100 Years of Submarines a Century of Standing on Guard HMCS Victoria Beneath the Waves

Crowsnest www.navy.forces.gc.ca Vol. 8, No. 1 Spring 2014 The national news magazine of the Royal Canadian Navy INSIDE The unexpected nature of boarding party operations Sailors in the sandbox Professional bands bring the navy to Canadians 100 years of submarines a century of standing on guard HMCS Victoria beneath the waves at sea in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the submarines were covertly inspected and purchased cash-on- delivery using a B.C. government cheque of $1.15 million, just as the First World War started. In an ironic twist of fate, the Esquimalt Harbour shore batteries almost shelled the first Canadian Photo: Cpl Stuart MacNeil Photo: Cpl submarines as they made their By Lieutenant-Commander Al Blondin controversy over their acquisition and approach to their new home. use continued. Esquimalt was one of the very n commemoration of a colourful Many, especially in the Royal Navy harbours they were purchased to history of challenges, controversy (RN), decried the military use of protect. Iand triumphs, submariners will submarines as “ungentlemanly” and Premier McBride is said to have celebrate 100 years of service on contrary to the best traditions of naval acquired the boats in order to alleviate board submarines on behalf of warfare. But it could be argued that his constituents’ fears of an imminent Canada on August 5, 2014. the insidious and seemingly unfair attack by a squadron of German Navy In order to understand the members advantage attributed to these vessels warships that had been reported in of this distinct community within the was the very reason their develop- the Pacific. Although the threat never Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), it is ment continued. On the brink of the materialized, the mere presence of the essential to examine their history, the First World War, 138 years later, new submarines served as a deterrent nature of the vessels they operate, Canada’s own submarine story began for enemy forces and reassurance to and the kind of missions they are amidst intrigue and controversy. the population. It was an early charged with. example of the strategic advantage of Surreptitious beginnings having Canadian submarines. The boats Canada bought its first submarines Silent, sneaky, invisible and deadly, following a series of clandestine Keeping the dream alive without submarines have been a source of negotiations between an American boats debate and controversy as a strategic shipbuilder and Richard McBride, the In the 50 intervening years until the military asset since the Turtle’s attack Premier of British Columbia, on Oberon-class submarines were built, on HMS Eagle in New York Harbor August 5, 1914. Known simply as Her the RCN only commissioned four during the American War of Majesty’s Canadian (HMC) boats: two British H-class and two Independence on September 7, 1776. Submarines CC-1 and CC-2, the captured U-boats. However, RCN As technology evolved over the years, boats were sneaked out silently on submarine expertise survived as many of the challenges intrinsic to the their electric motors in the dead of Canadian submariners maintained operation of this new type of war night from a Seattle shipyard without and honed their skills by serving in RN vessel were overcome, but the U.S. government approval. While still boats throughout the world. During Senior Advisor Crowsnest is published in April and October on the authority Commander Hubert Genest of the Commander Royal Canadian Navy, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman. Head, Navy Public Affairs Comments are welcome and can be sent to: Navy Public Affairs Senior Editor and Writer National Defence Headquarters Darlene Blakeley 11ST, 101 Colonel By Dr., K1A 0K2 Navy Public Affairs or [email protected] For the online version of this publication and for more information about the Royal Canadian Navy, visit www.navy.forces.gc.ca. Cover page: HMCS Windsor sails into Halifax after training exercises in 2006. Photo: DND If you would like an email subscription to Crowsnest, send your request to [email protected] to be added to our list. 2 ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY www.navy.forces.gc.ca a century of standing on guard beneath the waves Right: HMS Astute arrives alongside HMS Auriga at Sixth Submarine Squadron in Halifax on August 19, 1961, with HMCS Bonaventure in the background. Bottom right: HMCS Ojibwa conducts submerged submarine rescue vehicle trials at the Royal Navy submarine base in Faslane, Scotland on September 1, 1975. Below: CC-1 and CC-2 arrive in Halifax on October 14, 1917 after their transit from Esquimalt, B.C., through the Panama Canal. Photos courtesy of the Perkins Collection both world wars, the RN accepted a formal agreements. Eventually, as a threat. The Soviets quickly took the total of 34 Canadians into its result of a much simpler, less formal lead in submarine development and submarine service. Canadian relationship with the U.S. Navy (USN), construction, competing with the U.S. submariners commanded 15 RN various American submarines were and its allies for military dominance of submarines, the same number of also made available for a limited but the subsurface world for the next 30 boats as the total inventory of precious amount of anti-submarine years. commissioned RCN submarines in training for RCN ships. Until 1955, In light of this emerging threat, the the last 100 years. RCN ASW training needs were needs of a Canadian-based submarine therefore met by rotating two RN service were re-evaluated and the 1945-1966: An exercise in submarines per year in Halifax and RCN finally came to an agreement partnership and collaboration taking advantage of training with the RN for the creation of the Following the end of the Second opportunities afforded by the USN. Sixth Submarine Squadron (SM6) in World War, the significant drawdown Following the end of the Second March 1955. Based out of Halifax, of RCN assets did not bode well for World War, because of their newly SM6 was made up of mostly RN Canada’s submarine service. The acquired access to advanced German A-class submarines, commanded by RCN was only able to maintain its submarine technologies, the build-up RN officers with no more than half the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) of the Soviet submarine fleet was crews being Canadian. capability by renting RN boats through expected to become a significant new Continued on page 4 www.navy.forces.gc.ca ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY 3 The persistence and quality of the service performed by Canadian submariners over the last century is a tribute to the tenacity of these sailors. Continued from page 3 extensively during its first 16 months decommissioned in 2000. Canadian boats at last! of service, traveling a distance In the early years of the Cold War, equivalent to more than twice the The challenges of a new submarine ASW became a critical element of earth’s circumference and spending fleet for Canada NATO defence strategy. There was 374 days at sea. After seven years of A testimony to the challenges of much deliberation about the value of service, Grilse was replaced by acquiring submarines in Canada is the including submarines in the RCN fleet. another USN fleet boat. USS fact that preparations for replacing The new St. Laurent class of ships Argonaut, a Tench-class submarine Canada’s ageing Oberon-class were built with excellent ASW purchased in 1968, was submarines began in the early 1980s capabilities for the period, but it was commissioned in the RCN as HMCS and was finally resolved when HMCS clear to naval planners that Rainbow and served in the West Victoria was commissioned in 2000 submarines were the best vessels to Coast fleet until 1974. following a long and complex process. detect other submarines because they In March 1962, approval was finally Canada’s newest submarines were could operate in three dimensions and received for the purchase of a fleet of originally known as the British Type use the sound-bending properties of three British Oberon-class 2400 submarines. During the early the ocean to maximum tactical submarines. These would be the first 1980s, none had been built yet. They advantage. new submarines the RCN would were only one among the various While surface ships can eliminate acquire since the unconventional candidates being considered during most of the noise interference caused purchase of CC-1 and CC-2 in 1914. preliminary discussions for acquiring by surface activity by towing a The submarines, HMCS Ojibwa, as many as 16 new diesel-electric submerged sonar array cable, unlike Okanagan and Onondaga, became submarines. This original project was submarines operating at depth they the heart of the Halifax-based First displaced however, when 1987’s cannot completely eliminate the noise Canadian Submarine Squadron. White Paper on Defence called for they produce themselves. In a deadly, At the time of their acquisition in the 12 nuclear-powered fast-attack unforgiving game where the prize mid-1960s, the Oberons were submarines instead. normally goes to the most silent considered to be among the quietest The end of the Cold War resulted in platform, submarines are clearly the submarines in the world. After being a whole re-evaluation of Canada’s ASW vessels of choice. refitted with upgraded sonar suites, defence requirements. Significant cuts Canada acquired its first Cold War fire-control systems and Mark 48 to the Defence budget during the submarine in 1961. Based on the torpedoes in the early 1980s, 1990s added additional pressures that West Coast, HMCS Grilse was a USN their quietness continued to pay caused many in Canada’s naval Balao-class fleet boat obtained on a dividends that kept them relevant as community to predict the imminent five-year lease agreement.

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