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| Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | |
|---|---|
| Corps blindé royal canadien | |
 | |
| Active | 13 August 1940 – present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Personnel branch |
| Size |
|
| Mottos |
|
| Colours | Yellow and Red |
| March | "My Boy Willie"[1] |
| Website | Official website |
TheRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC; French:Corps blindé royal canadien) is thearmoured corps within theCanadian Army, including 3 Regular and 18 Reserve Force regiments,[2] as well as theRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps School.
The corps was formed as theCanadian Armoured Corps in 1940, within the Canadian Army (Active). In August 1945, it was given its "royal" designation, and following the Second World War, several Reserve Force units were incorporated into the corps. From 1968 until 2013, it was officially named theArmoured Branch.
Originally formed as theCanadian Cavalry Corps in 1910,[3]Canada's first tank units were not raised until late in 1918. Initially these units were considered to be part of theMachine Gun Corps and the 1st Canadian Tank Battalion, 2nd Canadian Tank Battalion and the3e Bataillon de chars d'assaut were all too late to join the fighting in the First World War. However, the 1st Canadian Tank Battalion was still training inMark V tanks in the U.K. when the Canadian Tank Corps was finally authorized two days after the armistice. It seems like tanks were forgotten by thecavalry after the war. Although, in the 1930s there were some small attempts at mechanization with motorcycles, experimentalarmoured cars and the purchase of a few trackedCarden Loyd machine gun carriers for training. However, the first tanks since the First World War did not arrive until a few machine gun–armed VickersMk VI light tanks appeared just one year before Canada went to war with Germany again.
The first set of Canadian armoured regiments were drawn from the cavalry. Many armoured regiments were created from cavalry units, and in fact the first "armoured" regiments were titled "mechanized cavalry" regiments. The second set of regiments was drawn from the tank corps (which formerly belonged to first the infantry and then the machine gun corps). This began in 1936 with the creation of tank battalions and continued on from 1940 when many other types of regiment were mobilized as armoured units for the Second World War.
From these modest beginnings the modern Canadian Armoured Corps began on 13 August 1940 with Major-General (then Colonel)F. F. Worthington as its first colonel-commandant. Over the course of the war from 1939 to 1944, the Armoured Corps gradually took over responsibilities from other corps, such as tank regiments all being converted to armoured regiments, the transition of infantry reconnaissance battalions to the Armoured Corps, as well as anti-armour responsibilities from the artillery corps. Towards the close of the Second World War, the corps was subsequently bestowed the honour of the 'royal' designation by King George VI in 1945.
Initiallyits equipment was 219 USM1917 tanks – a First World War design – obtained at scrap prices. They were sufficient for some training and familiarisation, but otherwise of very limited combat use. To form the 1st Army Tank Brigade,Valentine tanks were ordered. This British design was to be built in Canada. Aside from the necessary adjustments to the design to incorporate local engineering standards and available components, the Canadian Valentines used a GMC engine. This engine, being an improvement over the original, was later applied to British production. In practice, Canada never used most of the 1,400 Valentines they built, as they were supplied under lend-lease to the Soviet Union.
In early 1941 the 1st Tank Brigade was sent to Britain and equipped with theMatildainfantry tank.[4] For the formation of two armoured divisions it was expected that 1,200cruiser tanks were needed. The United Kingdom was not in a position to supply them, as it had shortfalls in supply for its own needs. This meant that Canada had to develop its own production. To this end a tank arsenal was set up under the management of a subsidiary of a US firm engaged in tank production in order to build theRam andGrizzly tanks and their variants in Canada.
Events of the Second World War thrust Canada into large-scale tank production with thousands of Valentine, Ram, and Grizzly (Sherman) tanks and their armoured variants being produced. Canada also went on to build modern armoured fighting vehicles that served during the Cold War, the War in Afghanistan and global peacekeeping operations.
In 1955, the corps was given an official French title (Corps blindé royal canadien) in addition to the English title.[5]
In 1968, with theunification of the Canadian Army into theCanadian Armed Forces, the name of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps was changed to simply the Armour Branch. Despite the change however, the corps continued to use its traditional title. In 2003, Canada planned to replace all its tanks with lightweightM1128 mobile gun systems.[6] In 2007, due to experience gained duringAfghanistan,Leopard tanks were purchased.[7] In April 2013, the traditional designation of the "Royal Canadian Armoured Corps" was restored for official use.[3]
TheRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps School atCFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, designs and conducts tactical and technical training for armoured crewmen and officers, in addition to maintaining specialized qualifications on behalf of the Canadian Army. Crewmen and officers are trained on theLeopard 2A4 MBT,Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle,LAV 6, andTextron tactical armoured patrol vehicle.[8]
The Tactics School at CFB Gagetown develops, conducts and monitorscombined-arms operations. Within abattle group context, the Tactics School focusses on tactics, techniques, and procedures at the combat team level. The Tactics School's mission is to educate and train army junior officers in the integration of combat functions at the combat team level on the tactical battlefield.[8]
A doctrinal Canadian armoured regiment consists of four squadrons ofmedium toheavy tanks, as well as a close reconnaissance troop equipped withlight tanks and/orarmoured cars.
| Order of precedence | Regiment | Headquarters | Role | Sub-Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Canadian Dragoons | CFB Petawawa | Armoured | Four light armoured squadrons (one shared with the 12e RBC). |
| 2 | Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) | CFB Edmonton | Armoured | Three heavy armoured squadrons. |
| 3 | 12e Régiment blindé du Canada | CFB Valcartier | Armoured | Three light armoured squadrons (one shared with the RCD). |
When required an armoured regiment will be tasked to provide an armoured squadron to its higher formation to provide it with a formation mounted reconnaissance capability.
Units on theSupplementary Order of Battle legally exist, but have no personnel or matériel.
| Regiment | Formed | To SOB | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards | 1875 | 1965 | Ottawa, Ontario |
| 12th Manitoba Dragoons | 1903 | 1964 | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 14th Canadian Hussars | 1910 | 1968 | Swift Current, Saskatchewan |
List of current vehicles operated by the RCAC include:
| Vehicle | Role |
|---|---|
| Leopard 2 | Main battle tank |
| LAV 6.0 | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle | Armoured reconnaissance vehicle |
| Textron tactical armoured patrol vehicle | Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle |
| G-Wagon | Light utility vehicle (armour kits available to be fitted) |
| Vehicle | Role |
|---|---|
| Mark V tank | Intended for combat; however, the end of WWI ceased further training |
| Carden Loyd tankette | Training |
| VickersLight Tank Mk VI | Tank training and driver training |
| M1917 | Tank training and driver training |
| Valentine tank | Lend-Lease for the Soviet Union, and tank training |
| Matilda tank | Tank training |
| M3 Lee | Tank training |
| Ram tank | Tank training, and combat support in several variants |
| Churchill tank | Combat tank at Dieppe, in Italy, Normandy and NW Europe |
| M3 & M5 Stuart | M3 used mostly as a training tank while in England; M5 widely used as a reconnaissance tank throughout WWII; also used as a training tank withreserve units for more than a decade after the war. |
| Grizzly I cruiser | Tank training |
| Sherman M4A1 tank | Combat tank at in Italy, Normandy and NW Europe |
| Sherman Firefly | Combat tank in Normandy and NW Europe, adapted for combat against more heavily armoured German Tiger and Panther tanks |
| Staghound Armoured Car | Issued to armoured car and reconnaissance regiments in the NW Europe campaign. |
| Sherman M4A2E8 and M4A3E8 | Main battle tank for training and combat in Korea |
| M24 Chaffee light tank | Reconnaissance tank |
| Centurion Tank | Main battle tank, and support variants |
| Ferret Armoured Car | Wheeled scout car |
| Lynx reconnaissance vehicle | Tracked reconnaissance vehicle |
| Cougar AVGP | Direct-fire support vehicle (wheeled), tank trainer and light armoured vehicle |
| Coyote Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle | Wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle |
| Leopard 1 | Main battle tank |
| Leopard C2 | Main battle tank |
| Leopard 2 | Main battle tank in gun tank, ARV, and AEVs variants |
| Textron tactical armoured patrol vehicle | Wheeled patrol and reconnaissance vehicle |
RCHA on parade without guns: (See note below)
| Preceded by Army elements of Royal Military College of Canada | Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Succeeded by |
RCHA on parade with guns: (See note below)
| Preceded by | Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Succeeded by |
Note: The honour of "the right of the line" (precedence over other units), on an army parade, is held by the units of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery when on parade with their guns. On dismounted parades, RCHA units take precedence over all other land force units except formed bodies of officer cadets of the Royal Military College representing their college. RCA units parade to the left of units of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
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