page_title: List of ships of the Royal Canadian Navy
section_title: Commissioned 1948–89
hierarchical_section_title: List of ships of the Royal Canadian Navy / Commissioned 1948–89
caption_attribution_description: Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Athabaskan is arriving to Lisbon commercial port in Portugal during JOINTEX 15 as part of Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE15, October 18, 2015. Photo: Corporal Alex Parenteau, Canadian Forces Combat Camera 20151018_CAN_LAP_3
context_page_description: The Royal Navy was responsible for all of British North America, until Canadian Confederation in 1867. After Confederation the Royal Navy increasingly shared naval responsibilities with Canada but retained sole responsibility for other British colonies in North America, until they joined Canada. In 1910, the Department of the Naval Service was created to consolidate all naval services in Canada, receiving royal assent in 1911 to become the Royal Canadian Navy. Within a few years many of the non-military naval services and vessels integrated under the RCN were returned to their original departments. The list of ships of the Royal Canadian Navy contains the surface warships, submarines and auxiliary vessels in service from 1910 up to the early 1990s. This includes all commissioned, non-commissioned, loaned or hired ships in service within the RCN. Ships in this list also include Royal Navy vessels with RCN crews, such as TR-series minesweepers of the First World War, and aircraft carriers of the Second World War.
context_section_description: As the Second World War drew to a close the RCN stopped its rapid expansion and dramatically reduced its military expenditures. This resulted in a significant reduction in personnel and ships by 1947. A planned transfer of two light aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy, HMCS Warrior and HMCS Magnificent was slowed, and Warrior eventually returned. With the emergence of the Cold War and the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, followed by the outbreak of the Korean War, the Canadian government increased military spending. The RCN recommissioned and modified Second World War ships held in reserve, launched new classes of ships, and upgraded its aviation capabilities. In 1968, the RCN was amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army to form the unified Canadian Forces.  All personnel, ships, and aircraft became part of Maritime Command (MARCOM), as an element of the Canadian Armed Forces.
caption: HMCS Athabaskan entering harbour, Lisbon, Portugal
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