'An unusual voyage in far northern waters': The Royal Canadian Navy's first postwar forays into the Arctic, 1946-1950

摘要

Looking at the Royal Canadian Navy's operational record between 1945 to 1950 it would appear that one exercise, two deployments, and a scientific expedition in the Arctic was not the type of commitment that matched the growing strategic significance of this area in the immediate postwar period. Analysis of documents from this time, however, shows that the RCN not only was keen to explore the extreme and unique challenges that this region posed to naval operations, but also that the navy was eager to protect the nation's interests in the Arctic. This article, therefore, looks at early RCN attitudes towards the Arctic as well as the tactical and operational factors that impacted these early Northern forays. In doing so it argues that it was government cutbacks and limited resources that prevented them from doing more.