Ships in this list also include Royal Navy vessels with RCN crews, such as TR-series minesweepers of the First World War, and aircraft carriers of the Second World War. This includes all commissioned, non-commissioned, loaned or hired ships in service within the RCN. The list of ships of the Royal Canadian Navy contains the surface warships, submarines and auxiliary vessels in service from 1910 up to the early 1990s. Within a few years many of the non-military naval services and vessels integrated under the RCN were returned to their original departments.

In 1910, the Department of the Naval Service was created to consolidate all naval services in Canada, receiving royal assent in 1911 to become the Royal Canadian Navy. After Confederation the Royal Navy increasingly shared naval responsibilities with Canada but retained sole responsibility for other British colonies in North America, until they joined Canada. The Royal Navy was responsible for all of British North America, until Canadian Confederation in 1867. For a list of current vessels, see List of current ships of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Modern tank destroyer canadian