Édouards

Édouards are a series of five Royal Canadian Navy corvettes that played a significant role in the British Royal Navy during World War II. The class was designed for convoy escort duties and was named after French monarchy names starting with the letter "E".

The Édouard VII was the lead ship of the class, followed by the Éléonore, the Épervier, the Érior, and the Églantine. All five corvettes were commissioned between 1942 and 1943 and saw action in various parts of the world, including the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the North Sea.

The Édouards were part of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force, a group of ships tasked with escorting convoys across the Atlantic. They played a vital role in preventing German U-boats from attacking Allied shipping. The Édouards were also involved in several battles against German ships and submarines, earning a reputation for their bravery and effectiveness.

Two of the Édouards, the Éléonore and the Épervier, were transferred to the French Navy in 1944 and served in the war against the Axis powers. The other three Édouards remained with the Royal Navy until the end of the war.

The Édouards were ultimately sold for scrap in the years following the war. However, their legacy lives on as some of the most decorated and respected ships in the history of the Royal Canadian Navy. Despite their relatively small size, the Édouards played a significant role in the Allied victory and continue to be remembered for their bravery and sacrifice.