Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; French: Marine royale canadienne, MRC) is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2023, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submarines, 12 coastal defence vessels, eight patrol-class training vessels, two offshore patrol vessels, and several auxiliary vessels. The RCN consists of 8,400 Regular Force and 4,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by 3,800 civilians. Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee is the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and chief of the Naval Staff.
| Royal Canadian Navy | |
|---|---|
| Marine royale canadienne (French) | |
| Founded | 4 May 1910 |
| Country | Canada |
| Type | Navy |
| Role | Naval warfare |
| Size | 68 ships Personnel: • Regular Force: 8,400 Regular force members • Reserve Force: 4,100 Reserve force members • Civilian members: 3,800 civilian members |
| Part of | Canadian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario |
| Motto(s) | Parati vero parati (Latin for 'Ready aye ready') |
| March | "Heart of Oak" |
| Mascot(s) | SONAR (Newfoundland dog) |
| Engagements | |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy | Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee |
| Command Chief Petty Officer of the Royal Canadian Navy | CPO1 Thomas Lizotte |
| Insignia | |
| Naval ensign | |
| Naval jack | |
| Bilingual logo | |
| Pennant | |
Founded in 1910 as the Naval Service of Canada (French: Service naval du Canada) and given royal sanction on 29 August 1911, the RCN was amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army to form the unified Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, after which it was known as Maritime Command (French: Commandement maritime) until 2011.
In 2011, its historical title of "Royal Canadian Navy" was restored. The RCN has served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, and numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations.