Just a thought
Why izzit that people who spend so much time extolling the virtues of the Combined Arms approach are so quick to see new solutions as attempts at providing magic bullets?
I tend to see any new technology as an additional tool for the kit. An additional layer on the onion. Something that can enhance a Combined Arms approach.
I don't think that those of us who extoll combined arms as rejecting 'magic bullets". We extoll combined arms because its still the only way to win ground. Magic bullets don't do that. All of us are looking for the next magic bullet. In the mean time there's a whole lot of flim flam men out there trying to sell you a seventy-six trombone band. There are some weapon systems that show advantages and improvements but physics will only let you go so far. There's a vast gap between being the perfect anti-armour projectile and the perfect anti-personnel projectile and the perfect anti-materiel projectile. I have yet to see the perfect and affordable all-purpose projectile.
At the risk of trying to get back to the origins of the thread.
What really needs to happen is a restructure of the RCA.
Part of that needs to wait for determination of what the SSE replacement is.
You're absolutely bang on there. SSE talks battle groups which equates to a composite battery here and there which means we're good to go as far as SSE in concerned. Unless the defence objectives change there is no necessity to change things, just an overarching desire to.
I’d suggest 2x18 M109A7 Reg’ts, and at least 12 spares, and 6 for training.
1 for 1 RCHA and the supporting PRes units. Given the fact it’s tracked and large i don’t see local armory storage being viable. So Shilo, Wx or Suffield as options for Battery/Troop equipment.
Assuming their is a brigade mission then 1 18-gun battalion for sure (I favour the M107A7 but would be happy with K9 or even Krab). Shilo for two reasons - one is it has the ranges and infrastructure there already to support it; - two between Regina and Brandon and IMHO (Winnipeg should have an arty battery - move 13 Bty from Portage La Prairie to Winnipeg) there are enough reservists available (if done right) that could round out a 30/70 regiment. And yes, all the guns are centralized in Shilo.
2nd for 5 GangaBanga in Valcatraz, and I’m unsure of other locations for Res Troops that could work.
Your right that Valcartier has enough reservists around it to round out another regiment in Valcartier but I'm not so sure it should be M109s. I'd prefer to see something better able to support a medium brigade with a better degree of air portability. Keeping the fleet restricted is preferable but I think you need to look closely at 5 CMBG's future role to see what fits best.
6 for W Bty in Gagetown (if it’s still a thing?)
It's still a thing. I sometimes wonder about W Bty and the equipment it should have. My biggest thing is that I think that all basic arty gun number skills should be taught at the regiment. I'm kind of a one station guy. Send a civvy to a regiment and let them turn the guy out. Let the school deal with the esoteric individual skills like officer and SNCO training. Much of that is gun generic. (No, I'm not part of the a gun is a gun is a gun crowd), but I'd really like to simplify the maintenance structure by locating a type into a place that's fully set up with the right logistics chain to keep it perking. Regardless of solutions there is a compromise, my preference is to centralize equipment in centres of excellence and let the training be done there. The Schools need to loosen their grips a bit for that.
That should take care of at least 6 PRes Arty units.
It's a bit tight when you add in STA and observers but with revised objectives and methods, 6 should be doable.
Moving the M777’s to Pet for a 18 gun Reg’t with 2RCHA Using 30 RCA ...
2 RCHA is the unit I'd leave as 70/30 for higher readiness. 30 Fd, and 49 Fd should be sufficient to round out a third battery and augment STA and observers.
... and the other Ont Arty units (7Tor, 49, 56 and 11th Field still around?) to fill in bodies as needed.
I'd keep 7 Tor, 56 Fd and 11 Fd in my hip pocket for a GS regiment.
I’m not sure what that leaves for ADA rolls, or support for a GS Reg’t
42 Fd (Aka 1 AD R), 20 Fd Bty (aka 18 AD R), 58 Fd Bty (6 RAC) formed 5 Low Level AD batteries and should again.
That also leaves the the reserve regiments in Atlantic Canada and BC and in Alberta.
I'm of the view that restructuring the three RegF regiments and the 16 ResF regiments and 3 independent batteries should easily be transformable into 6 x total force field regiments, 1 x GS regiment, 1 x AD regiment and 2 x arty bde headquarters or a combination of basically 8 x moderate readiness level indirect fire units and two controlling formation headquarters (based solely on numbers and distribution rather than equipment or need)
The problem is that there is no appetite to equip that type of force even if it doesn't need one more PY.