From: Adrian Johnson <ajohnson@i...>
Date: Sat, 01 Dec 2001 01:48:39 -0500
Subject: Re: Questions regarding NAC ground units- CANADIAN units and stuff
There is representation in the NAC from all originating nations, plus stuff created since. 2nd Drop Cavalry, comes to mind as a "new" example. I think. And there's the "Tacoma", "Ticonderoga", and "Valley Forge" class ships in the NAC navy. And Gurkhas, of course. Gotta have the Gurkhas... > Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 21:19:13 EST If you're interested, take a peek at: http://www.dnd.ca/eng/archive/2001/nov01/163PPCLI_b_e.htm The Princess Pat's were formed in 1914 when a private citizen (his name was Gault, a Montreal businessman and a Captian in the Militia) offered the government $100,000 to raise a regiment. The government accepted, the call went out, but with the limitation that only veterans of military service in the Empire were eligible. They filled the regiment (1100 troops - a strong battalion) in 8 days, and headed off to Europe. The Regiment fought in both World Wars, then distinguished itself in Korea where 2nd Bn, PPCLI won the United States Presidential Unit Citation (the only Canadian unit to ever receive the honour, and 2PPCLI still wear the badge, I believe). They've been active ever since, and remain as one of the three regular infantry regiments in the Canadian Army. Their 3rd Battalion is currently on 48 hours notice to deploy, with orders for Afghanistan, though this is on hold after the Northern Alliance refused to let in more British troops. 3PPCLI is the regiment's "Light" battalion, organized the same as the other battalions (who are mechanized) but with none of the mech vehicles, and with lighter equipment, etc. They maintain a company of parachutists, a company of airmobile troops - light stuff. The force ready to deply to Afghanistan also has a Squadron of Combat Engineers, I believe. Take a look at the link - there's a lot more about the Regiment and its 3rd battalion. The other two Regular infantry Regiments in the army are the RCR (Royal Canadian Rifles) and the "Van Doos" (the Royal 22nd Regiment - and I forget how they word it in French. The RCR are based in Ontario, with a battalion out in the maritimes. The PPCLI are based in Western Canada, and the Van Doos are all-French-Canadian, and are based in Quebec. We have three mechanized brigades built around these regiments, and each has an armoured unit, artillery, engineers, etc. The armoured regiments are the Lord Strathcona's Horse (out West), the Royal Canadian Dragoons (here in Ontario, with the RCR) and the "Deuxieme Regiment Blinde De Canada" (12eme RBC - otherwise known as the "Rubber Boot Company") - the French armoured unit. Canada also maintains a unit called "Joint Task Force 2", who manage *very effectively* to remain unseen, and who are our primary Special Operations force. They may have deployed a number of troops, probably in the order of 150 to 200, to Afghanistan. We think. But the government isn't talking... (as they shouldn't). There are a whole host of Reserve regiments that have huge long histories (well, in Canadian terms at least) that have at various times been part of the Regular forces (during wars) or were Regular until relatively recently and then demobilized as Regs and reactivated as reserves, with downsizing. The last two units of regular infantry to become reserve units were the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (based here in Toronto - their museum is a neat place, given that the unit has history that predates much of the country, and they went to Africa during the Boer War and every major conflict after that) and the Black Watch of Canada - based in Montreal. Lots of *tiny* "Regiments* that are kept on strength to maintain a cadre for wartime mobilization. There have been *no* whole reserve units sent on deployment out of the country in decades, but almost all of the Canadian overseas deployments in the past 20 years have had Reservists participating, some at quite significant levels. Somebody mentioned the Canadian Rangers. That's quite an interesting organization, being made up almost entirely of Northern Native Canadians, mostly Innuit but from other tribes also. They're *expert* in Arctic operations, but are not part of the Regular forces. They are reservists, but certain units are on standby for stuff like Arctic Search and Rescue (lots and lots of international air traffic over our Arctic, and these guys train in rescue if something bad happens). They were also poised to keep the Soviets out of our turf during the Cold War, but I don't think were ever intended for overseas deployment. They also provide arctic warfare training to our regular troops and our allies. Anyway, there's a lot more out there if you're interested. Tomb or I can probably give you links if you're keen - contact us off list if you want it. I don't want to put everyone else to sleep:)