| 6th Submarine Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1954 – 1967 |
| Disbanded | 1967 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
6th Submarine Division was a Royal Navy submarine squadron based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and provided training for the Royal Canadian Navy from 1954 to 1967. [1]
In 1954 HMS Alderney was sent to Canada to provide submarine 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 CC-classsubmarines in service from 1914 to 1918) but later disbanded their submarine unit after the acquisition of two British H-class submarines that operated 1918–1922. Post World War II submarine exercises were conducted pitting Royal Canadian Navy surface vessels alongside Royal Navy (RN) submarines in the Atlantic. Beginning in 1957 Canada planned the gradual re-establishment of its own submarine service with the purchase of three Oberon-classsubmarines from the United Kingdom and leasing an American Balao-classsubmarine trainer HMCS Grilse (the former USS Burrfish) in 1961 that was assigned to the West Coast.
The division was disbanded in 1967 as the Canadian Oberons order completed by 1965 and the RN closure of submarine overseas units: 5th Submarine in Malta (disbanded 1964), 4th Submarine Division in Sydney, Australia (disbanded 1969), 7th Submarine in Singapore (disbanded 1971).
The First Canadian Submarine Squadron was formed in 1966 by the RCN with assignment for all three Oberons. 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 and occasionally with Maritime Forces Pacific. The squadron disbanded in 1996 with submarines assigned to Maritime Operations Group Five.
A-class submarines were assigned to Halifax:
The division's commander reported to Flag Officer Atlantic Coast.
The Royal Canadian Navy is the 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, 4 attack submarines, 12 coastal defence vessels, 8 patrol class training vessels, 1 offshore patrol vessel, as well as several auxiliary vessels. The RCN consists of 8,300 Regular Force and 3,600 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by 3,800 civilians. Vice-Admiral Craig Baines is the current commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and chief of the Naval Staff.
The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967.
HMCS Onondaga (S73) is an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Royal Canadian Navy and later the Canadian Forces. Built in the mid-1960s, Onondaga operated primarily with the Maritime Forces Atlantic until her decommissioning in 2000 as the last Canadian Oberon.
HMS Trump was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 25 March 1944. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy (RN) to bear the name Trump. She spent the majority of her life attached to the 4th Submarine division based in Australia. She was kept in service following the war and was refitted for greater underwater performance, and was the final RN submarine to be posted in Australia, departing in January 1969. She was sold off and broken up for scrap in August 1971.
The first USS Philip (DD–76) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Lancaster. She was named for John Woodward Philip.
USS Ringgold (DD-89) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and the interwar period. During World War II, the vessel was transferred to the Royal Navy as a Town-class destroyer named HMS Newark, being scrapped after the end of the war in 1947.
HMCS Okanagan (S74) was an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Canadian Forces (CF). She entered service in 1968 and spent the majority of her career on the east coast. The ship was paid off in 1998 and sold for scrap in 2011.
HMCS Ojibwa is an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and later the Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM). Originally intended for service with the British Royal Navy as HMS Onyx, the submarine was transferred to Canadian ownership before completion, and entered RCN service in 1965. Ojibwa operated primarily with Maritime Forces Atlantic until her decommissioning in 1998. In 2010, Ojibwa was laid up at CFB Halifax awaiting disposal, with the Elgin Military Museum planning to preserve her as a museum vessel. The submarine was towed to Port Burwell, Ontario in 2012, and was opened to the public in 2013. She is now the new focal point of a planned Museum of Naval History to be built alongside.
A submarine squadron (SUBRON) is a naval formation or unit in such states such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Russia/Soviet Union. In France the equivalent unit is the escadrille des sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque (ESNA), part of the French submarine forces.
The first USS Yarnall (DD–143) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Lincoln, to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Lincoln, and subsequently to the Soviet Navy as Druzhny.
The first USS Thomas (DD–182) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS St Albans (I15), as a Town-class destroyer, but spent most of the war in the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy, before transferred to the Soviet Navy as Dostoyny.
British Forces Overseas Hong Kong comprised the elements of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force stationed in British Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong also assumed the position of the Commander-in-chief of the forces and the Commander British Forces in Hong Kong took charge of the daily deployment of the troops. Much of the British military left prior to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. The present article focuses mainly on the British garrison in Hong Kong in the post Second World War era. For more information concerning the British garrison during the Second World War see the Battle of Hong Kong.
The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax is Canada's east coast naval base and home port to the Royal Canadian Navy Atlantic fleet, known as Canadian Fleet Atlantic (CANFLTLANT), that forms part of the formation Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT).
HMS Alderney (P416), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow and launched 25 June 1945 by Mrs Molly Wallis, wife of Sir Barnes Wallis. She was the 12th of the class and was scrapped in 1972.
HMS Ulster was a U-class destroyer of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F83. Ulster was the second vessel in Royal Navy history to have that name.
HMS Olympus was an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Royal Navy, and later in the Canadian Forces as a submarine trainer.
In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.