HMCS Ontario was a Minotaur-class light cruiser launched in 1943 by Harland & Wolff in Belfast. She was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 25 May 1945 as HMCS Ontario. Completed too late to participate in World War II, she nonetheless served Canada with distinction until 1958, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to the newly established world order.
HMS Rorqual was a Grampus-class submarine that primarily served in the Mediterranean during the Second World War. Like her five sister ships, she was specialized in minelaying. However, the Grampus-class submarines also played a crucial role in supplying the besieged island of Malta. Tragically, only one of them, HMS Rorqual, survived the war. She is considered the most successful minelaying submarine of the conflict, having singlehandedly sunk 57,704 GRT of enemy shipping—35,951 of which were destroyed by her mines.
This man was as crucial to the Allied victory as Field Marshal Montgomery. Between 1942 and 1945, he developed aggressive tactics to combat Germany’s U-boat menace. A modest yet confident man, he always maintained a professional distance from his employees. Nevertheless, all who worked for him came to respect and trust his decisions. This is the life of Max Horton.
Today, I will briefly discuss the position and duties of a master aboard a ship-of-the-line ...
Chronicling Ark Royal’s career through seven photographs
On 24 October 1799, a daring naval action known as The Cutting out of the Hermione took place in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. This was a bold mission to recapture the former British frigate HMS Hermione, now under Spanish command.
HMS Victory breaks the line of the Combined Fleet at Trafalgar, 21st October 1805. Painting by Geoff Hunt. Nelson first raised his flag on the Victory in May 1803, preparing to hunt down the French forces. After discovering the French had left Brest, he transferred his flag to the faster frigate HMS Amphion in order... Continue Reading →
HMS Indefatigable was one of the Royal Navy's two Implacable-class aircraft carriers, ordered by the Chamberlain government as a response to Germany and Italy's rearmament. Her design was basically an improved version of the Illustrious-class.
The Battle of Cape Ortegal, the final action of the Trafalgar campaign, took place on November 4, 1805. A Royal Navy squadron led by Captain Sir Richard Strachan defeated a remnant of the fleet that had been overcome at Trafalgar just weeks before.
HM Sloop-of-War Diamond Rock was a thorn in Napoleon's side, effectively placing the lucrative French-held Martinique under blockade for 18 months with minimal resources. However, Diamond Rock was no ordinary warship...
Heart of Oak 