Navy Marks 80th Year of Battle of Atlantic
Today, Canadians and sailors from coast to coast to coast commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
We pause with solemn reverence to honour the courage and sacrifice of the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Naval Reserve, the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Merchant Navy. As we contemplate a time of renewed great power competition and with a major land war underway in Europe, their legacy resonates now more than ever.
The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest of the Second World War, ensured that reinforcements and supplies made it to Europe, enabling the hard-fought Allied victory. Its cost was profound: over 2,100 Canadian sailors, more than 1,700 merchant mariners, and over 900 aviators lost their lives. We should never forget that it was also a battle that came to Canadian waters as well with 23 ships sunk in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River.
The bravery and resolve of those who served continue to inspire. Their story is a proud and enduring chapter in Canadian military history. Today, our sailors carry that legacy forward-steadfast in their duty to serve and defend Canada, ready to safeguard all three of our coasts and oceans.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2025/05/royal-canadian-navy-commemorates-80th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-the-atlantic.html