6th Submarine Division was a Royal Navy submarine squadron based in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...

and provided training for the

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack s ...

from 1954 to 1967.

History

In 1954 was sent to Canada to provide

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

training on the Canadian Atlantic coast and one of three British submarines to serve time with the 6th. Canada had submarines in World War I (two s in service from 1914 to 1918) but later disbanded their submarine unit after the acquisition of two

British H-class submarine The British H-class submarines were Holland 602 type submarines used by the Royal Navy. The submarines constructed for the British Royal Navy between 1915 and 1919 were designed and built in response to German boats which mined British wate ...

s that operated 1918–1922. Post World War II submarine exercises were conducted pitting

surface vessels alongside

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

(RN) submarines in the Atlantic. Beginning in 1957 Canada planned the gradual re-establishment of its own submarine service with the purchase of three s from the United Kingdom and leasing an American trainer (the former ) in 1961 that was assigned to the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

. The division was disbanded in 1967 as the Canadian ''Oberon''s order completed by 1965 and the RN closure of submarine overseas units: 5th Submarine in

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

(disbanded 1964), 4th Submarine Division in

Sydney, Australia Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...

(disbanded 1969), 7th Submarine in

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

(disbanded 1971). The

First Canadian Submarine Squadron First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number 1 (number), one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, D ...

was formed in 1966 by the RCN with assignment for all three ''Oberon''s. The Canadian squadron would remain after the Canadian unification of the armed services in 1968 with the submarines operating mostly under either

Maritime Forces Atlantic In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) is responsible for the fleet training and operational readiness of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. It was once referred to as Canadian Atlantic Station. ...

and occasionally with Maritime Forces Pacific. The squadron disbanded in 1996 with submarines assigned to Maritime Operations Group Five.

Ships

A-class submarines were assigned to Halifax: * - stationed 3 times from 1954 to 1963 * - stationed 1955 to 1956 * - stationed 1959 to 1961

Commanding officers

The division's commander reported to Flag Officer Atlantic Coast. * Commander Stephen Jenner 1960–1963 * Commander Ken Vause 1963–1964

References

{{reflist Submarine squadrons of the Royal Navy 1950s establishments in Canada Military units and formations disestablished in 1967