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Land Force Command (LFC) is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Canadian Army 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 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.
[edit] 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.
-
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.
[edit] 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 Borden, Ontario
- CFB Petawawa, Ontario (2 CMBG)
- LFCATC Meaford, Ontario
- CFB Montreal, Quebec
- CFB 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
- Connaught Range and Primary Training Center
[edit] 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.
[edit] Regular Force
See:List of units of the Canadian Army
[edit] Armoured
Regular Force units include:
[edit] Artillery
Canada's regular field artillery has traditionally been called the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. Canada currently has four Regular Force regiments:
[edit] Combat engineers
[edit] 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
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.
[edit] Reserve Force
See:List of units of the Canadian Army
[edit] Structure
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[edit] Commanders, Mobile Command
[edit] Chiefs of Land Staff
[edit] Equipment
[edit] 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 |
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 |
| HLVW |
heavy lift vehicle |
1,212 |
1992 |
Urban Transportation Development Corporation, Canada |
based on Austria's Steyr Percheron truck chassis |
| ROWPU |
reverse-osmosis water purification unit |
40 |
1990s |
Zenon Environmental Inc, Canada |
|
| 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. |
| Lynx reconnaissance vehicle |
armoured reconnaissance vehicle |
174 |
1968–1993 |
FMC United States |
replaced by Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle |
| Kodiak |
armoured personnel carrier |
+100 |
N/A |
Canada |
|
| Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle (8×8) |
armoured 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 |
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 |
1978– |
Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence,  Germany |
114 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] until they are replaced by 40 to be purchased from the Netherlands.[2] |
| Leopard 2A4 |
main battle tank |
100 |
2007– |
Krauss-Maffei/ Rheinmetall Defence, Germany |
100 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 (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 |
| M109 |
self-propelled howitzer |
76 |
1960s-1980s |
United Defense Limited Partnership, United States |
Retired mid-2000s - |
| 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 |
|
| M151A2 |
light truck |
935 |
1974-1975 |
A.M. General Corp, United States |
replaced by the Volkswagen Iltis truck in 1984 |
| KMK 2025 |
crane |
N/A |
N/A |
Krupp, Germany |
|
| Solar 220LC-III |
Tracked [[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/ Canada |
based on Bison (8×8) |
| M109A4 |
Self Propelled Howitzer |
76 |
N/A |
Bowen McLaughlin-York, United States |
all retired |
| Galion 850 series |
Road grader |
N/A |
N/A |
Galion, Ohio, United States |
|
| JSFU |
Mine clearing system |
1? |
2000 |
Aardvark, United Kingdom  United Kingdom |
deployment in Afghanistan |
| M-Gator ATV |
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 |
| Buffalo (mine protected vehicle) H |
mine removal system |
5 |
2007- |
Force Protection Inc, United States/ |
deployment in Afghanistan |
| Husky |
mine removal system |
5 |
2007- |
DCD Dorbyl, |
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 |
[edit] 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 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, 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 gun |
N/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) |
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 |
6 |
2008 |
British Vickers, United Kingdom |
|
| 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 |
|
| C1 close support howitzer |
N/A |
N/A |
United States |
|
| C3 close support howitzer |
N/A |
N/A |
United States |
|
| P225, 226 pistol |
N/A |
N/A |
SIGARMS,  |
|
| Remington 870 shotgun c. 1950 |
N/A |
N/A |
Remington Arms, United States |
|
[edit] 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 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 |
[edit] Historic equipment (World War II)
[edit] Trucks
[edit] Armoured carriers and armoured tractors
[edit] Training tanks
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