The name carried by a ship has far-reaching significance. It has historical and geographical references; it may have political, social or propaganda overtones; it links the ship with its class and type. To the ship's company the name of the ship and its nickname identify it as a community or it is the name of their home. This book covers over 900 names of Canadian naval vessels, shore establishments, and some RN ships, from 1910 to the present. Each name covered includes the origin and meaning of the name, its sometimes-complex process of selection, its pennant numbers, and dates in commission and whether the name was assigned an official badge. A comprehensive reference painstakingly researched from primary sources, this is an invaluable book for those interested in naval history and research. Winner of the John Lyman Award.

This is the story of six of Canadas Warships HMCS NAPANEE, HMCS BELLEVILLE, HMCS HALLOWELL, HMCS TRENTONIAN, HMCS QUINTE (I), and the HMCS QUINTE (II). These histories give a unique account of the small ships that have been the backbone of the Canadian Navy during the Second World War and the Cold War. The stories record the accomplishments of these hardworking ships as well as the mistakes. This rich and vivid account of an important part of Canadas Naval Service draws from the records of the ships, interviews with their crews, letters, diaries, newspaper articles, community libraries and photographs. You will learn about the HMCS NAPANEE as she fights a five day battle against twenty-four German submarines in on one of Canadas most tragic convoy battles. Be with HMCS BELLEVILLE as she fights to rescue a torpedoed merchant ship and find out about how a German submarine sinks the HMCS TRENTONIAN late in the war killing six of her crew.

On a sailor's first day in the Navy, they are plunged into a strange world where the walls are bulkheads and the floors are decks. Initially, the jargon can be confusing to newcomers, especially when it's noticed that there is more than one term for a given situation. For example, a lazy person can be called a "skiver," "skate" or be described as "swinging the lead." A sailor might sleep in a "pit," "cart" or "rack," but only occasionally in a bunk. As well, there are nuances that must be learned. You might call a shipmate a "winger" or refer to them as a fellow "hairy bag," but you would never call their "party" a "nice piece of trim" or try to "cut their grass." That would certainly lead to a "parting of brass rags." In some cases, the term has a variety of meanings, such as "Mess," which can carry no less than three different meanings in a Canadian warship. Other terms are far more colourful. Up top on the bridge, you'll find "Nelson's Balls"; down in the mess you will find "Nelson's Blood." In the "galley," a "stoker" might begin to "moan and drip" when they see "Newfie Steak" on the menu for the second time in a week. The Canadian Navy's unique language can be traced back to its Royal Navy roots. In fact, commonly used words such as "pusser," and nicknames such as "Nobby" are directly derived from British Navy forefathers. Still, many other terms have been formed directly from use in the Canadian Navy such as "CDF" and "Navy Gravy." Hopefully, you haven't grown weary of all this, because there's much more! What's the difference between "duff" and "no duff." What about "no joy," "no names, no pack drill," "no room to swing a cat" and "No! No!"? It's all explained inside. "Pull up a bollard" and enjoy the colourful language of the RCN.

This completely updated and revised edition of Ken Macpherson's first-class history entitled River Class Destroyers, published twenty years ago, is now presented to a new generation of readers. Over the intervening years, more historical information has come to light on the war years, enabling the authors to correct some previous inaccuracies and expand the operational histories of each ship. Many new photos, plus drawings of the ships and their modifications, their armaments and radar, along with camouflage patterns and color notes will make this book a complete reference, suitable for historians and modelers. The Rivers were not old ships by ordinary standards, but wartime demands aged them rapidly, and they did not survive to serve in the postwar Navy. A new generation of ships has borne their names and battle honors, recalling with pride the large contributions made by these fourteen hard-worked ships to the cause of victory in the Second World War.