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Canadian Army

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Canadian Army
ActiveNovember 1940 — Present
AllegianceCanada
TypeArmy
Size19,500 regular personnel[1]
16,000 reserve personnel[1]
35,000 total personal Land Force Atlantic Area
Land Force Quebec Area
Land Force Central Area
Land Force Western Area
Part ofDepartment of National Defence
Canadian Forces
HeadquartersNational Defence Headquarters
Motto(s)Vigilamus Pro Te (We Stand On Guard For Thee)
Engagements
Commanders
Chief of the Defence StaffGeneral Walter Natynczyk CMM, MSC, CD
Chief of the Land StaffLieutenant-General Peter J. Devlin, CMM, MSC, CD
Assistant Chief of the Land StaffMajor-General A.J. Howard, CD
Insignia
Identification
symbol
File:Army badge.png
Part of a series on the
Military history
of Canada
History of...
Conflicts
Installations
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Reserve infantrymen train in urban operations circa 2004. Reserve training focuses on real world situations and the needs of the Regular Force who rely on the Reserves for augmentation on operational deployments.

The Canadian Army (CA), previously called the Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers.[1] It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada and is also responsible for the largest component of the Primary Reserve, the Army Reserve, which is often referred to informally by its historic name, the "militia". The Chief of the Land Staff is Lieutenant-General Peter Devlin.

The Canadian Army is a descendant of the Land Force Command which was the name of Canada's land forces from 1997 until 2011; however, the term "Canadian Army" was officially used beginning in 1940. At the time of unification all army units were placed under Mobile Command (MC), later changed to Force Mobile Command (FMC) in 1975 when tactical air units were assigned to newly-created Air Command. The name was changed from FMC to Land Force Command in a 1997 reorganization of the Canadian Forces. In August 2011, the Land Force Command was renamed to the pre-1968 title, the Canadian Army.[2]

History

Main article: History of the Canadian Army

Following unification of the three armed services in 1968, Mobile Command became in effect the "Canadian Army" though the term "army" did not find favour until the 1980s when it became once again unofficially used to refer to Canada's land forces, both Regular and Reserve. The early organization of Mobile Command included tactical ground attack fixed and rotary wing aircraft, in addition to ground forces, and was akin to the integrated warfare approach of the United States Marine Corps. In a 1975 reorganization of the Canadian Forces, Air Command was created and all air assets were reassigned to that organization. Mobile Command was renamed Force Mobile Command and became an exclusive ground force. In 1997, Force Mobile Command was officially redesignated Army of the Canadian Forces.

Structure

Main article: Structure of the Canadian Army

The Canadian Army is not an independent service; rather it is the land component of Canada's integrated defence forces known as the Canadian Forces; as such its proper name is the Canadian Army (Army).

Army Headquarters are located at NDHQ in Ottawa and is subdivided into four regional command areas:

Each area is responsible for the regular army and militia forces located within its geographical purview - all except the Atlantic Area has a regular army mechanized brigade group under its command, together with between two and three militia brigades.

Each mechanized brigade group contains 3 infantry battalions, an armoured regiment, an artillery regiment, and a combat engineer regiment. Each brigade group also contains a service support battalion, signals squadron and military police platoon.

Leadership

The senior appointment within Canadian Land Forces was entitled Chief of the General Staff until 1964 when the appointment became Commander, Mobile Command with the unification of Canada's military forces.[3] The position was renamed Chief of the Land Staff in the 1993.[4]

The Royal Military College of Canada's mission is to educate, train and develop Officer Cadets for leadership careers of effective service in the Canadian Forces-Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army.

Regular force

Main article: List of units of the Canadian Army

Canadian infantry and armoured regimental traditions are strongly rooted in the traditions and history of the British Army. Many regiments were patterned after regiments of the British Army, and a system of official "alliances", or affiliations, was created to perpetuate a sense of shared history. Other regiments developed independently, resulting in a mixture of both colourful and historically familiar names. Other traditions such as Battle Honours and Colours have been maintained by Canadian regiments as well. Approximately two thirds of the Regular Force is composed of anglophone units, while one third is francophone.

Between 1953 and 1971, the regular Canadian infantry consisted of seven regiments, each of two battalions (except the Royal 22e Régiment, which had three, and the Canadian Airborne Regiment, which was divided into three "commandos"). The three present regular infantry regiments were augmented by three further regiments each of two battalions:

After 1971, the regular force battalions of the QOR and the Black Watch were dissolved (their Militia battalions remained in Toronto and Montreal, respectively) with their personnel distributed between The RCR and PPCLI, while the Canadian Guards were disbanded. The Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded in 1995.

The regular forces currently consist of the following regiments:

Infantry

Regular Force infantry regiments and battalions of the Canadian Army are:

  1. The Royal Canadian Regiment
  2. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
  3. Royal 22e Régiment

Artillery

Canada's regular field artillery has traditionally been called the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. Canada currently has four Regular Force regiments:

  • 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (CFB Shilo)
  • 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (CFB Petawawa)
  • 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada (CFB Valcartier)
  • 4th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (CFB Gagetown)

Armour

A Canadian LAV III.

Regular Force units include:

Combat engineers

Electronic warfare

Canadian Soldiers inspect Browning Hi-Power
  • 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment - CFB Kingston, Ontario
    • 2 Electronic Warfare Squadron (Regular)
    • 772 Electronic Warfare Squadron (Reserve)

Reserve force units

A Canadian soldier fires the current issue C7A2 rifle at the range with a C79A2 sight. This particular example is missing the standard TRIAD mount.
  1. Land Force Atlantic Area
    • 36 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 36 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters
      • 36 Canadian Brigade Group (NS) Band (music)
      • The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) (armoured)(Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) (armoured) (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
      • 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • 84th Independent Field Battery, RCA (artillery) (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia)
      • 45 Engineer Squadron (combat engineer) (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
      • 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North) (light infantry) (Truro, Nova Scotia)
      • 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) (light infantry) (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
      • The Princess Louise Fusiliers (light infantry) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • The West Nova Scotia Regiment (light infantry) (Aldershot, Nova Scotia)
      • 33 (Halifax) Service Battalion (service and support) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • 35 (Sydney) Service Battalion (service and support) (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
    • 37 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 37 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters
      • 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) (armoured) (Moncton, New Brunswick)
      • 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Saint John, New Brunswick)
      • 56 Engineer Squadron (combat engineer) (St. John's, Newfoundland)
      • 1st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton and York) (light infantry) (Fredericton, New Brunswick)
      • 2nd Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (North Shore) (light infantry) (Bathurst, New Brunswick)
      • 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment (light infantry) (Corner Brook, Newfoundland)
      • 31 (Saint John) Service Battalion (service and support) (St John, New Brunswick)
      • 36 (NFLD) Service Battalion (service and support) (St. John's, Newfoundland)
    • 72 Communications Group - Halifax, Nova-Scotia
      • 721 Communication Regiment (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
      • 722 Communication Squadron (Saint John, New Brunswick)
      • 723 Communication Squadron (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • 724 Communication Squadron - active unit (Oromocto, New Brunswick)
      • 725 Communication Squadron (Glace Bay, Nova-Scotia)
      • 728 Communication Squadron (St. John's, Newfoundland)
    • 5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (Gander, Newfoundland)
    • 3 Intelligence Company (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  2. Land Force Quebec Area
  3. Land Force Central Area
  4. Land Force Western Area

Army bases and training centres

Land Force Western Area Land Force Central Area Land Force Quebec Area Land Force Atlantic Area
Alberta Manitoba Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia

Equipment

Main articles: List of modern Canadian Army equipment, Future Canadian Forces projects, and List of infantry weapons and equipment of the Canadian military

Canada is an industrial nation with a highly-developed science and technology sector. Since the First World War, Canada has produced its own infantry fighting vehicle, anti-tank guided missile and small arms for the Canadian Forces. Army and Land Force Reserve operate state-of-the-art equipment able to handle modern threats through 2030–2035. Despite the financial cuts between 1960s–2000s, Army is well equipped.[5] The land force currently operates approximatively 10,500 utility vehicles including G-wagon and 7000-MV and also operates approximatively 2,700 armoured fighting vehicles including the LAV-III and the Leopard 2.[6] The land force also operates approximatively 150 field artillery pieces including the M777 howitzer and the LG1 Mark II.[7]

Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle from the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada

In the near future between 2011 to 2017 (see also the list of Future Canadian Forces projects), the Army will receive a new family of combat vehicles including 138 close combat vehicles meant to accompany the main battle tank into combat and to increase combat capabilities of Army. Army will also receive a new family of tactical armoured patrol vehicles which will eventually replace the RG-31 Nyala and Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle. The dismounted soldiers will be equipped with the long-awaited Integrated Soldier System designed to improve command execution, target acquisition and situational awareness. Army will receive a new family of engineering vehicles especially designed to clear pathways for troops and other vehicles through minefields and along roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. This new family of vehicles will eventually replace the aging fleet of AEV Badger, ARV Taurus and AVLB Beaver.

Army infantry uses the C7 Rifle or C8 Carbine as the basic assault rifle, with grenadiers using the C7 with an attached M203 grenade launcher, and the C9 squad automatic weapon.

Uniforms, load bearing and protective equipment

Main articles: Uniforms of the Canadian Forces and Battledress

Canada's battledress developed parallel to that of the British from 1900 to 1950, though always with significant differences, and then increasingly followed the US pattern of separate uniforms for separate functions, becoming distinctively "Canadian" in the process and utilizing CADPAT design. Prior to unification in 1968, the uniforms of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) were similar to their counterparts in the forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, save for national identifiers and some regimental accoutrements. With unification in 1968 all branches started wearing the new rifle green uniform. The present distinctive environmental uniforms in different colours for the army, navy and air force were introduced in the late 1980s and are generally similar to their pre-1968 counterparts.

Soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment

Meals

Field kitchens and catering are used to feed members of the CF Land Forces personnel at bases and overseas operation centres. For personnel on patrol away from bases, they are supplied Individual Meal Pack.The IMP (Individual Meal Pack) is used by the Canadian Forces and Canadian cadets.Other types of rations are used by the Canadian Forces, notably fresh rations, or cooked meals provided directly from the kitchen or by haybox. There are also patrol packs, which are small high-protein snack-type foods (such as beef jerky or shredded cheese) and boxed lunches (consisting of assorted sandwiches, juice, fruit, pasta and a dessert) provided for soldiers to consume in situations in which meal preparation is not possible.

Rank structure

Main article: Canadian Forces ranks and insignia

Comparison of ranking structure available at Ranks and insignia of NATO. Not shown are the various appointment badges for specialist positions such as master gunner, drum major, etc. Many ranks are associated with specific appointments; for example a regimental sergeant major is usually a chief warrant officer. The title of master corporal also, technically, refers to an appointment and not a rank. Some ranks may have different names depending on the customary tradition of certain army corps, and may not appear here. Two commonly heard examples are the rank of Sapper, referring to a trained private in the combat engineers, and Trooper, referring to a trained private in the armoured trade. In addition, in the artillery, the ranks Trained Private through Master Corporal are represented by Gunner, Bombardier, and Master Bombardier respectively.

Insignia

Governor General

Commander-in-Chief
Officers
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Canada Canada No Equivalent General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant No Equivalent Officer Cadet
Général Lieutenant-général Major-général Brigadier-général Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant Élève-Officier
Non-Commissioned
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Canada Canada
Chief
Warrant
Officer 		Master
Warrant
Officer 		Warrant
Officer 		Sergeant Master
Corporal 		Corporal Trained
Private 		Private Private
Recruit
Adjudant-
chef 		Adjudant-
maître 		Adjudant Sergent Caporal-
chef 		Caporal Soldat Soldat Soldat
Recrue

Battles involving the Canadian Army

See also: Category:Battles involving Canada

The Canadian Army has participated in the following campaigns as a combatant:

Second Boer War First World War Second World War Korean War Afghanistan

Note: The Canadian army was involved in the battle of the Medak Pocket, but actual type of involvement is under dispute

Publications

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "About the Army". Department of National Defence. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/15/pol-canadian-forces-names.html?ref=rss
  3. ^ Dr. Wilf Lund (n.d.) Integration and Unification of the Canadian Forces, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum, www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org
  4. ^ Major Andrew B. Godefroy CD PhD (2007) Chasing the Silver Bullet: the Evolution of Capability Development in the Canadian Army, Canadian Military Journal, vol 8, no 1, pg 59.]
  5. ^ Lance W. Roberts (2005) 9.3 Military Forces, Recent social trends in Canada, 1960-2000, McGill-Queen's University Press, pp.372-376.
  6. ^ Equipment: Vehicles, www.army.forces.gc.ca
  7. ^ Equipment: Weapons, www.army.forces.gc.ca
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