The Royal Canadian Navy has marked 100 years of service in submarines which began within hours of Canada entering the First World War.
Fearing German naval attacks on the Pacific coast, the Government of British Columbia acquired Canada’s first submarines on August 5th 1914.
The two boats were built by an American shipyard in Seattle, and originally destined for the Chilean Navy.
His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) CC 1 and CC 2 patrolled Canada’s Pacific waters from their home port of Esquimalt for three years before transferring to the East Coast through the Panama Canal in 1917.
Japan, allied to Britain and its Dominions, sent warships to help protect coastal cities such as Vancouver during the First World War.
The Royal Canadian Navy marked its century of submarine service with the rededication of the Canadian Submarine Memorial Cairn at Esquimalt in British Columbia on August 7th 2014.
Starting with CC 1 and CC 2, Canada’s Navy has commissioned 15 submarines throughout its history.
Canadian submariners also served with Britain’s Royal Navy in both World Wars.
Sources: Royal Canadian Navy, Wikipedia, various
Images sourced courtesy of ReadyAyeReady.com
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News