Well folks, visiting the HMCS ‘Ojibwa Submarine was another check mark off my bucket list!
I must explain my intention for this article. At the beginning of the summer, I made up a bucket list of sorts and places to visit in Ontario. The famous Avro Arrow Airplane Museum at Avendale Aerodrome was one, and today, I’ve explored the retired (decommissioned) HMCS ‘Ojibwa.‘ ‘A Canadian Cold War submarine, permanently mounted at Port Burwell Elgin Military Museum.’
These are two military adventure museums off my summer bucket list.
But, I also have to mention, my fascination with submarines goes back many years, while vacationing in South Carolina, U.S.A. In our travels through that beautiful state, I came across a sign saying, ‘Patriot Point Naval & Maritime Museum’ pointing in, >>> this way.
It’s the home to the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and the GUPPY-class ex-USS Clamagore submarine. They were both interesting ships to go through.
Fast forward to today, I have a bucket list of events for this summer, and going back to Patriots Point is out of the question. However, lucky me, I found a day-trip adventure close to home called the ‘HMCS Ojibwa’, a Cold War Submarine at Port Burwell.
*** Now, this is an off-the-cuff comment and has nothing to do with the Cold War submarine that I’m about to embark on. But I haven’t been down this neck of the woods in, well, forever, and I’m happy to be back along this gorgeous waterfront where the Museum is now located.
Back to the story, after turning right, then left, and around two detours and through three quaint little towns, we finally ended up on the shores of Lake Erie. I saw commercial fishing boats at the dock, a famous lighthouse, and a beach that you could mistake for a private resort. But as I’m looking … where was that sub? As I turned around to retrace my steps, there it was, standing tall on a concrete and steel pedestal.
So, as I booked ahead as recommended to take the tour, I arrived early. A guide, ready to take his group on the adventure, spotted me and thought I was the last to arrive. Although I was early for my appointment, I was happy to oblige and go early.
Entering through a cutout door on the side of the submarine for easier tourist access and for safety reasons, the first stop was the torpedo room. While the guide explained the history and what and whys, I was too busy snapping photos and marvelling at the interior size compared to the much smaller GUPPY-class ‘USS Clamagore’ in Carolina.
As we move from bow to stern (front to back), it’s no wonder submariners were treated like rock stars when on shore. Living in such tight quarters and underwater most of the time, you have to admire and appreciate these sailors who call this small place “Home.”
As we disembarked through another cutout door in the rear of the submarine, and again, rude old me, I was too busy taking photos and not taking advantage of the question-and-answer period.
The tour through the HMCS Ojibwa Cold War Submarine at Port Burwell was a fun and informative experience, thanks to the patience of the tour guide. However, I have to admit, as a land lover, this walk-through, small space will be as close as I’ll ever get to serving on one of these ships.
Was learning about naval history and Canada’s first Cold War submarine worth seeing you ask? It sure was. I give it five stars for anyone considering signing up for the Navy.
* Did you know that the ‘HMCS Haida, a WWII Tribal Class Destroyer, is docked at the Hamilton harbour and is open for visitors. And that my friends, is my next adventure to check off my bucket list. Check back for photos and my take on this famous Canadian warship.
Reader experience on the HMCS ‘Ojibwa Submarine
- I toured her today. It was fantastic. I encourage anyone to make the trip. She is well preserved and unlike other museums, you can get a really authentic feeling of what it was like onboard. 2 hours from Toronto, sirens the weekend in Port Burwell or Port Stanley. The beaches are excellent on Lake Erie.
- It was awesome to see it up close this past weekend. Make sure you stop by Big Joe’s Q. You can get great brisket while looking at this neat sub.
- This class of submarines were some of the best diesel subs in the world. They would often penetrate US Carrier Battle groups during NATO exercises.
- What an impressive and so magnificent type of Navy submarine, it’s so unfortunate that all of this type of vessel was either already scrapped, or it was turned into a naval museum. And not a single one has remained as a seaworthy vessel.
There you go, folks, another adventure off my bucket list.
Enjoy the photos.
- If you found this article helpful or interesting, please share on Social Media, and thank you in advance for supporting my writing, ☕ ‘one coffee at a time. Dave
