Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

Chapier 2PROCUREMENT OF SHIPS- DEFENCE OF CANADA,1939-41ON September 1, 1939, when the (lerman armies enteredPoland, there were thirteen ships in commission in theRoyal Canadian Navy. By the end oF the European warthere were more than nine hundred. Manyof" these were localcraft performing miscellaneous harbour tiuties, but over 375were armed for offensive action against the enemy. Some of" thelarger ones had been obtained from the United Kingdom, andothers were vessels converted from peace-time use; but by farthe greater number were ships built in Canadian yards duringthe five-and-a-half years of hostilities.The types of warship required changetl with the changingcharacter of the war. Until earlv in 1941, the dominant considerationwas defence of Canadian coastal waters againstsurface raiders, submarines, and mines. Newfoundland cameto be included in this responsibility during the later part of theperiod. The ships required then were anti-submarine andminesweeping vessels and destroyers. From the spring of 1941to the end of 1943, the main emphasis was centred on the antisubmarineprotection of trans-Atlantic shipping, and on acquiringfor this purpose frigates and escort destroyers. Duringthe final phase, which lasted until the end of the war, offensiveOperations were prepared for and carried out in b.uropeanwaters; and as far as was consistent with current requirements,ships were obtained of types which would also be suitable foruse against Japan, and for retention in peace-time. The shipsbrought into the Canadian navy in this period ranged fromcruisers and light fleet carriers to motor torpetlo and motor gunboats, and they included escort carriers (C.\'.E.'s), fleet destroyers,frigates, and landing vessels.The role of the Canadian navy in the exent of war had beendefined by the Chiefs of Staff Committee on August 29, p;39.They stated that it was "to organize auxiliary forces as rapidl\-as possible, in order to give protection to shipping against21