The Canadian Rangers are a Reserve sub-component of the Canadian Forces which provide a limited military presence in Canada's sparsely settled northern, coastal, and isolated areas. Formally established on May 23 1947, the main duty of this volunteer, 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. Each Canadian Ranger is issued a red Ranger sweatshirt, armband, baseball cap, and a safety vest, and in some northern remote areas, snowmobiles. The rangers are a fully volunteer force made up largely of Inuit. Members of the Rangers are only paid when on training and special missions.
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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 stood down on September 30 1945.
Patrol Area of the PCMR
The PCMR was comprised of 138 companies under 3 major patrol areas:
- Vancouver Island
- Lower Fraser Valley
- Bridge River Area
Officers of the PCMR
- Lieutenant-Colonel C.W. Peck, VC, DSO
- Lieutenant-Colonel A.L. Coote, VD
- Major H. Ashby, DCM, MM
Rangers Today
There are currently 4,000 Canadian Rangers serving in five Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups (CRPG) in 165 communities, and they are expected to reach a strength of 4,800 by 2008.
Equipment
| Make | Type | Quantity | Year Entered Service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombardier Recreational Products Ski-Doos | snowmobile | N/A | 1980s | |
| N/A | rigid hull motor boats | N/A | 1980s | |
| Scott Canoe | aluminum canoes | N/A | 1980s | |
| Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle | rifle | N/A | 1940s | using .303 British |
| N/A | GPS compass | N/A | 1990s | |
| N/A | astrocompass | N/A | N/A | |
| N/A | shortwave radio | N/A | N/A |
Weapons
The previously issued weapon of the Canadian Rangers is the .303 British calibre Lee Enfield No 4 rifle, with 200 rounds of ammunition each year. While the Lee Enfield No 4 rifle is an old WWII-era, bolt-action rifle, it has proved very reliable in sub-zero Arctic conditions. Rangers are still permitted to carry the weapon, though since they are no longer expected to engage enemy forces, the requirement to carry a firearm has been dropped. On 10 August 2007, Prime Minister 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.
Patrol areas
- Canadian Forces Northern Area (CFNA) — 1 CRPG, 58 patrols, Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory, and Nunavut. Headquarters are in Yellowknife.
- Land Forces Quebec Area (LFQA) — 2 CRPG, 23 patrols, Quebec. Headquarters are in St.-Jean.
- Land Forces Central Area (LFCA) — 3 CRPG, 15 patrols, Ontario. Headquarters are in Borden.
- Land Forces Western Area (LFWA) — 4 CRPG, 38 patrols, British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta. Headquarters are in Victoria.
- Land Forces Atlantic Area (LFAA) — 5 CRPG, 29 patrols, Newfoundland and Labrador. Headquarters are in Halifax and Gander.
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".
See also
External links
References
- ^ Backgrounder - Expanding Canadian Forces Operations in the Arctic 10 August 2007 http://www.pm.gc.ca/includes/send_friend_eMail_print.asp?URL=/eng/media.asp&id=1785&langFlg=e
