Defending the British
From the beginning of WW2, The Germans tried to destroy and cut off supplies and lifelines to Britain. The Atlantic supply route from North America to Britain, was threatened and in need of defense. Canada played a crucial and important role in the battle of the Atlantic. For six years the RCN, the Canadian Merchant Navy and the RCAF were the participants primary in the battle of the Atlantic. Canada’s Navy was substantially small owning only Six destroyers, five small minesweepers, two training vessels and one squadron of flying boats. No one predicted Canada to play such a vital and important role in the battle.
One of Canada’s main objectives were to defend and carry cargo to Britain. WIthout the transport and defence of the the cargo, Britain would have lost its trading routes and would have easily succumbed to Germanies power. Canadas goal was to transports large amounts of goods and troops that were needed to help Britain and end Germanies expansion and dominance. The Germans superior strategical plans and incredible engineering placed Britain at a disadvantage and had to rethink its strategies and designs for ships. Germany's U-Boats were desolating Britain's Navy at a pace where Britain could not build its Navy as fast as it was being destroyed. With Germany’s dominance over the seas, Britain were forced to turn to Canada and the USA for help. Canada created a massive Shipbuilding Program to build a Navy that would be able to withstand and annihilate the German Navy. Canada designed and created new types of vessels to counteract the U-Boats, the most famous one being the Corvette. Because of the threat the Germans posed the allies trading routes, The RCAF flew with the convoys to further protect and make sure Canada’s convoys got to Britain.
During the battle of the Atlantic, Canada was one of the allies best forces. Canada defended a majority of North America while protecting supply convoys to Britain. The battle of the Atlantic subsequently resulted in Canada obtaining the 3rd largest Navy in the world. RCAF reached a peak of 21,233 personnel that were dedicated to protecting convoys and destroying German ships. Canada's Naval army had 13 vessels at the start of the war and ended with 373 ships. Canadians Navy and RCAF’s superior tactics allowed over 25,000 merchant voyages over to Britain from North America. These vessels delivered a combined total of 165 tonnes to Britain providing the necessary supplies in order to eradicate the Germans forces. Canadian forces d shared the destruction of nearly 50 U-Boats. Canadian air and naval units were the most successful with finding and destroying the U-Boats, without the help of Canada, the germans would have surely dominated the supply routes leading to a defeated Britain. The Battle of the Atlantic would have been a deciding factor of WW2 if not for Canada’s incredible tactics, production of ships and soldiers.
"THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC." WarMuseum.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/chrono/1931atlantic_e.shtml>.
"Education." The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1945. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/education/online-educational-resources/dispatches/the-royal-canadian-navy-and-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-1939-1945/>.
"Publication." Veterans Affairs Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/battle-atlantic/publication>.
One of Canada’s main objectives were to defend and carry cargo to Britain. WIthout the transport and defence of the the cargo, Britain would have lost its trading routes and would have easily succumbed to Germanies power. Canadas goal was to transports large amounts of goods and troops that were needed to help Britain and end Germanies expansion and dominance. The Germans superior strategical plans and incredible engineering placed Britain at a disadvantage and had to rethink its strategies and designs for ships. Germany's U-Boats were desolating Britain's Navy at a pace where Britain could not build its Navy as fast as it was being destroyed. With Germany’s dominance over the seas, Britain were forced to turn to Canada and the USA for help. Canada created a massive Shipbuilding Program to build a Navy that would be able to withstand and annihilate the German Navy. Canada designed and created new types of vessels to counteract the U-Boats, the most famous one being the Corvette. Because of the threat the Germans posed the allies trading routes, The RCAF flew with the convoys to further protect and make sure Canada’s convoys got to Britain.
During the battle of the Atlantic, Canada was one of the allies best forces. Canada defended a majority of North America while protecting supply convoys to Britain. The battle of the Atlantic subsequently resulted in Canada obtaining the 3rd largest Navy in the world. RCAF reached a peak of 21,233 personnel that were dedicated to protecting convoys and destroying German ships. Canada's Naval army had 13 vessels at the start of the war and ended with 373 ships. Canadians Navy and RCAF’s superior tactics allowed over 25,000 merchant voyages over to Britain from North America. These vessels delivered a combined total of 165 tonnes to Britain providing the necessary supplies in order to eradicate the Germans forces. Canadian forces d shared the destruction of nearly 50 U-Boats. Canadian air and naval units were the most successful with finding and destroying the U-Boats, without the help of Canada, the germans would have surely dominated the supply routes leading to a defeated Britain. The Battle of the Atlantic would have been a deciding factor of WW2 if not for Canada’s incredible tactics, production of ships and soldiers.
"THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC." WarMuseum.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/chrono/1931atlantic_e.shtml>.
"Education." The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1945. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/education/online-educational-resources/dispatches/the-royal-canadian-navy-and-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-1939-1945/>.
"Publication." Veterans Affairs Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/battle-atlantic/publication>.