Canadian Rangers
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| Canadian Rangers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 3 March 1942- |
| Country |  Canada |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Niche Element |
| Role | Domestic Operations; Surveillance and Sovereignty patrols, First Responce |
| Size | 4323 |
| Part of | Canadian Forces Land Force Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Canadian Ranger National Authority, Land Staff, Ottawa ◦1 CRPG-Yukon, North West Territory, Nunavut Canada 2 CRPG-Quebec, 3 CRPG- Ontario, 4 CRPG- British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, 5 CRPG-Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Motto | "Vigilans" (The watchers) |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LGen Leslie |
The Canadian Rangers (mistakenly called the Arctic Rangers) are a sub-component of the Canadian Forces reserve, which provide a military presence in Canada's sparsely settled northern, coastal, and isolated areas. Formally established on May 23, 1947, the primary role of this part-time force is to conduct surveillance or sovereignty patrols (SOV PATS) as required. Some Canadian Rangers also conduct inspections of the North Warning System (NWS) sites and act as guides and scouts when southern forces are in their Area of Operations. Each Canadian Ranger is issued a red Canadian Ranger sweatshirt, Cadpat Pants, Combat Boots, baseball cap, safety vest, rifle and navigation aids. The Canadian Rangers are a volunteer force made up Inuit, First Nations, Metis and Occidentals. These members of the Canadian Army are paid when on operations and when training and are paid an Equipment Usage Rate when utilizing their own Light Over Snow Vehicles, All Terrain Vehicles, Water Craft and other tools and equipment.
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[edit] History
Modern Canadian Rangers can trace their history back to the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers (PCMR). Formed on March 3, 1942, the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers were volunteers who patrolled, performed military surveillance, and provided local defence of the coastlines of British Columbia, and in the Yukon against the wartime threat of a possible Japanese invasion. At their height, the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers consisted of 15,000 volunteers in 138 companies. The Pacific Coast Militia Rangers were officially dismantled on September 30, 1945.
[edit] Patrol Area of the PCMR
The PCMR was comprised of 138 companies under 3 major patrol areas, which were Vancouver Island, the Lower Fraser Valley and the Bridge River Area. Some of the main officers of the PCMR were Lieutenant-Colonel C.W. Peck, Lieutenant-Colonel A.L. Coote and Major H. Ashby. There are currently 4,000 Canadian Rangers serving in five Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups (CRPG) in 165 communities. By 2008, they are expected to reach a strength of 4,800.
[edit] Equipment
| Make | Type | Quantity | Year Entered Service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle | rifle | N/A | 1940s | using .303 British |
| N/A | astrocompass | N/A | N/A | |
| ParaComm PCX 250 High Frequency shortwave radio | N/A | N/A |
[edit] Weapons
The previously issued weapon of the Canadian Rangers was the .303 British calibre Lee Enfield No 4 rifle, with each user being provided with 200 rounds of ammunition every year. While the Lee Enfield is an old WWII-era, bolt-action rifle, it has proved very reliable in freezing Arctic conditions. Rangers carry the weapon, even though they are no longer expected to engage enemy forces, for subsistance and protection against predators. On 10 August 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced[1] the Canadian Forces Land Force Command is embarking on a Canadian Ranger Modernization Program which will procure a replacement weapon for the Lee-Enfield.
[edit] Patrol areas
There are five main patrol areas of the Rangers. Those are the Canadian Forces Northern Area (CFNA), Land Forces Quebec Area (LFQA), Land Forces Central Area (LFCA), Land Forces Western Area (LFWA) and the Land Forces Atlantic Area (LFAA).
| Patrol Area | # of Patrols | # of Rangers | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFNA | 58 | 1575 | Yellowknife, NWT |
| LFQA | 23 | 696 | CFB Saint-Jean, Quebec |
| LFCA | 15 | 422 | CFB Borden, Ontario |
| LFWA | 38 | 695 | Victoria, BC |
| LFAA | 29 | 743 | Gander, NL |
The Junior Canadian Rangers Programme was created on May 31, 1996, and consists of 3,000 members in 104 locations, and is expected to expand to 3,800 members by 2008. Under the supervision of the Canadian Rangers, the Junior Canadian Ranger Programme is open to young Canadians, from ages 12 to 18.
Issued on September 1, 1942, the training publication, The Ranger, was in circulation for the PCMR, as it contained such articles as "Know where to shoot", "Edible plants of BC", "What can you do with a tarp?", and "Dig or die".
The Canadian Rangers' motto is "Vigilans".
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Canadian Rangers
- Junior Canadian Rangers
- Canadian Rangers Patrol Group (CRPG)
- 1942 The Canadian Rangers NWT Historical Timeline, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
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