4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

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M-109 self-propelled howitzer of the 4 CMBG

The 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG) was an army unit of the Canadian Army and later belonged to the Mobile Command as part of the Canadian Forces Europe deployed overseas. The Mechanized Infantry Association served as the primary forward deployed land element of the Canadian Armed Forces and was stationed in West Germany from 1957 until its dissolution in 1993 .

history

In 1951 the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade was sent to Europe, followed in 1953 by the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, finally in 1955 by the 2nd CIBG (Canadian Infantry Brigade) and in 1957 by the 4th CIBG.

In 1959, towards the end of the stationing of the 4 CIBG, Canada changed its previous reinforcement policy with its German NATO ally. Instead of rotating entire brigades every two years, it was decided to station the 4 CIBG and the associated brigade units permanently in Germany and instead to move the most important combat elements to Germany every three years. The permanent presence of the three mechanized infantry battalions resulted in the Canadian brigade being renamed the 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group on May 1, 1968.

Around the same time, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced a review of Canada's foreign policy, which included an investigation into the role of the 4 CMBG, the main force of the Canadian military overseas. The end result was the Prime Minister's announcement that a general cut in defense spending would cut Canada's military exposure in Europe by half.

The task of the 4 CMBG has also been reorganized. It was no longer an active part of the BAOR ( British Army of Rhine ), but served as a reserve for the VII. US Corps , or for the II. DE Corps , which had its headquarters in Lahr , in southern Germany . Most notably, this downsizing and restructuring led to the withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons. 4 CMBG used a large number of Canadian tanks and vehicles and remained as one of the few NATO tank formations until the end of the Cold War.

The 4 CMBG took part in numerous major NATO maneuvers in Germany such as Constant Enforcer 79 , Sharp Blade 81 , Flinker Igel 84 , Certain Sentinel 86 and Buntes Fähnlein 86 .

When the 1st Canadian Division (1st Canadian Division) was reactivated in 1989, the 4th CMBG acted as the forward deployed brigade of the division, which was the Army Group CENTAG . The end of the Cold War brought with it the definitive curtailment of Canada's military presence in Europe. In 1993 the 4 CMBG was dissolved.

Outline 1984

The Canadian Brigade in Lahr was divided as follows:

  • Headquarters division staff of the 4 CMBG with telecommunication units
  • 1st RCHA (Royal Canadian Horse Artillery): 15 blowpipe platoons and 4 tank artillery batteries with six M109 self-propelled howitzers each
  • The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD): a Pz AufklKp with 20 Lynx reconnaissance tanks and three tank companies, each with 19 Leopard battle tanks
  • 3 Mechanized Commando
  • 1st Battalion / Royal 22e Regiment (RCR): four mechanized infantry companies, an armored reconnaissance platoon with nine Lynx reconnaissance vehicles, an anti-tank platoon with 8 x 81mm mortars, an anti-tank platoon with 18 TOW anti-tank guided missiles and an armored engineer platoon
  • 4th service battalion
  • 4 CMSU
  • 4th Field Squadron of the Royal Canadian Engineers

Structure 1989

From 1989 until the end of the Cold War, the 4th CMBG was subordinate to the 1st Canadian Mechanized Infantry Division.

  • Headquarter in Lahr
  • 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) Panzer Regiment (59 Leopard 1 C-1, 24 Lynx , three Leopard ARV - Armored Recovery Vehicle - Bergepanzer, 23 M113 )
  • 1st Battalion / Royal 22e Regiment (Mech)
  • 3rd Battalion / The Royal Canadian Regiment (Mech)
  • 1st Regiment / Royal Canadian Horse Artillery - Self-propelled howitzers and light air defense systems (24 M109 A2 , 15 Blowpipe SAM anti-aircraft missile)
  • 4th Air Defense Regiment / Royal Canadian Artillery - motorized anti-aircraft artillery ( Oerlikon 35mm twin cannon )
  • 4th Combat Engineer Regiment / Royal Canadian Engineers - motorized engineers (3 Biber bridle-laying tanks, 19 M113 personnel carriers, three Lynx reconnaissance tanks)
  • 444 Helicopter Squadron - light helicopter squadron (12 Bell OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters)

Although the brigade had a small structure, it had modern large military equipment. These included: Leopard C-1, Lynx, M109A2, M113, Javelin, Blowpipe, Oerlikon 35mm, and CH-136.

Subordination

The following units were temporarily subject to 4 CIBG / 4 CMBG:

  • The Royal Canadian Dragoons Panzer Regiment from 1957 to 1959 and 1970 to 1987
  • Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) tank regiment from 1966 to 1970
  • 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) tank regiment from 1960 to 1964 and 1987 to 1993
  • The Fort Garry Horse Tank Regiment from 1962 to 1966
  • 1st Battalion / Canadian Guards Infantry Regiment from 1959 to 1962
  • 2nd Battalion / Canadian Guards Infantry Regiment from 1957 to 1959
  • 1st Battalion / The Royal Canadian Regiment (Infantry Regiment) from 1962 to 1965
  • 2nd Battalion / The Royal Canadian Regiment (Infantry Regiment) from 1965 to 1969
  • 3rd Battalion / The Royal Canadian Regiment (Infantry Regiment) from 1977 to 1984 and 1988 to 1993
  • 1st Battalion / Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (infantry regiment) from 1964 to 1967
  • 2nd Battalion / Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (infantry regiment) from 1966 to 1970 and 1984 to 1988
  • 1st Battalion / Royal 22e Régiment (infantry regiment) from 1967 to 1993
  • 2nd Battalion / Royal 22e Régiment (infantry regiment) from 1965 to 1969
  • 1st Battalion / The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (Infantry Regiment) from 1960 to 1964
  • 2nd Battalion / The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (Infantry Regiment) from 1957 to 1959
  • 2nd Battalion / The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada (Infantry Regiment) from 1962 to 1965
  • 3rd Mechanized Commando / The Canadian Airborne Regiment from 1970 to 1977
  • 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from 1957 to 1960 and 1967 to 1993
  • 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (Artillery Regiment) from 1964 to 1967
  • 3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from 1960 to 1964

Commanders

  • Brigadier DC Cameron November 14, 1957 - December 20, 1960
  • Brigadier CB Ware December 20, 1960 - August 25, 1962
  • Brigadier MR Dare August 25, 1962 - December 10, 1964
  • Brigadier AJ Tedlie December 10, 1964 - September 15, 1966
  • Brigadier EAC Amy September 15, 1966 - January 27, 1968
  • Brigadier General JC Gardner January 27, 1968 - July 3, 1970
  • Brigadier General WC Leonard July 3, 1970 - July 27, 1971
  • Brigadier General J. Chouinard July 27, 1971 - July 13, 1972
  • Brigadier General PVB Grieve July 13, 1972 - July 1, 1974
  • Brigadier General CH Belzile July 1, 1974 - July 19, 1976
  • Brigadier General JE Vance July 19, 1976 - July 1, 1978
  • Brigadier General JA Fox July 1, 1978 - July 1, 1980
  • Brigadier General AJGD de Chastelain July 1, 1980 - July 1, 1982
  • Brigadier General RJ Evraire July 1, 1982 - July 20, 1984
  • Brigadier General John K. Dangerfield July 20, 1984 - July 9, 1986
  • Brigadier-General JEP Lalonde July 9, 1986 - September 15, 1987
  • Brigadier General Tom F. de Faye September 15, 1987 - July 13, 1989
  • Brigadier-General JM Robert Gaudreau July 3, 1989 - April 13, 1991
  • Brigadier Clive J. Addy April 3, 1991 - June 13, 1992
  • Colonel RG Meating June 13, 1992 - July 1, 1993

Web links

Notes and individual references

  1. ↑ comparable to an armored infantry brigade of the Bundeswehr