Land Force Command

  

 
History
History of the Canadian Army
Canadian Corps
First Canadian Army
Military History of Canada
Structure
Structure of the Canadian Army
Land Force Atlantic Area
Land Force Quebec Area
Land Force Central Area
Land Force Western Area
List of Units
 
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Military history of Canada:
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Iraq War

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.

Contents

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) - Light 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

Vehicles/Armoured Vehicles

[1]

Model Type Number Dates Builder Details
MILCOTS (Milverado) 2500HD - 2003 Silverado Basic model 861 (GM K25943HD) light pickup truck - classified as utility vehicle wheeled 1,061 2003-2004 Chevrolet,  United States replacing the Bombardier Iltis jeeps in non combat use in Canada
G-Wagen 4 × 4 light Armoured fighting vehicle 1,159 2003-2004 Mercedes-Benz, Germany replaced the Iltis light trucks in Afghanistan
Mamba/Nyala landmine-resistant 4×4 armoured personnel carrier 75 2006 BAE Systems Land Systems, United Kingdom/South Africa deployment in Afghanistan
MLVW (deuce and a half) medium logistic vehicle, wheeled 2,769 1982 General Motors Corporation/Bombardier, United States/Canada based on M35/M36 series trucks; procured new trucks to replace them - Oshkosh Truck Corporation MTVR truck
LSVW light support vehicle, wheeled 2,879 1993-1997 Western Star, Kelowna, British Columbia based on Iveco model 40.10 with trailer units
HLVW heavy lift vehicle 1,212 1992 Urban Transportation Development Corporation, Canada based on Steyr 1491 Percheron truck chassis
ADPROWPU Advanced Double pass portable reverse-osmosis water purification unit 40 1990s Zenon Environmental Inc, Oakville, ON Canada (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
Cougar AVGP 6 × 6 Armoured fighting vehicle (general purpose 195 1976 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division, United States Armoured 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/ Canada 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/ Canada 5 loaned to African Union troops in Sudan.
Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle (8×8) Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle 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 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
LAV III Kodiak 8 × 8 light Armoured fighting vehicle 651 1999 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)
ADATS air-defence, antitank system 34 1989 Rheinmetall Defence (formerly Oerlikon Contraves),  Canada 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; deployment in Afghanistan
Leopard 2A6/2A6M main battle tank 60 2007– Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany A squadron of 20 Leopard 2A6M tanks "for deployed operations" were purchased from the German Bundeswehr for use in Afghanistan for interim use (starting August 2007)[1]. 40 Leopard 2A6 were purchased from the Netherlands 20 will receive upgrade for 2A6M (mine protection).[2]
Leopard 2A4+ main battle tank 130 2007– Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany 80 Leopard 2A4 from Netherlands were update in 2007-2008 with L55 gun ,designed "Leopard 2A4+" and 50 Leopard 2A4 from Germany for spare parts and training, in the summer of 2007.[2]
ARV 3 M Buffalo "Büffel" key support vehicles 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.[2]
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
Bv206 tracked vehicle 78 1983 BAE Systems Hägglunds - Haaglunds, Sweden
CH-146 Griffon tactical utility helicopter 100 1995-1997 Bell Helicopter Textron, Uni United States/ Canada
CH-147 Cargo helicopter 22 2008 Boeing, Uni 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.
KMK 2025 crane (equipment) N/A N/A Krupp,  Germany
Solar 220LC-III Tracked Excavator N/A N/A Daewoo,  South Korea civilian painted with military colour
TRILS Tactical Radar Identification and Location System 4 1997 General Dynamics Canada/General Motors Diesel Division,  United States/ Canada based on Bison (8×8)
Galion 850 series Road grader N/A N/A Galion, Ohio,  United States civilian painted with military colour
JSFU Mine clearing system 1? 2000 Aardvark, United Kingdom  United Kingdom deployment in Afghanistan
M-Gator all terrain vehicle/transport and support N/A N/A Deere & Company,  United States deployment in Afghanistan
Cougar (vehicle) H armoured fighting vehicle 6 2007- Force Protection Inc, United States deployment in Afghanistan 34 ordered for 2009
Buffalo (mine protected vehicle) H mine removal system 5 2007- Force Protection Inc,  United States/Flag of South Africa deployment in Afghanistan additional 14 for delivery in 2009
Husky mine removal system 5 2007- DCD Dorbyl, Flag of South Africa deployment in Afghanistan; 1 damaged by mine
Actros Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle Systems (AHSVS) 8 x8 armoured heavy support vehicle 86; option for additional 26 2008-? Mercedes-Benz,  Germany deployment in Afghanistan 2008
DAF XF95 Tropco Tractor HET Tractor 1-2? 2007 DAF Trucks  Netherlands leased from Dutch Army
Broshuis HET Heavy Equipment Trailer 1-2? 2007 Broshuis BV  Netherlands leased from Dutch Army in Afghanistan

Weapons/Artillery

Main article: List of infantry weapons and equipment of the Canadian military
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/ United States
C6 machine-gun N/A N/A FN MAG,  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, Template:Canadian made in WW2
Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW) N/A 2000 McMillan Brothers,  United States
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 gun N/A N/A Bofors, Flag of Sweden
M72 anti-tank weapon N/A N/A Nammo, Flag of Norway
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) 435 1994 MBDA,  France
Javelin short-range air defence missile 110 N/A  United Kingdom
LG1 Mark II 105 mm towed howitzer 28 1997 Giat Industries,  France
M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer 12 2005-2008 British Vickers,  United Kingdom Requested a further sale of up to 37
XM982 Excalibur 155mm guided artillery shell N/A 2008 Raytheon/BAE Systems Bofors,  United States
Skyguard / 35 mm twin-gun low-level air defence 20 1950-1970 Oerlikon,  Germany
C2 close support howitzer N/A N/A  United States
C3 close support howitzer 96 1998  United States
P225, 226 pistol N/A N/A SIGARMS, Flag of Switzerland
Remington 870 shotgun c. 1950 N/A N/A Remington Arms,  United States

Other equipment

Model/Type Number Dates Manufacturer Details
Elbit Skylark N/A 2007 Elbit Systems,  Israel miniature unmanned aerial vehicle [2]
CG634 Helmet N/A 1997 CGF Gallet,  Canada replaced M1 Helmet
CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) - Arid Regions uniform N/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
744RBL Multi-Purpose Engineer Vehicle Arva Industries  Canada rapid back hoe loader
AT 3033 Arva Industries  Canada rough/all terrain crane

Historic equipment (World War II-present)

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Trucks

Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
M151A2 Jeep 1974-1984 AM General  United States (935 purchased)
M38A1CDN Jeep 1952-1984 Ford  Canada
M38A1CDN2 Jeep 1967-1984  Canada
M38A1CDN3 Jeep 1970-1984 Ford  Canada
Willys Jeep  United States
Morris C8  United Kingdom
AEC Matador  United Kingdom
Diamond T 4-Ton lorry  United States
Ford F-8 Ford Motor Company of Canada  Canada
Ford F-15 Ford Motor Company of Canada  Canada
Ford F-30 Ford Motor Company of Canada  Canada
Ford F-60S, F-60L, F-60H, F-60T Ford Motor Company of Canada  Canada
Ford F-GT Ford Motor Company of Canada  Canada
General Motors Canada (CHEVROLET) C-8, C-8A General Motors of Canada  Canada
General Motors Canada (CHEVROLET) C-15, C-15A General Motors of Canada  Canada
General Motors Canada (CHEVROLET) C15TA Armoured Truck General Motors of Canada  Canada
General Motors Canada (CHEVROLET) C-30, C-60S, C-60L, C-60X General Motors of Canada  Canada
General Motors Canada (CHEVROLET) C-GT General Motors of Canada  Canada
General Motors Canada (CHEVROLET) Field Artillery Tractor General Motors of Canada  Canada
Daimler Dingo Daimler Motor Company  United Kingdom
Daimler Mk. I Armoured Car Daimler Motor Company  United Kingdom
Humber Mk. I Scout Car Humber  United Kingdom
Humber Mk. IV Armoured Car Humber  United Kingdom
M3 Scout Car White Motor Company  United States
Otter Light Reconnaissance Car General Motors Canada  Canada
Staghound Armoured Car General Motors Canada  United States
Fox Armoured Car Ford Motor Company of Canada  Canada
Otter Light Reconnaissance Car General Motors of Canada  Canada
Lynx Scout Car Daimler Motor Company Template:UK/CAN
M5 Reconnaissance Vehicle (A turretless variant of the M5 light tank)  United States

Armoured carriers and armoured tractors

Model/Type Period or Years in Use Manufacturer/Origins
Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier) Vickers or White Motor Company  United States/ United Kingdom/ Canada
M7 Priest Kangaroo (Converted from M7 Priest SP howitzer) Rock Island Arsenal, Detroit Tank Arsenal, American Locomotive Company  United States
Ram Kangaroo (Converted from Ram I and II tanks) Montreal Locomotive Works and American Locomotive Company  Canada/ United States
Sherman Kangaroo (Converted from Sherman tanks) Wright Corporation  United States (Designer)
Loyd Carrier Carden-Loyd Tractors Limited and Vickers-Armstron  United Kingdom
Universal Carrier Vickers  United Kingdom
Wasp - A Universal Carrier with flame-thrower equipment Vickers  United Kingdom
T-16 Carrier Vickers  United Kingdom
Windsor Carrier Vickers  United Kingdom
M3A1 Half-track Rock Island Arsenal, Detroit Tank Arsenal, American Locomotive Company  United States