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Canadian Army

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Land Force Command (LFC), often also called the Canadian Army, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of Land Force Command is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers.

LFC 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 Andrew Leslie.

LFC is the descendant of the Canadian Army which was the name of Canada's land forces from 1940 until February 1, 1968. 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.

History

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.
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 Land Force Command of the Canadian Forces.

Army bases and training centres

Regiments

See: 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.

Regular Force

See: List of units of the Canadian Army

Armoured

Regular Force units include:

Artillery

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

Combat engineers

Infantry

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

  1. The Royal Canadian Regiment
  2. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
    • 1st Battalion (CFB Edmonton) - Mechanized Infantry
    • 2nd Battalion (CFB Shilo) - Mechanized Infantry
    • 3rd Battalion (CFB Edmonton) - Mechanized Infantry + Parachute Company
  3. Royal 22e Régiment

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.

Reserve Force

See: List of units of the Canadian Army

Structure

Main article: Structure of the Canadian Forces Land Force Command

Commanders, Mobile Command

Chiefs of the Land Staff

Leadership

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

Equipment

Utility Vehicles

Model Image Type Number Dates Builder Details
MILCOTS Silverado Light Utility Vehicle 1,061 2003-2004 Chevrolet,  United States Militarized Commercial Off-The-Shelf or colloquially as the "Milverado". Replacing the Bombardier Iltis jeeps in non combat use. 2500HD - 2003 Basic model 861 (GM K25943HD)
G-Wagen 4 × 4 Light Utility Vehicle 1,159 2003-2004 Mercedes-Benz,  Germany Replaced the Iltis light trucks in combat zones. Deployed in Afghanistan
HMMWV N/A Light Utility Vehicle N/A 2002-???? AM General,  United States Limited number purchased for use by JTF2 in Afghanistan. May also be used by CSOR. DND is currently looking at potential replacements.
M-Gator Light Utility Vehicle/All Terrain Vehicle N/A N/A Deere & Company,  United States Deployed in Afghanistan
LSVW Light Support Vehicle, Wheeled 2,879 1993-1997 Western Star,  Canada Based on Iveco model 40.10 with trailer units
MLVW Medium Logistic Vehicle, Wheeled 2,769 1982 General Motors Corporation/Bombardier,  United States/ Canada License built M35/M36 series trucks. Peter MacKay had announced in January 2009, 1300 new 7000-MV from Navistar International.The new vehicle coming between 2009-2010.[1] Option of 1690 including Off-the-Shelf and Standard Military Pattern, project close out fall 2013.
HLVW N/A Heavy Lift Vehicle, Wheeled 1,212 1992 Urban Transportation Development Corporation,  Canada Based on Steyr 1491 Percheron truck chassis
Bv206 Tracked Utility Vehicle 78 1983 BAE Systems Hägglunds,  Sweden They Were deployed in Afghanistan during the Operation Anaconda in march 2002.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Model Image Type Number Dates Builder Details
Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle N/A 8 × 8 Wheeled AFV 203 1996 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  Canada Replaced the Lynx in the armoured reconnaissance role.
Cougar AVGP 6 × 6 Wheeled AFV 195 1976 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division  Canada Armoured fire support variant armed with 76-mm gun; being retired from reserve units and replaced with G-Wagen
Grizzly AVGP N/A 6 × 6 Wheeled APC 274 1976 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  Canada Life-extended & relegated to support roles after 2000; 100 loaned to African Union troops in Sudan.
Bison N/A 8 × 8 Wheeled APC 199 1990 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  Canada TRILS (Tactical Radar Identification and Location System) uses Bison chassis; 74 as Ambulances

60 Mortar vehicles, 35 Recovery vehicles, 16 Mobile Repair Team vehicles, 14 Electronic Warfare vehicles (AERIES)

M113A3/MTVL File:M113 in Panama.jpg Tracked APC 1,143 1960s-1991; 2001-2006 FMC,  United States 289 of original 1,143 M113's delivered mid-1960s to early 1990s upgraded to A3/MTVL; remainder declared surplus; used Taurus ARV tank tow vehicle. It is anticipated that the upgraded M113s will be in service until 2020.
LAV III File:15 at Vets 001.jpg 8 × 8 Wheeled AFV 651 1999 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division  Canada 313 LAV Infantry Section Carriers, 181 LAV Command Post variants, 33 LAV TOW Under Armour (TUA) variants (Turret equipped with 2 TOW launchers), 47 LAV Forward Observation Officer (FOO) variants, 44 LAV Engineer variants, 33 Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle (MMEV). According to the Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie , 33 per cent of the army's light-armoured vehicles (LAVs) were out of service. He said Ottawa needs to get rid of the red tape and ensure that broken equipment gets fixed. [2]
ADATS Air-Defense, Anti-Tank System 34 1989 Rheinmetall Defence (formerly Oerlikon Contraves),  Canada Mounted on M113 Armored Personnel Carrier platform
Leopard C2 Main Battle Tank 66 1979– Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany 114 Leopard C1 tanks were upgraded to Leopard C2 in 2000–2001; Deployed in Afghanistan
Leopard 2A4+ Main Battle Tank 95 2007– Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany 80 Leopard 2A4 from Netherlands were updated in 2007-2008 with L55 gun, designated "Leopard 2A4+" and 15 Leopard 2A4 from Germany for spare parts and training, in the summer of 2007.[3]
Leopard 2A6/2A6M Main Battle Tank 40 2007– Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany A squadron of 20 Leopard 2A6M tanks "for deployed operations" was leased from the German Bundeswehr for use in Afghanistan for interim use (starting August 2007)[4]. 40 Leopard 2A6 were purchased from the Netherlands 20 will receive upgrade for 2A6M (mine protection).[3]. The 20 German Leopard 2A6Ms will likely be retained and replaced with 20 of the 2A6s purchased from the Netherlands at the end of the lease agreement leaving a total of 40 2A6 for Canada.

Mine-Resistant Vehicles

Model Image Type Number Dates Builder Details
Mamba/Nyala Armoured Personnel Carrier 75 2006 BAE Systems Land Systems,  United Kingdom/ South Africa Deployed in Afghanistan.
Cougar H Armoured Fighting Vehicle 6 2007- Force Protection Inc,  United States/ South Africa Deployed in Afghanistan. Additional 34 ordered for 2009
Buffalo H Mine Clearing System 5 2007- Force Protection Inc,  United States/ South Africa Deployed in Afghanistan. Additional 14 for delivery in 2009
JSFU File:Aardvark mine vehicle.jpg Mine Clearing System 1? 2000 Aardvark,  United Kingdom Deployed in Afghanistan
Husky N/A Mine Clearing System 5 2007- DCD Dorbyl,  South Africa Deployed in Afghanistan; 1 damaged by mine

Engineering/Support Vehicles

Model Image Type Number Dates Builder Details
Husky AVGP Armoured Recovery Vehicle 27 1976 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  Canada 5 loaned to African Union troops in Sudan.
ARV 3 M Buffalo "Büffel" Armoured Recovery Vehicle 2 (8) 2007– Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany 2 Leopard 2-based ARVs were purchased from Germany and delivered to Afghanistan in August 2007. Another 6 Leopard 2 are to be converted from the purchased Leopard 2A4's into support variants (armoured recovery vehicles, armoured bridge-laying vehicles and armoured engineering vehicles) are planned.[3]
AEV Badger "Dachs" Armoured Engineering Vehicle 9 1990 Rheinmetall Defence (formerly MAK),  Germany Uses Leopard 1 chassis; armed with 7.62-mm machine gun (coax) C6–7.62-mm machine gun (external mount) 76-mm grenade launcher
AVLB Beaver "Biber" Armoured Bridge-Laying Vehicle 9 1978– Rheinmetall Defence (formerly MAK),  Germany Uses Leopard 1 chassis
ARV Taurus Armoured Recovery Vehicle 16 1978- Rheinmetall Defence (formerly MAK),  Germany Uses Leopard 1 chassis
Galion 850 series N/A Road grader N/A N/A Galion Iron Works,  United States
KMK 2025 N/A Crane N/A N/A Krupp,  Germany
Solar 220LC-III N/A Tracked Excavator N/A N/A Daewoo,  South Korea

Miscellaneous Vehicles

Model Image Type Number Dates Builder Details
TRILS N/A Tactical Radar Identification and Location System 4 1997 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  Canada Based on Bison chassis.
AERIES N/A Advanced Electronic Reconnaissance Intelligence Evaluation System 6 1995 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  Canada Based on Bison chassis.
ADPROWPU N/A Advanced Double Pass Portable Reverse-Osmosis Water Purification Unit 40 1990s Zenon Environmental Inc (now GE Water),  Canada Delivery of units by DART; Contract to upgrade trailer units given to Seprotech Systems Incorporated, Ottawa ON; units used in Canada, Pakistan, Haiti and Afghanistan
CH-146 Griffon Utility Helicopter 85 1995-1997 Bell Helicopter Textron,  United States/ Canada Armed versions deployed to Afghanistan to escort heavy lift helicopters
CH-147 Chinook File:Canadianchinook.jpg Cargo Helicopter 6 currently in use since December 2008, 16 to be delivered between 2010-2011 2008 Boeing,  United States In June 2006 that the Canadian government had announced a CDN$ 4.7 billion program to purchase 16 CH-47F and 6 CH-47D medium-heavy helicopters for military and disaster response roles.

6 Chinooks to be deployed in Afghanistan near end of 2008.

AHSVS File:AHSVS.jpg Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle Systems 86; option for additional 26 2008-? Mercedes-Benz,  Germany Deployed in Afghanistan 2008
DAF XF95 Tropco Tractor N/A HET Tractor 1-2? 2007 DAF Trucks,  Netherlands Leased from Dutch Army until delivery of AHSVS is complete
Broshuis HET N/A Heavy Equipment Trailer 1-2? 2007 Broshuis BV,  Netherlands Leased from Dutch Army for use in Afghanistan.
Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 3 2 2009 IAI,  Israel One HERON Crash in Kandahar Airfield in March 2009 , the reason still a mystery. [1] Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Allows "ground forces to see...in real time [the] images acquired by the aircraft's sensors on a laptop on the ground"[5]

[2]

Weapons/Artillery

Main article: List of infantry weapons and equipment of the Canadian military
Model Type Number Dates Manufacturer Details
Browning-HP 9 mm pistol Semi-automatic pistol N/A 1944 Inglis,  Canada License produced by Inglis during WW2
P225, 226 pistol Semi-automatic pistol N/A N/A SIGARMS,  Switzerland
Remington 870 c. 1950 Shotgun N/A N/A Remington Arms,  United States
FN P90 Personal Defense Weapon N/A N/A Fabrique Nationale,  Belgium Used by JTF2
MP5 Submachine gun N/A N/A Heckler & Koch,  Germany Used by JTF2 and naval boarding parties
C7A1 rifle/C8A1 carbine/C-7A2 rifle Assault rifle N/A 1986 Diemaco/Colt Canada,  Canada License produced and modified M16
C9 LMG Light machine gun N/A 1986 Fabrique Nationale,  Belgium FN MINIMI
C6 GPMG General purpose machine gun N/A 1978 Fabrique Nationale,  Belgium FN MAG
Browning .50 Cal Heavy machine gun N/A N/A John M. Browning,  United States
C3A1 Rifle Sniper rifle N/A N/A Parker Hale,  United Kingdom being phased out and replaced with the C14 sniper rifle
C14 Timberwolf Sniper rifle N/A 2005 PGW Defence Technologies Inc.,  Canada Just entering service as the standard sniper rifle of the Canadian Forces. Chambered for .338 Lapua
McMillan TAC-50 Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW) Sniper rifle N/A 2000 McMillan Brothers,  United States
C13 fragmentation grenade Hand grenade N/A N/A  United States
M203A1 grenade launcher Grenade launcher N/A N/A  United States
M3 Carl Gustav 84 mm SRAAW(M) Recoilless rifle N/A M2 1969, M3 1988 Bofors,  Sweden
M72 anti-tank weapon Shoulder-launched rocket N/A N/A Nammo,  Norway
ERYX ATM Anti-tank missile 435 1994 MBDA,  France/ Canada Short-ranged, man portable anti-tank missile
TOW ATM Anti-tank missile N/A N/A  United States Long-ranged anti-tank missile
60 mm mortar Mortar N/A N/A  United States
81 mm mortar Mortar N/A N/A  United Kingdom
C2 close support howitzer Howitzer N/A N/A  United States Used by the reserves only
C3 close support howitzer Howitzer 96 1998  United States Used by the reserves only
LG1 Mark II 105 mm towed howitzer Howitzer 28 1997 GIAT,  France
M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer Howitzer 12 2005-2008 British Vickers,  United Kingdom Requested a further sale of up to 37
XM982 Excalibur 155mm artillery shell Precision-guided munition N/A 2008 Raytheon/BAE Systems Bofors,  United States
Skyguard/35 mm twin-gun System Anti-aircraft artillery 20 1950-1970 Oerlikon,  Germany

Other Equipment

Model/Type Number Dates Manufacturer Details
Vanguard Mk2 UGV N/A 2007 Allen Vanguard,  Canada [3] [4]
CG634 Helmet N/A 1997 CGF Gallet,  Canada replaced M1 Helmet
CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) - Arid Regions uniform N/A 2002  Canada replaced old olive green Combat Dress
CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) - Temperate Woodland uniform N/A 1996  Canada replaced old olive green Combat Dress
Improved Landmine Detection System (ILDS) N/A 2000s N/A
Ferret Anti Sniper System 13 2005 MacDonald Dettwiler Corp Richmond, BC  Canada a microphone system mounted on the Coyote APC
QuikClot N/A 2007  United States chemical clotting agent to help clot wounds
hypertonic fluid N/A 2007 Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC),  Canada concentrated blood clotting agent
Xaver 800 N/A 2007 Camero Incorporated of Vienna, Virginia  United States microwave radar system - uses radio waves and converter to capture images
Medium Floating Bridge (MFB) N/A N/A N/A floating bridge
Medium Girder Bridge {MGB} N/A N/A N/A light modular bridge
Minelab F1A4 N/A N/A N/A hand held mine detector
NODLR N/A N/A N/A night vision camera
Track Way N/A N/A N/A portable road for soft ground conditions
E-One Cyclone N/A N/A N/A fire pumper
Oshkosk N/A N/A N/A airport fire tender
744RBL Multi-Purpose Engineer Vehicle Arva Industries  Canada rapid back hoe loader
AT 3033 Arva Industries  Canada rough/all terrain crane

Future Projects

Model Type Number Dates Manufacturer Details
High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Multiple rocket launcher 17 2012 BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems  United Kingdom Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, said the plan to acquire rocket launchers was something that "would be considered much further down the road -- possibly in the 2012 time frame."[5] [6] [7] [8]
Close Combat Vehicle Infantry fighting vehicle 20 2009-2010 BAE System Mobility & Protection Systems  United Kingdom The Department of National Defence is considering the purchase of vehicle meant to accompany MBTs into combat. The CV90 and the Puma (IFV) are the most likely candidates for the role. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Infantry fighting vehicle Infantry fighting vehicle N/A N/A General Dynamics  Canada The Department of National Defence is considering the purchase of a new fleet of a modified Light Armoured Vehicle to replaced the current LAV III fleet, the LAV-H is the most likely candidates for the role.[14] [15] [16]
Future Soldiers N/A 2010 Rheinmetall Canada  Canada In late 2008, Ottawa had announced the future soldiers program called Battle Management Command and Control Communication Computer and Information (BMC41). A contract with Rheinmetall [17] [18] [19]

Historic and Retired Equipment

See: List of infantry weapons and equipment of the Canadian military

Uniforms, load bearing and protective equipment

Uniforms

See also: Battledress, Uniforms of the Canadian Forces

Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Foreign Service Dress 1900-1903 1900-1903  United Kingdom
Service Dress 1907-1940  United Kingdom
Canadian Pattern and British Pattern  United Kingdom/ Canada
Khaki Drill 1900-1949  United Kingdom
Battle Dress 1939-1967  United Kingdom
Denison smock Used by the Airborne  United Kingdom
Bush Dress 1950-1960  Canada/ United Kingdom
Combat Dress 1968-2002  Canada
CADPAT camouflage Combat Dress 2002-present  Canada

Load bearing equipment

Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Oliver Pattern Equipment 1898-19??
1903 Pattern Bandolier Equipment
1937 Pattern Web Equipment
1942 Battle Jerkin
1951 Pattern Web Equipment
1964 Pattern Web Equipment
1982 Pattern Web Equipment
Tactical Vest (or just known as Tac Vest) 2003- Present

Head dress

Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Wolseley" helmets  United Kingdom
Glengarry  United Kingdom
Tam o'shanter  United Kingdom
Field Service Cap  United Kingdom
Beret 19th Century-present  United Kingdom
Brodie helmet WWI  United Kingdom
Kettle hat WWII  United Kingdom
M1 Helmet 1960s-1990s  United States
Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops early 1990s  United States
SPECTRA helmet/Barrday Helmet CG634 1997-present  France
American DH-132A Crewman Helmet 1990s?  United States

Protective equipment

Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Fragmentation Protection Vest

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.

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, Bombadier, and Master Bombadier respectively.

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
 Canadian Army[6][7]
General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer cadet
Général(e) Lieutenant(e)-général(e) Major(e)-général(e) Brigadier(ère)-général(e) Colonel(le) Lieutenant(e)-colonel(le) Major(e) Capitaine Lieutenant(e) Sous-lieutenant(e) Élève-officier(ère)
  • 1 Honorary/War time rank.
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Canadian Army[6][7]
Chief warrant officer Master warrant officer Warrant officer Sergeant Master corporal Corporal Private (trained) Private (basic)
Adjudant(e)-chef Adjudant(e)-maître Adjudant(e) Sergent(e) Caporal(e)-chef Caporal(e) Soldat(e) (formé(e)) Soldat(e) (confirmé(e))

Battles involving the Canadian army

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

Publications

Notes

  1. ^ "MacKay announces 1,300 new military trucks", Winnipeg Sun, January 9, 2009
  2. ^ LAV-III out of service
  3. ^ a b c DND backgrounder, Renewing the Canadian Forces' Tank Capability, April 12, 2007
  4. ^ Background—CF Leased & Purchased Leopard 2A6M/2A4 Tanks, at CASR
  5. ^ Christoff, Stefan (January 28, 2009). "Canadian Drones Patrol Afghan Airspace". The Dominion. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  6. ^ a b "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b "The Canadian Armed Forces modernizes military ranks in French". Canada. Government of Canada. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.

References

See also

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