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Canadian Naval Memorial Trust

Name: Canadian Naval Memorial Trust
Address: 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS, B3J1S3, CA
Telephone: +19028091259

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Canadian Naval Memorial Trust

Committed to the preservation of HMCS Sackville, Canada’s Naval Memorial and National Historic Site, and sharing the stories of the Royal Canadian Navy.

HMCS Sackville (K181) is a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during World War II. It is one of the most famous ships of the RCN and is notable for its role in the Battle of the Atlantic, where it escorted convoys and hunted German U-boats. Construction and Commissioning

Builder: Saint John Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co., Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Laid Down: M

ay 28, 1940
Launched: May 15, 1941
Commissioned: December 30, 1941

Specifications

Class and Type: Flower-class corvette
Displacement: Approximately 950 tons
Length: 205 feet
Beam: 33 feet
Draught: 11.5 feet
Propulsion: Single shaft; 2,750 horsepower
Speed: 16 knots
Complement: 85 officers and ratings

Armament

Main Armament: One 4-inch naval gun
Secondary Armament: Anti-aircraft guns, depth charges, and Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar

Service History

HMCS Sackville played a crucial role during the Battle of the Atlantic, a pivotal campaign aimed at ensuring the safe passage of Allied convoys across the Atlantic Ocean. The ship escorted convoys, providing protection against German U-boats and ensuring the delivery of vital supplies to Britain and other Allied nations. Post-War and Preservation

After World War II, Sackville was used as a training vessel and for various duties before being decommissioned. However, recognizing her historical significance, efforts were made to preserve her. In 1985, HMCS Sackville was designated as Canada’s Naval Memorial and underwent extensive restoration to return her to her wartime appearance. Current Status

HMCS Sackville is now a museum ship berthed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, she serves as a memorial to the men and women who served in the RCN during the war, particularly those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic. The Canadian Naval Memorial Trust maintains the ship, which is open to the public for tours, providing a tangible link to Canada's naval history. Significance

HMCS Sackville is the last surviving Flower-class corvette and a symbol of the RCN's critical role during World War II. Her preservation allows future generations to learn about and honour the sacrifices made during the war, making her an important cultural and historical asset for Canada.

08/28/2026

During WWII, Bedford Basin was where convoys of hundreds of ships would muster before the dangerous crossing to Europe. Today, sailors still gather here to remember them.

08/26/2026

The Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar on the HMCS Sackville K-181.

Not all weapons of the Battle of the Atlantic worked from behind. Late in the war, HMCS Sackville was fitted with the Hedgehog, a forward-throwing anti-submarine projector capable of launching a pattern of contact-fuzed bombs 200 yards ahead of the ship, all while maintaining ASDIC contact with the submarine below.

Unlike depth charges, which required the ship to pass directly over the target and break sonar contact, the Hedgehog let crews keep the U-boat in their sights as they attacked. A miss meant a depth charge follow-up. A hit meant a kill.

It was a weapon designed around a simple idea: don't lose what you've found.

08/23/2026

HMCS Sackville is proud to support the Dartmouth Yacht Club Convoy Cup Sailpast on Saturday, August 29th!

Each year, recreational sailors depart Bedford Basin carrying the banners of merchant marine and naval vessels lost during the Battle of the Atlantic, re-enacting the historic convoys that served as Europe's lifeline in World War II.

HMCS Sackville will serve as the flagship, where veterans, families, and dignitaries will review the fleet as each vessel renders a salute. The Sailpast commences at 1100, with Admiral McFadden serving as the Reviewing Officer.

We are honoured to be part of this moving tribute linking past to present.

Learn more: https://convoycup.com/convoy-cup-sailpast/

08/21/2026

HMCS Sackville went to war carrying 100 depth charges, and each one packed a serious punch.

These steel drums were filled with 300 pounds of high explosive, fused to detonate at pre-set depths where a U-boat might be lurking. Some were hurled outward by throwers mounted on either side of the ship, while others rolled off rails at the stern, laying a deadly pattern in the corvette's wake.

Timing was everything. The depth charge crews had seconds to set fuses, load, and fire, often at night, in heavy North Atlantic seas, while the ship heeled through hard turns chasing an ASDIC contact. A well-placed pattern could crack a submarine's pressure hull. Even a near miss could force a U-boat to the surface.

In August 1942, Sackville's depth charges did exactly that, blasting U-43 to the surface during a fierce convoy battle.

You can see depth charges and throwers up close when you visit Canada's Naval Memorial on the Halifax waterfront.

08/19/2026

Knot-tying was tested in naval training for a reason. Aboard a Flower-class corvette like HMCS Sackville, the North Atlantic gave no grace period; 30-foot swells, freezing spray, and total darkness meant your hands had to know what to do before your brain caught up. The monkey's fist, a dense ball of rope used to weight a heaving line, was one of the most recognizable knots in the fleet. Every sailor knew how to tie one. Every sailor had to.

🪢

08/17/2026

Winter convoys in the North Atlantic meant spray; constant, relentless spray that would freeze the instant it touched metal. Rails. Guns. Rigging. Depth charge racks. The ice built up fast, and a top-heavy corvette in heavy seas didn't get a second chance.

So the sailors chipped. For hours. In the dark, in the wind, in temperatures that made every swing of the mallet feel like punishment. They chipped because the ship needed it. Because their shipmates needed it. Because the convoy needed them.

The U-boats got the headlines. The ice got the sailors.

Come aboard HMCS Sackville at the Halifax waterfront and discover what life on the North Atlantic really looked like.

08/12/2026

Thanks to the generous support of Harvest Wine & Spirits, Spar Maine Ltd., and Twinshore, we were able to host a Natal Day celebration for our trustees aboard the ship on August 1st. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to our sponsors for making it possible.

08/07/2026

Thank you to everyone that came down to the ship this past Monday for our natal day Match day.

Also a special thanks to Cox & Palmer who matched every dollar spent on admission.

Photo Credits: Douglas Struthers

08/06/2026

It is with deep sadness that the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust shares the passing of LCdr(Ret’d) Sherry Richardson, a true trailblazer, a devoted volunteer, and a beloved member of the HMCS Sackville family.

Sherry's connection to HMCS Sackville spanned an extraordinary 36 years. She served as First Lieutenant from 1991 to 1994, and from 1994 to 1999 she made history as the first female Commanding Officer of Canada's Naval Memorial, a distinction that speaks to both her ability and her character.

Her naval career began in 1954 when she joined HMCS Donnacona in Montreal. Over the decades that followed, she served as an air electronics technician, was commissioned into the Canadian Intelligence Corps, participated in Arctic operations with the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, and was recognized as a Parks Canada Hometown Hero in 2023.

But to those of us who knew her aboard Sackville, she was simply someone who showed up; in fog, in gale-force winds, and on Battle of the Atlantic Sundays, because, as she put it: "She's my ship."

Sherry, your decades of service, your quiet leadership, and your lasting presence on this ship will not be forgotten. Fair winds and following seas.

[Obituary link / further information to follow

08/05/2026

The Rolling Barrage rode last night

Last night, riders taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Rolling Barrage making their way across the country, with 100+ riders doing the "Full Pull" all the way from St. John's to Vancouver, and many more joining for shorter stretches along the way. At any given time, up to 150 riders could be on the road, split into smaller groups and es**rted by RCMP, local police, and first responders in ambulances and fire trucks.

In 2023, approximately 90 riders stopped at HMCS Sackville to pay their respects at Canada's Naval Memorial, and we're honoured to be part of their journey again this year with a flag hoist taking place last night aboard HMCS Sackville.

The Rolling Barrage rides in support of veterans and first responders living with PTSD and operational stress injuries. If their mission means something to you, please consider donating: therollingbarrage.com

Thank you to every rider, es**rt, and first responder taking part.

Address

1675 Lower Water Street
Halifax, NS
B3J1S3

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19028091259

Website

https://www.cnmt.ca/

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