS Beaver - 1942 ^{Footnote 40}
• HMCS Belleville - 1945 ^{Footnote 41}
• HMCS Bittersweet - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 42}
• HMCS Blairmore - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 43}
• HMCS Border Cities - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 44}
• HMCS Bowmanville - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 45}
• HMCS Brantford - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 46}
• HMCS Brockville - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 47}
• HMCS Buckingham - 1945 ^{Footnote 48}
• HMCS Buctouche - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 49}
• HMCS Burlington - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 50}
• HMCS Camrose - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 51}
• HMCS Canso - 1944 ^{Footnote 52}
• HMCS Cap de la Madeleine - 1945 ^{Footnote 53}
• HMCS Cape Breton - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 54}
• HMCS Capilano - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 55}
• HMCS Caraquet - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 56}
• HMCS Carlplace - 1945 ^{Footnote 57}
• HMCS Chambly - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 58}
• HMCS Chaudière - 1944 ^{Footnote 59}
• HMCS Chebogue - 1944 ^{Footnote 60}
• HMCS Chedabucto - 1942-43 ^{Footnote 61}
• HMCS Chilliwack - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 62}
• HMCS Clayoquot - 1942, 1944 ^{Footnote 63}
• HMCS Coaticook - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 64}
• HMCS Cobalt - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 65}
• HMCS Cobourg - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 66}
• HMCS Collingwood - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 67}
• HMCS Columbia - 1940-44 ^{Footnote 68}
• HMCS Comox - 1940-45 ^{Footnote 69}
• HMCS Copper Cliff - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 70}
• HMCS Cowichan - 1941-43 ^{Footnote 71}
• HMCS Dauphin - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 72}
• HMCS Dawson - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 73}
• HMCS Digby - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 74}
• HMCS Drumheller - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 75}
• HMCS Drummondville - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 76}
• HMCS Dundas - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 77}
• HMCS Dunvegan - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 78}
• HMCS Dunver - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 79}
• HMCS Eastview - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 80}
• HMCS Edmunston - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 81}
• HMCS Esquimalt - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 82}
• HMCS Ettrick - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 83}
• HMCS Eyebright - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 84}
• HMCS Fennel - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 85}
• HMCS Fergus - 1945 ^{Footnote 86}
• HMCS Forest Hill - 1944 ^{Footnote 87}
• HMCS Fort Frances - 1945 ^{Footnote 88}
• HMCS Fort William - 1943 ^{Footnote 89}
• HMCS Fraser - 1939-40 ^{Footnote 90}
• HMCS Frontenac - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 91}
• HMCS Fundy - 1939-45 ^{Footnote 92}
• HMCS Galt - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 93}
• HMCS Gananoque - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 94}
• HMCS Gaspé - 1939-45 ^{Footnote 95}
• HMCS Gatineau - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 96}
• HMCS Georgian - 1941-42, 1944 ^{Footnote 97}
• HMCS Giffard - 1944 ^{Footnote 98}
• HMCS Goderich - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 99}
• HMCS Granby - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 100}
• HMCS Grandmère - 1943, 1945 ^{Footnote 101}
• HMCS Grou - 1944 ^{Footnote 102}
• HMCS Guelph - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 103}
• HMCS Guysborough - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 104}
• HMCS Hallowell - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 105}
• HMCS Hamilton - 1942-43 ^{Footnote 106}
• HMCS Hawkesbury - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 107}
• HMCS Hepatica - 1940-45 ^{Footnote 108}
• HMCS Hespeler - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 109}
• HMCS Humberstone - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 110}
• HMCS Huntsville - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 111}
• HMCS Husky - 1940 ^{Footnote 112}
• HMCS Ingonish - 1944 ^{Footnote 113}
• HMCS Joliette - 1944 ^{Footnote 114}
• HMCS Jonquiere - 1944 ^{Footnote 115}
• HMCS Kamloops - 1941, 1943-45 ^{Footnote 116}
• HMCS Kamsack - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 117}
• HMCS Kapuskasing - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 118}
• HMCS Kenogami - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 119}
• HMCS Kenora - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 120}
• HMCS Kentville - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 121}
• HMCS Kincardine - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 122}
• HMCS Kitchener - 1942-43 ^{Footnote 123}
• HMCS Kokanee - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 124}
• HMCS Kootenay - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 125}
• HMCS La Hulloise - 1945 ^{Footnote 126}
• HMCS La Malbaie - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 127}
• HMCS Lachine - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 128}
• HMCS Lachute - 1945 ^{Footnote 129}
• HMCS Lanark - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 130}
• HMCS Lasalle - 1945 ^{Footnote 131}
• HMCS Lauzon - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 132}
• HMCS Leaside - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 133}
• HMCS Lethbridge - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 134}
• HMCS Levis - 1941, 1944-45 ^{Footnote 135}
• HMCS Lindsay - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 136}
• HMCS Long Branch - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 137}
• HMCS Longueuil - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 138}
• HMCS Louisburg - 1941-42, 1944-45 ^{Footnote 139}
• HMCS Lunenburg - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 140}
• HMCS Mahone - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 141}
• HMCS Malpeque - 1941-42 ^{Footnote 142}
• HMCS Margaree - 1940 ^{Footnote 143}
• HMCS Matane - 1944 ^{Footnote 144}
• HMCS Matapedia - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 145}
• HMCS Mayflower - 1941-43 ^{Footnote 146}
• HMCS Medicine Hat - 1943 ^{Footnote 147}
• HMCS Melville - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 148}
• HMCS Meon - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 149}
• HMCS Merrittonia - 1945 ^{Footnote 150}
• HMCS Middlesex - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 151}
• HMCS Midland - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 152}
• HMCS Mimico - 1945 ^{Footnote 153}
• HMCS Milltown - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 154}
• HMCS Minas - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 155}
• HMCS Monnow - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 156}
• HMCS Moose Jaw - 1941-43 ^{Footnote 157}
• HMCS Morden - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 158}
• HMCS Mulgrave - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 159}
• HMCS Napanee - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 160}
• HMCS Nene - 1944 ^{Footnote 161}
• HMCS New Glasgow - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 162}
• HMCS New Liskeard - 1945 ^{Footnote 163}
• HMCS New Waterford - 1944 ^{Footnote 164}
• HMCS New Westminster - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 165}
• HMCS Niagara - 1940-44 ^{Footnote 166}
• HMCS Nipigon - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 167}
• HMCS Noranda - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 168}
• HMCS Norsyd - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 169}
• HMCS North Bay - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 170}
• HMCS Oakville - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 171}
• HMCS Orangeville - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 172}
• HMCS Orillia - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 173}
• HMCS Oshawa - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 174}
• HMCS Outremont - 1944 ^{Footnote 175}
• HMCS Owen Sound - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 176}
• HMCS Parry Sound - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 177}
• HMCS Penetang - 1945 ^{Footnote 178}
• HMCS Peterborough - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 179}
• HMCS Petrolia - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 180}
• HMCS Pictou - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 181}
• HMCS Port Arthur - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 182}
• HMCS Port Colborne - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 183}
• HMCS Port Hope - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 184}
• HMCS Portage - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 185}
• HMCS Poundmaker - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 186}
• HMCS Prescott - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 187}
• HMCS Prince David - 1941 ^{Footnote 188}
• HMCS Prince Robert - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 189}
• HMCS Prince Rupert - 1944 ^{Footnote 190}
• HMCS Qu’Appelle - 1944 ^{Footnote 191}
• HMCS Quesnel - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 192}
• HMCS Quinte - 1941-42 ^{Footnote 193}
• HMCS Red Deer - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 194}
• HMCS Reindeer - 1940 ^{Footnote 195}
• HMCS Restigouche - 1939-45 ^{Footnote 196}
• HMCS Rimouski - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 197}
• HMCS Rivière du Loup - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 198}
• HMCS Rockcliffe - 1945 ^{Footnote 199}
• HMCS Rosthern - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 200}
• HMCS Royal Mount - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 201}
• HMCS Runnymede - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 202}
• HMCS Sackville - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 203}
• HMCS Saguenay - 1939-42 ^{Footnote 204}
• HMCS St. Boniface - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 205}
• HMCS St. Catharines - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 206}
• HMCS St. Clair - 1940-43 ^{Footnote 207}
• HMCS St. Croix - 1940-43 ^{Footnote 208}
• HMCS St. Francis - 1941-43 ^{Footnote 209}
• HMCS Saint John - 1944 ^{Footnote 210}
• HMCS St. Lambert - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 211}
• HMCS St. Laurent - 1939-45 ^{Footnote 212}
• HMCS St. Pierre - 1945 ^{Footnote 213}
• HMCS St. Stephen - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 214}
• HMCS St. Thomas - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 215}
• HMCS Ste. Thérèse - 1945 ^{Footnote 216}
• HMCS Sarnia - 1942-43 ^{Footnote 217}
• HMCS Saskatchewan - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 218}
• HMCS Sault Ste. Marie - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 219}
• HMCS Shediac - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 220}
• HMCS Sherbrooke - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 221}
• HMCS Sioux - 1945 ^{Footnote 222}
• HMCS Skeena - 1939-44 ^{Footnote 223}
• HMCS Smiths Falls - 1945 ^{Footnote 224}
• HMCS Snowberry - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 225}
• HMCS Sorel - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 226}
• HMCS Spikenard - 1941-42 ^{Footnote 227}
• HMCS Stellarton - 1945 ^{Footnote 228}
• HMCS Stonetown - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 229}
• HMCS Stormont - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 230}
• HMCS Stratford - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 231}
• HMCS Strathadam - 1945 ^{Footnote 232}
• HMCS Strathroy - 1945 ^{Footnote 233}
• HMCS Sudbury - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 234}
• HMCS Sussexvale - 1945 ^{Footnote 235}
• HMCS Swansea - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 236}
• HMCS Swift Current - 1943-44 ^{Footnote 237}
• HMCS The Pas - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 238}
• HMCS Thetford Mines - 1945 ^{Footnote 239}
• HMCS Thorlock - 1945 ^{Footnote 240}
• HMCS Thunder - 1941-44 ^{Footnote 241}
• HMCS Tillsonburg - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 242}
• HMCS Timmins - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 243}
• HMCS Trail - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 244}
• HMCS Transcona - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 245}
• HMCS Trentonian - 1944 ^{Footnote 246}
• HMCS Trillium - 1940-45 ^{Footnote 247}
• HMCS Truro - 1942-45 ^{Footnote 248}
• HMCS Ungava - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 249}
• HMCS Valleyfield - 1944 ^{Footnote 250}
• HMCS Vegreville - 1944 ^{Footnote 251}
• HMCS Victoriaville - 1945 ^{Footnote 252}
• HMCS Wallaceburg - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 253}
• HMCS Wasaga - 1944 ^{Footnote 254}
• HMCS Waskesiu - 1943-45 ^{Footnote 255}
• HMCS Wentworth - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 256}
• HMCS West York - 1945 ^{Footnote 257}
• HMCS Westmount - 1944 ^{Footnote 258}
• HMCS Wetaskiwin - 1941-45 ^{Footnote 259}
• HMCS Weyburn - 1942 ^{Footnote 260}
• HMCS Whitby - 1944-45 ^{Footnote 261}
• HMCS Whitethroat - 1945 ^{Footnote 262}
• HMCS Windflower - 1941 ^{Footnote 263}
• HMCS Woodstock - 1942-44 ^{Footnote 264}