Korea and the Canadian Navy - The role of the Canadian Navy

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The Royal Canadian Navy with over a century of service under its belt has always answered its call to duty. In particular on the 30th of July 1950 [1],[5], the Royal Canadian Navy received its orders to deploy part of its fleet to Japan to assist their allies in an arising conflict in Korea. The previous month, on the 24th of June 1950, the heightened tensions in the Korean peninsula boiled over and the tiny boarder town of Ongijin was shelled heavily as the early dawn light broke the horizon [1],[5]. Soon afterward, North Korean troops began crossing the boarder supported heavily by their armoured divisions, signaling the start of the next great Korean war [1]. On the 27th of June 1950, the RCN began readying its Pacific fleet for wartime status after the Security Council meeting at the United Nations that day [1].
Canada's three primary Pacific destroyers were in varying states of readiness; The HMCS Cayuga being the senior ship was the best equipped at the time, followed closely by the HMCS Athabaskan, and lastly the HMCS Sioux who was in dry-dock at the time [1]. The Pacific fleet received its final orders on that day to begin their preparation and cancel all planned training and maintenance: “You are to sail “Cayuga,” “Sioux” and “Athabaskan” from Esquimalt at 16 knots to Pearl Harbor p.m. Wednesday 5 July, 1950...[1]”. As the operational requirements increased throughout the conflict more ships began to deploy for the Korean coast in rotations, including the Atlantic fleet: HMCS Haida, Huron, Iriquois, Nootka, & the HMCS Crusader from the Pacific fleet 1950-1955 [1].
Throughout the conflict Canada's naval contribution made a significant impact on coalition efforts to secure South Korea [5]. This was the first post-world...

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...RCN, Canadian Commander Destroyers Far East, “Korean War Report, part 2,” Directorate of History and Heritage (DHH),81/520/1650-239/187.
[4] Canada's Naval Memorial (2014) The Korean War (1950-54). HMCS Sackville memorial site and website 2014. http://canadasnavalmemorial.ca/history/battles-and-conicts/korea/

[5] Alexander, James Edwin. Inchon to Wonsan: From the Deck of a Destroyer in the Korean War (1996). Annapolis MD: Naval Institute Press, 1996.
[6] Office of the Historian (2014) U.S Department of State. Various Documents relating to NATO involvement in the Korean War (1945-1952) https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nato [7] Commodore J.C. Hibbard, RCN, “Inspection Report,” May 1952, DHH, 88/6, p. 7.
[8] Korean Veteran’s Association of Canada (1997-2014). SERVICE OF HMC SHIPS IN KOREAN WATERS (1997-2014)
http://www.kvacanada.com/cdnforces_navy.htm

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