August 5, 2014 marks 100 years of service in submarines for Canada. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will take this opportunity to highlight the important contributions that these complex vessels, and the dedicated sailors who operate them, have made for Canada over the last 100 years.

The early years

The RCN acquired its first submarines, His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) CC 1 and CC 2, following their purchase from a Seattle shipyard by then British Columbia Premier Richard McBride at the outbreak of the First World War, on 5 August 1914. CC 1 and CC 2 had originally been built for the Chilean Navy.

Premier McBride is reported to have acquired the boats in order to alleviate his constituents’ fears of an imminent attack by a squadron of Imperial German Navy warships that had been reported in the Pacific. Although the threat never materialized, the mere presence of the new submarines served as a deterrent for enemy forces and reassurance to the population. It was an early example of the strategic advantage of having Canadian submarines.

On the 21st of June 1917, HMCS CC 1 and CC 2 left Esquimalt for Halifax where they would stop over before proceeding on a mission to the Mediterranean. Along with HMCS Shearwater, they became the first war vessels wearing the White Ensign to use the Panama Canal. Both submarines were eventually paid off to disposal and sold for scrap in 1920.

In between World Wars

Over the next five decades, the RCN only commissioned four submarines: two British H-class and two surrendered ex-German U-boats. However, RCN submarine expertise survived as Canadian submariners maintained and honed their skills by serving in Royal Navy (RN) submarines around the world. During both world wars, a total of 34 Canadians served in RN submarines, while Canadian submariners would command 15 British submarines.

Between 1945 and 1966

Following the end of the Second World War, the number of Canadian warships and submarines was significantly reduced, and the RCN was only able to maintain its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability by arranging for the loan of RN submarines through formal agreements. Eventually, various American submarines were also made available for a limited amount of anti-submarine training for RCN ships. Until 1955, RCN ASW training needs were therefore met by rotating two RN submarines per year in Halifax and by taking advantage of training opportunities afforded by the USN off both coasts. In light of the emerging context of the Cold War, the needs of a Canadian-based submarine service were re-evaluated and the RCN came to an agreement with the RN for the creation of the Sixth Submarine Squadron (SM6) in March 1955. Based out of Halifax, SM6 was made up of mostly RN A-class submarines, commanded by RN officers with no more than half the crews being Canadian.

Cold War Era

In the early years of the Cold War, ASW became a critical element of NATO maritime strategy. There was much deliberation about the value of including submarines in the RCN fleet. The new St. Laurent-class of destroyer-escorts were built with excellent ASW capabilities for the period, but it was clear to naval planners that submarines were the best vessels to detect other submarines, because they could more fully exploit the underwater environment to maximum tactical advantage. While surface ships can eliminate most of the noise interference caused by surface activity by towing a submerged sonar array cable, unlike submarines operating at depth they cannot completely eliminate the noise they produce themselves. In a deadly, unforgiving game where the prize normally goes to the most silent platform, submarines are clearly the ASW vessels of choice.

Canada acquired its first Cold War submarine in 1961. Based on the West Coast, HMCS Grilse was an ex-USN Balao-class fleet submarine obtained on a five-year lease agreement. Used exclusively for ASW training, Grilse was operated extensively during its first 16 months of service, travelling a distance equivalent to more than twice the earth’s circumference and spending 374 days at sea. After seven years of service, Grilse was replaced by another USN fleet submarine. The ex-USS Argonaut, a Tench-class submarine purchased in 1968, was commissioned into the RCN as HMCS Rainbow and served in the West Coast fleet until 1974.

In March 1962, approval was received for the purchase of three British Oberon-class submarines. These would be the first newly built submarines the RCN would acquire since the unconventional purchase of CC 1 and CC 2 in 1914. The submarines, HMC Ships Ojibwa, Onondaga and Okanagan formed the Halifax-based First Canadian Submarine Squadron.

At the time of their acquisition in the mid-1960s, the Oberons were considered to be among the quietest submarines in the world (they were operated also by a number of other nations). After being refitted with upgraded sonar suites, fire-control systems and Mark 48 torpedoes in the early 1980s, the Canadian Oberon-class submarines continued to be relevant as an ASW weapon platform until the last, HMCS Onondaga, was paid off in 2000.

The Victoria-class Submarines

Preparations for replacing Canada’s ageing Oberon-class submarines began in the early 1980s and became reality when HMCS Victoria was commissioned in 2000.

The Canadian submarine force was re-energized with the announcement that Canada would purchase four submarines from the United Kingdom in 1998. These submarines were the only four Upholder-class (Type 2400) built by the RN. The four former Upholders became the Victoria Class as they adopted the names HMC Ships Victoria, Windsor, Corner Brook and Chicoutimi. Before the new submarines could be added to the fleet, the submarines required an extensive Canadianization package to accommodate national communications, fire control, and the in-service Mk 48 heavy-weight torpedoes. Tragedy struck in 2004 when a fatal fire erupted aboard HMCS Chicoutimi (former HMS Upholder) at the beginning of its voyage to Halifax.

The RCN persisted in its efforts to bring the new class of submarines towards full operational readiness. The ranks of Canadian submariners continued to fill as training progressed, and HMCS Victoria successfully fired a warshot Mark 48 torpedo in 2012, becoming the first submarine of its class to reach high readiness. Victoria spent most of 2013 at sea, culminating with its successful deployment on Operation CARIBBE when the submarine excelled in its covert role.

In the year of its Submarine Centenary, the future of Canadian submarines is promising. After overcoming many significant challenges, Canada now has a sustainable operational submarine capability that has been completely rebuilt from the ground up. The number of trained submariners continues to increase and the RCN continues steady progress towards its objective of having three of four Victoria-class submarines at sea by the end of 2014.

Canadian Submarines Throughout History

In 100 years of history, the RCN has commissioned a total of 15 submarines. They are, in order of year commissioned: HMC Ships CC 1, CC 2, CH 14, CH 15, U-190, U-889, Grilse, Ojibwa, Onondaga, Okanagan, Rainbow, Victoria, Corner Brook, and Windsor (Chicoutimi should be commissioned later this year). Below is a list of characteristics of each submarine.