THE 2026
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
GALA

PACIFIC BUILT, ATLANTIC BOUND

May 1st, 2026 • HMCS Discovery Naval Reserve

The Battle of the Atlantic

The Longest Continuous Battle of WWII

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous battle of the Second World War and one in which Canada played a central role. The battle began on the opening day of the war in September 1939 and ended almost six years later with Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

Beginning the war with a mere 13 vessels (only 6 were ocean-going ships) and 3,500 personnel, the Royal Canadian Navy grew to become one of the largest navies in the world. At war’s end, the RCN comprised 434 commissioned vessels and more than 95,000 men and women in uniform.

All but a handful of the RCN ships were built in Canada—an accomplishment of critical importance to the Allied cause. Burrard Dry Dock Company & North Van Ship Repairs produced the vast majority of the 255 vessels built in British Columbia.

The cost of victory was high; most of the 2,000 RCN officers and men who died during the war were killed during the Battle of the Atlantic.

“If the Battle Of Atlantic had been lost, the Second World War would have been lost. Without Canada, the Battle Of Atlantic would have been lost.”

— Roger Litwiller

Commemorating those who made the ultimate sacrifice & made victory of WWII possible

HMCS Discovery has been hosting Battle of the Atlantic commemorative dinners since the 1940’s. Today, we are honoured to use our platform to support worthy causes like:

Veteran’s Transition Network & Vancouver Naval Museum