Canadian Forces Land Force Command
About 16 pages (4,762 words)
Land Force Command (LFC ) is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces . LFC maintains bases across Canada and is responsible for the largest component of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve — the Army Reserve, often referred to as the "militia". The Chief of 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
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
CFB Edmonton, Alberta (1 CMBG , CTR Wainwright)CFB Suffield, Alberta CFB-TC Shilo, Manitoba LFWA TC Wainwright, Alberta CFB Kingston, Ontario CFB Petawawa, Ontario (2 CMBG)LFCATC Meaford , OntarioCFB Montreal , QuebecCFB Valcartier, Quebec (5 CMBG)CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick (CTC)LFAATC Det Aldershot, Kentville Nova Scotia
CFB Trenton, Ontario , Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre (formerly CPC)Four Mile Point Live Firing Range - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Regiments 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 comprised of anglophone units, while one third is francophone .
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:
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Royal 22e Régiment
Structure
Equipment
Vehicles [1]
Model
Type
Number
Dates
Builder
Details
G-Wagen 4 × 4light utility vehicle
1,159
2004-
Mercedes-Benz , Germanyreplaced the Iltis light trucks in Afghanistan
Mamba /Nyala landmine-resistant 4×4 armoured personnel carrier
75
2006
BAE Systems Land Systems , United Kingdom/South Africadeployment in Afghanistan
MLVW
medium logistic vehicle, wheeled
2,769
1982
General Motors Corporation /Bombardier , United States/Canadabased on M35/M36 series trucks ; procured new trucks to replace them
LSVW
light support vehicle, wheeled
2,879
1993-1997
Western Star , United Statesbased on Iveco model 40.10
HLVW
heavy lift vehicle
1,212
1992
Urban Transportation Development Corporation , Canadabased on Austrian Steyr Percheron truck chassis
ROWPU
reverse-osmosis water purification unit
N/A
1990s
Zenon Environmental Inc, Canada
Cougar AVGP
6 × 6 armoured vehicle (general purpose)
100
1976
General Dynamics Canada /General Motors Diesel Division , United StatesArmoured fire support variant armed with 76-mm gun; being retired from reserve units and replaced with G-Wagon
Grizzly AVGP
armoured personnel carrier
274
1976
General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division, United States
Life-extended & relegated to support roles after 2000; 100 loaned to African Union troops in Sudan.
Husky AVGP
armoured recovery
27
1976
General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division, United States
5 loaned to African Union troops in Sudan.
Lynx reconnaissance vehicle armoured reconnaissance
174
1968–1993
FMC , United Statesreplaced by Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle
Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle (8×8)armoured reconnaissance
203
1996
General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division, United States/Canada
replaced the Lynx reconnaissance vehicle
Bison (8×8) armoured personnel carrier
199
1990
General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division, United States/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 tracked armoured personnel carrier
289
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
LAV III 8 × 8 light armoured vehicle
651
1999-
General Motors Diesel Division, United States/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)
ADATS air-defence, antitank system
34
1989
Rheinmetall Defence (formerly Oerlikon Contraves ), Canadaon M113 Armored Personnel Carrier platform
Leopard C2 main battle tank
66
1978–
Krauss-Maffei / Rheinmetall Defence , Germany114 Leopard C1 tanks were upgraded to Leopard C2 in 2000–2001; deployment in Afghanistan
Leopard 2A6M main battle tank
20 (40)
2007–
Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence , Germany
A squadron of 20 Leopard 2A6M tanks "for deployed operations" were borrowed from the German Bundeswehr for use in Afghanistan for interim use (starting August 2007)[1] Netherlands .[2]
Leopard 2A4 main battle tank
(40)
2007–
Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence , Germany
40 Leopard 2A4 tanks "for collective and individual training" are planned to be purchased from the Netherlands in the summer of 2007.[2]
ARV 3 M Buffalo "Büffel"key support vehicles
2 (20)
2007–
Rheinmetall Defence , Germany2 Leopard 2-based ARVs were borrowed from Germany and delivered to Afghanistan in August 2007. 20 Leopard 2 support variants (armoured recovery vehicles , armoured bridge-laying vehicles and armoured engineering vehicles ) are planned to be purchased from the Netherlands in the summer of 2007.[2]
AEV Badger "Dachs"armoured engineering vehicle 9
1990
Rheinmetall Defence (formerly MAK), Germanyuses 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), Germanyuses Leopard 1 chassis
ARV Taurus armoured recovery vehicle 8
1978-
Rheinmetall Defence (formerly MAK), Germanyuses Leopard 1 chassis
M109 self-propelled howitzer
76
1960s-1980s
United Defense Limited Partnership , United StatesRetired mid-2000s
Bv206 tracked vehicle
78
1983
BAE Systems Land Systems, United Kingdom
CH-146 Griffon tactical utility helicopter
98
1995-1997
Bell Helicopter Textron , United States/Canada
M151A2 light truck
935
1974-1975
Ford , United Statesreplaced by the Volkswagen Iltis truck in 1984
KMK 2025
crane
N/A
N/A
Krupp, Germany
Solar 220LC-III
Track Excavator
N/A
N/A
Daewoo , South Korea
TRILS
Tactical Radar Identification and Location System
4
1997
General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division, United States
based on Bison (8×8)
M109A4
Self Propelled Howitzer
76
N/A
Bowen McLaughlin-York, United States
all retired
Galion 850 seriesRoad grader
N/A
N/A
Galion, Ohio, United States
JSFU Mine clearing system
1?
2000
Aardvark, United Kingdom
deployment in Afghanistan
M-Gator ATVtransport and support
N/A
N/A
Deere & Company , United Statesdeployment in Afghanistan
Cougar (vehicle) armoured fighting vehicle 6
on order
Force Protection Inc , United Statesdeployment in Afghanistan
Buffalo (mine protected vehicle) mine removal system
5
deployed in Afghanistan
Force Protection Inc, United States / South Africa
deployment in Afghanistan
Chubby (mine detection system) mine removal system
5
on order
DCD Dorbyl , South Africadeployment in Afghanistan ; 1 damaged by mine
Actros Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle Systems (AHSVS)8 x8 armoured heavy support vehicle
86; option for additional 26
on order
Mercedes-Benz , Germany deployment in Afghanistan 2007
Weapons
Model/Type
Number
Dates
Manufacturer
Details
C9 machine-gun N/A
N/A
FN Minimi , Belgium
C7A1 rifle/C8A1 carbine/C-7A2 rifle N/A
N/A
Diemaco /Colt Canada , Canada
C6 machine-gun N/A
N/A
FN Minimi , Belgium
Browning .50 calibre heavy machine-gun N/A
N/A
John M. Browning, United States
Browning-HP 9 mm pistol N/A
1944
John M. Browning,
Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW) N/A
2000
McMillian Brothers, Canada
C3A1 sniper rifle N/A
N/A
Parker Hale, United Kingdom
being phased out and replaced with the C14 sniper rifle
C14 Timberwolf .338 Lapua sniper rifle
N/A
2005
PGW Defence Technologies Inc., Canada
Just entering service as the standard sniper rifle of the Canadian Forces
C13 fragmentation grenade N/A
N/A
United States
M203A1 grenade launcher N/A
N/A
United States
TOW anti-tank missile N/A
N/A
United States
M3 Carl Gustav 84mm SRAAW(M) anti-armour platoon gunN/A
N/A
Bofors ,
M72 anti-tank weapon N/A
N/A
Nammo ,
81 mm mortar N/A
N/A
United Kingdom
60 mm mortar N/A
N/A
United States
ERYX short-range anti-armour weapon (heavy)N/A
N/A
MBDA , United Kingdom
Javelin short-range air defence missile N/A
N/A
United Kingdom
LG1 Mark II 105 mm towed howitzer N/A
N/A
Giat Industries , France
M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer N/A
N/A
British Vickers , United Kingdom
Skyguard / 35 mm twin-gun low-level air defenceN/A
N/A
Oerlikon , Germany
C1 close support howitzer N/A
N/A
United States
C3 close support howitzer N/A
N/A
United States
P225, 226 pistolN/A
N/A
SIGARMS ,
Remington 870 shotgun c. 1950N/A
N/A
Remington Arms , United States
Other equipment
Model/Type
Number
Dates
Manufacturer
Details
CG634 Helmet
N/A
1997
CGF Gallet, Canada
replaced M1 Helmet
CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) - Arid Regions uniformN/A
2002
Canada
CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) - Temperate Woodland uniform
N/A
2002
Canada
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, Virigina 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
Historic equipment (World War II)
Trucks
Armoured carriers and armoured tractors
Tanks
Training tanks
Self-propelled artillery
Engineering vehicles
Artillery
Field artillery
Anti-tank guns
Anti-aircraft guns
Black powder rifles, carbines and pistols
Service rifles and carbines .303 rifles
Service pistols
Approved private purchase and secondary side-arms
Submachine guns
Machine guns, light machine guns and miscellaneous weapons
Infantry anti-tank weapons
Grenades, mines and other explosives
Infantry mortars
Bayonets and combat knives
Model/Type
Period or Years in Use
Manufacturer/Origins
Pattern 1888 Bayonet
Pattern 1907 Bayonet
Pattern 1913 Bayonet
Ross Bayonet
Canada
No. 4 Rifle Bayonets
Mk I Spike Bayonet
Mk II Spike Bayone
Mk III Spike Bayonet
No. 5 Mk II Knife Bayonet
No. 7 Knife Bayonet
No. 9 Socket Knife Bayonet
C1 Bayonet
Nella C7 Bayonet
Combat knives
Ammunition
Uniforms, load bearing and protective equipment Uniforms See also: Battledress , Uniforms of the Canadian Forces
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
Protective equipment
Model/Type
Period or Years in Use
Manufacturer/Origins
Fragmentation Protection Vest
Rank structure
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.
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
Canada No Equivalent No Equivalent
General
Lieutenant General
Major General
Brigadier General
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Officer Cadet
Général
Lieutenant-général
Major-général
Brigadier-général
Colonel
Lieutenant-colonel
Major
Capitaine
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
Eleve-Officier
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
Canada No insignia No insignia
Chief Warrant Officer
Master Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
Sergeant
Master Corporal
Corporal
Trained Private
Private Basic
Private (Recruit)
Battles involving the Canadian army The Canadian Army has participated in the following campaigns as a combatant:
Publications
Notes
^ Background — CF Leased & Purchased Leopard 2A6M/2A4 Tanks , at CASR^ a b c Renewing the Canadian Forces' Tank Capability , April 12 , 2007
References
See also
External links
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