Roger Litwiller -Canadian Naval Author/Historian
@rogerlitwiller.bsky.social
Official Twitter page of Roger Litwiller -historian/lecturer of Canada’s Maritime & Naval heritage. Author of several books. Follow for daily history posts.
#OTD 12/11/1917 #RememberRCN -In a single ceremony, 6 Battle class trawlers commissioned into the RCN, HMCShips FESTUBERT, MESSINES, ST. ELOI, VIMY, YPRES and JULIEN. All were built at Polson Ironworks in Toronto & are the 1st of 12 ships in this class to enter service with the RCN in WWI.
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 12/11/1917 #RememberRCN -In a single ceremony, 6 Battle class trawlers commissioned into the RCN, HMCShips FESTUBERT, MESSINES, ST. ELOI, VIMY, YPRES and JULIEN. All were built at Polson Ironworks in Toronto & are the 1st of 12 ships in this class to enter service with the RCN in WWI.
HMCS WINDSOR covered in scaffolding while under refit at the RCN Dockyard in Halifax on 27 June 2010. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM
HMCS WINDSOR covered in scaffolding while under refit at the RCN Dockyard in Halifax on 27 June 2010. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
#OTD 12/11/1944 #RememberRCN -HMCS ALGONQUIN (1st) and ships of the 26th DF attack a convoy of seven ships off the coast of Norway. The two minesweeper escorts, M416 was sunk and M427 was run ashore and capsized. All five merchant ships were sunk or run ashore.
November 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 12/11/1944 #RememberRCN -HMCS ALGONQUIN (1st) and ships of the 26th DF attack a convoy of seven ships off the coast of Norway. The two minesweeper escorts, M416 was sunk and M427 was run ashore and capsized. All five merchant ships were sunk or run ashore.
HMCS TRENTONIAN in Halifax, Feb 1943. Looking forward from the starboard side of the bridge, the corvettes gun deck & foc's'le are more of ice rink with the amount of ice that has accumulated on the stanchions and wires. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
HMCS TRENTONIAN in Halifax, Feb 1943. Looking forward from the starboard side of the bridge, the corvettes gun deck & foc's'le are more of ice rink with the amount of ice that has accumulated on the stanchions and wires. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
As I head out to join our #RCNavy sailors at HMCS CATARAQUI in Kingston for #RemembranceDay services, I will be also be honouring my Grandfather, Canadian Armoured Corps 1944-45 & my son & daughter-in-law, currently serving RCAF. Three generations of service, we all trained at CFB Borden.
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
As I head out to join our #RCNavy sailors at HMCS CATARAQUI in Kingston for #RemembranceDay services, I will be also be honouring my Grandfather, Canadian Armoured Corps 1944-45 & my son & daughter-in-law, currently serving RCAF. Three generations of service, we all trained at CFB Borden.
#OTD 11/11/1943 #BattleOfAtlantic -U537 damaged by Canso A from @RCAF_ARC 5 (BR) Squadron RCAF based at Gander, NF. Dropping four Depth Charges on the U-Boat off Cape Race, damaging the sub and forcing sub to return to base.
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#OTD 11/11/1943 #BattleOfAtlantic -U537 damaged by Canso A from @RCAF_ARC 5 (BR) Squadron RCAF based at Gander, NF. Dropping four Depth Charges on the U-Boat off Cape Race, damaging the sub and forcing sub to return to base.
#OTD 11/11/1918 #RCNRemembers -The Armistice is signed ending the Great War. @RoyalCanNavy had 2 cruisers in 1914 & by war's end;
-134 Commissioned ships
-8,826 Canadians served in the RCNavy
-673 Canadians served in the Royal Navy & RN Reserve
-190 Canadian sailors were killed.
-134 Commissioned ships
-8,826 Canadians served in the RCNavy
-673 Canadians served in the Royal Navy & RN Reserve
-190 Canadian sailors were killed.
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 11/11/1918 #RCNRemembers -The Armistice is signed ending the Great War. @RoyalCanNavy had 2 cruisers in 1914 & by war's end;
-134 Commissioned ships
-8,826 Canadians served in the RCNavy
-673 Canadians served in the Royal Navy & RN Reserve
-190 Canadian sailors were killed.
-134 Commissioned ships
-8,826 Canadians served in the RCNavy
-673 Canadians served in the Royal Navy & RN Reserve
-190 Canadian sailors were killed.
With fenders ready, HMCS GLACE BAY enters the west gate of Iroquois Lock on the St. Lawrence Seaway on 15 July 2013. She is transiting the St. Lawrence and the Thousand Islands following a successful tour of the Great Lakes. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM
With fenders ready, HMCS GLACE BAY enters the west gate of Iroquois Lock on the St. Lawrence Seaway on 15 July 2013. She is transiting the St. Lawrence and the Thousand Islands following a successful tour of the Great Lakes. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
#OTD 10/11/1978 #RememberRCN -HMCS CORMORANT, Fleet Diving Support vessel commissioned into #RCN, previously CFAV (ex-ASPA Quarto, Italian).
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 10/11/1978 #RememberRCN -HMCS CORMORANT, Fleet Diving Support vessel commissioned into #RCN, previously CFAV (ex-ASPA Quarto, Italian).
Sailor from HMCS MAYFLOWER painting the anchor chain. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Sailor from HMCS MAYFLOWER painting the anchor chain. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
#OTD 9/11/1940 #RememberRCN -HMCS COLLINGWOOD commissioned, first of 123 Flower class corvettes to enter Royal Canadian Navy service. Originally classed “patrol vessel, whaler type”, Winston Churchill reintroduced old sailing ship classification “corvette.” Photo -For Posterity's Sake
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 9/11/1940 #RememberRCN -HMCS COLLINGWOOD commissioned, first of 123 Flower class corvettes to enter Royal Canadian Navy service. Originally classed “patrol vessel, whaler type”, Winston Churchill reintroduced old sailing ship classification “corvette.” Photo -For Posterity's Sake
HMCS MARGARET BROOKE transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway Lock at Iroquois, ON. on 13 September 2025. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship was on a Great Lakes Deployment and transited the Great lakes to Thunder Bay. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 9, 2025 at 10:30 AM
HMCS MARGARET BROOKE transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway Lock at Iroquois, ON. on 13 September 2025. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship was on a Great Lakes Deployment and transited the Great lakes to Thunder Bay. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
#OTD 8/11/1976 #RememberRCN -HMCS ALGONQUIN (2nd) assists fisheries protection vessel CGS Chebucto (future CCGS Chebucto) in arresting three Cuban fishing vessels suspected of illegal fishing in the Halifax approaches.
November 8, 2025 at 11:03 AM
#OTD 8/11/1976 #RememberRCN -HMCS ALGONQUIN (2nd) assists fisheries protection vessel CGS Chebucto (future CCGS Chebucto) in arresting three Cuban fishing vessels suspected of illegal fishing in the Halifax approaches.
#OTD 8/11/1951 #RememberRCN -HMCS CAYUGA bombards enemy targets on the islands of Paegun-do and Sowha-do after the two Korean Islands had been invaded by Chinese forces. Photo CAYUGA's Gunners -For Posterity's Sake
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
#OTD 8/11/1951 #RememberRCN -HMCS CAYUGA bombards enemy targets on the islands of Paegun-do and Sowha-do after the two Korean Islands had been invaded by Chinese forces. Photo CAYUGA's Gunners -For Posterity's Sake
#OTD 8/11/1942 #RememberRCN -OpTORCH, invasion of North Africa begins. RCN provides 17 corvettes escorting troop & merchant convoys from UK into Mediterranean. They were joined by RCN's 55th & 61st LCA Flotillas, 80th LCM(3) & 81st LCM(1) Flotillas conducting landing operations.
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#OTD 8/11/1942 #RememberRCN -OpTORCH, invasion of North Africa begins. RCN provides 17 corvettes escorting troop & merchant convoys from UK into Mediterranean. They were joined by RCN's 55th & 61st LCA Flotillas, 80th LCM(3) & 81st LCM(1) Flotillas conducting landing operations.
#OTD 8/11/1942 #RememberRCN -U518 lands German agent, Alfred Janowski near New Carlisle in the Baie des Chaleurs, QC. The spy is captured by QPP the next day and turned over to the RCMP and used as a double agent until 1943, sending false information to Germany.
November 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 8/11/1942 #RememberRCN -U518 lands German agent, Alfred Janowski near New Carlisle in the Baie des Chaleurs, QC. The spy is captured by QPP the next day and turned over to the RCMP and used as a double agent until 1943, sending false information to Germany.
RCN sailor from HMCS MAYFLOWER shows the corvettes "catch-of-the-day" from the North Atlantic. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
RCN sailor from HMCS MAYFLOWER shows the corvettes "catch-of-the-day" from the North Atlantic. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
#OTD 7/11/1971 #RememberRCN - HMCS NIPIGON while operating off Bermuda, Sea King lost power on it's engines & crashed into the sea. Three aircrew were killed & not recovered. Only the navigator survived & found by rescue crew. Seas were heavy with no moon and strong winds.
November 7, 2025 at 11:02 AM
#OTD 7/11/1971 #RememberRCN - HMCS NIPIGON while operating off Bermuda, Sea King lost power on it's engines & crashed into the sea. Three aircrew were killed & not recovered. Only the navigator survived & found by rescue crew. Seas were heavy with no moon and strong winds.
#OTD 7/11/1951 #RememberRCN -HMCS ATHABASKAN embarks 47 wounded civilians from the Korean Island of Ka-Do, injured in a Chinese air raid earlier. Photo -For Posterity's Sake
November 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#OTD 7/11/1951 #RememberRCN -HMCS ATHABASKAN embarks 47 wounded civilians from the Korean Island of Ka-Do, injured in a Chinese air raid earlier. Photo -For Posterity's Sake
#OTD 7/11/1910 #RememberRCN -HMCS RAINBOW arrives Esquimalt for 1st time, transforming fledgling RCN into a two ocean navy. @MMageeArt painting
November 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#OTD 7/11/1910 #RememberRCN -HMCS RAINBOW arrives Esquimalt for 1st time, transforming fledgling RCN into a two ocean navy. @MMageeArt painting
HMC Dockyard in Esquimalt, BC is busy with RCN submarines HMCS CHICOUTIMI (left) and HMCS VICTORIA alongside. HMCS REGINA and another Halifax class frigate are behind the subs. Photo taken on 19 September 2019. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
HMC Dockyard in Esquimalt, BC is busy with RCN submarines HMCS CHICOUTIMI (left) and HMCS VICTORIA alongside. HMCS REGINA and another Halifax class frigate are behind the subs. Photo taken on 19 September 2019. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
6/11/1940 #RememberRCN-HMCS OTTAWA (1st) shares in sinking Italian submarine Faa di Bruno in the N. Atlantic. Credit for attack not given until re-assessment in the 1980's. First enemy vessel to be sunk in the history of the Royal Canadian Navy & 1st submarine sunk by RCN during #WWII.
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM
6/11/1940 #RememberRCN-HMCS OTTAWA (1st) shares in sinking Italian submarine Faa di Bruno in the N. Atlantic. Credit for attack not given until re-assessment in the 1980's. First enemy vessel to be sunk in the history of the Royal Canadian Navy & 1st submarine sunk by RCN during #WWII.
Unidentified camouflaged ship, picture taken from HMCS MAYFLOWER in 1944, possibly around Normandy invasion. If you can identify this ship, please leave a comment. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Unidentified camouflaged ship, picture taken from HMCS MAYFLOWER in 1944, possibly around Normandy invasion. If you can identify this ship, please leave a comment. @RLitwiller #RCNavy Photo Collection. See MORE zurl.co/lBEmW
#OTD 5/11/1966 #RememberRCN -HMCS BRAS D’OR seriously damaged by a fire under construction, delaying her completion and increasing her costs. Photo -For Posterity's Sake
November 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
#OTD 5/11/1966 #RememberRCN -HMCS BRAS D’OR seriously damaged by a fire under construction, delaying her completion and increasing her costs. Photo -For Posterity's Sake
#OTD 5/11/1951 #RememberRCN -HMCS ATHABASKAN bombards Chinese installations at Mumbonch’on, Korea attempting to draw fire from Chinese shore batteries that had engaged HMCS CAYUGA a few days early. Destroying several buildings, gun emplacements and a large junk.
November 5, 2025 at 11:02 AM
#OTD 5/11/1951 #RememberRCN -HMCS ATHABASKAN bombards Chinese installations at Mumbonch’on, Korea attempting to draw fire from Chinese shore batteries that had engaged HMCS CAYUGA a few days early. Destroying several buildings, gun emplacements and a large junk.