Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
Re: Hitler's U-Boat war
Posted by:
Douglas Struthers
()
Date: January 23, 2004 11:36PM
<HTML>Feargal:
Thanks for the comments about those Canadians who served in the Battle of the Atlantic. Since I am a trustee with the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust (HMCS Sackville is the last surviving Corvette of WWII) I'll certainly pass on your words to the men who actually participated in those battles.
You are right...the Canadians I do believe served admirably when you consider that they started the war with some 13 ships and some 3000 personnel. Many were certainly "green" and that was prior to being seasick! The war made them learn quickly. The RCN expanded to over 400 ships and 100 000 personnel by war's end. Additionally, quite often the RCN was late in receiving key technological improvements. This cost morale and it cost lives too. Admiral Desmond Piers who was at the time commander of HMCS Restigouche (now lives in Nova Scotia), filed a report during the middle years of the war outlining how the RCN was fighting without adequate radar, huff-duff, hedgehogs, etc. Considering that most men in the RCN had never been to sea prior to wartime, I do think they should be proud of their accomplishments. For example, it took a superior commander such as Erich Topp (U-552) and his well-tuned crew to utilize all they knew to eek out survival after the attack by Alan Easton and HMCS Sackville. As the war progressed the RCN did prove itself worthy.
Feargal, I'll pass on your words to the veterans on the Sackville. Check out: www.hmcssackville-cnmt.ns.ca to see the website of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust and HMCS Sackville.
Have a great weekend.
Doug</HTML>
Thanks for the comments about those Canadians who served in the Battle of the Atlantic. Since I am a trustee with the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust (HMCS Sackville is the last surviving Corvette of WWII) I'll certainly pass on your words to the men who actually participated in those battles.
You are right...the Canadians I do believe served admirably when you consider that they started the war with some 13 ships and some 3000 personnel. Many were certainly "green" and that was prior to being seasick! The war made them learn quickly. The RCN expanded to over 400 ships and 100 000 personnel by war's end. Additionally, quite often the RCN was late in receiving key technological improvements. This cost morale and it cost lives too. Admiral Desmond Piers who was at the time commander of HMCS Restigouche (now lives in Nova Scotia), filed a report during the middle years of the war outlining how the RCN was fighting without adequate radar, huff-duff, hedgehogs, etc. Considering that most men in the RCN had never been to sea prior to wartime, I do think they should be proud of their accomplishments. For example, it took a superior commander such as Erich Topp (U-552) and his well-tuned crew to utilize all they knew to eek out survival after the attack by Alan Easton and HMCS Sackville. As the war progressed the RCN did prove itself worthy.
Feargal, I'll pass on your words to the veterans on the Sackville. Check out: www.hmcssackville-cnmt.ns.ca to see the website of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust and HMCS Sackville.
Have a great weekend.
Doug</HTML>
