The Military Museums

Battle at Sea

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of the Second World War.

Battle at Sea

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of the Second World War.

Battle at Sea

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) persevered in perilous waters continuously from the first day of the war, 3 September 1939 to the last day of the war in Europe, 8 May 1945. While statistics provide a staggering account of ships and tonnage lost, the true cost of the War at sea was in human lives.

RCN casualties included 2,024 killed, the vast majority in the Battle of the Atlantic. In addition, 752 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force died in maritime operations. The Canadian Merchant Navy suffered more heavily, losing one seafarer in eight of the 12,000 who served in the crews of the Canadian, British and other Allied merchant ships.


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