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Ladies and Gentlemen,
17 April 2002 Jane‘s Defence Weekly
INFANTRY EQUIPMENT
Canada Retains light infantry
Sharon Hobson JDW Correspondent Ottawa.
The Canadian Army has abandoned plans to reduce its regular force strength from 19,350 to 18,400 and to convert two of its three light infantry battalions (LIB)(1) to training support roles.
The third LIB was to have formed the basis for a seventh mechanised battle group.
The move comes in the wake of a deployment of a LIB to Afghanistan as part of the US -led ‘war on terror‘.
The changes, which would have left the army‘s three brigades with 10 manoeuvre units instead of 12, aimed to bring the army‘s structure into line with its budget, which has been severely cut in recent years.
However, in an amendment to the army‘s planning document, Chief of the land Staff Lt Gen Mike Jeffrey says "the events of 11 September have made it clear that a reduction in the size of the army‘s force structure in order to move towards sustainability is no longer possible".
Col Bill Peters, Director Land Strategic Planning, told Jane‘s Defence Weekly that the LIBs each with a peacetime strength of 489 (2)troops, compared with 679 for mechanised infantry battalions, will not be changing roles or be reduced, but instead the army will be "enhancing their capability".
The LIBs were created after the disbandment of the Canadian Airborne Regiment in 1995 and have always been "equipment deficient battalions". An LIB-the 3rd Battalion Princess Particia‘s Canadian Light Infantry - has been deployed to Afghanistan> During a visit tot the unit in theatre, Gen Jeffrey said, "We need to improve the capability of light infantry battalions because the current model is not sufficiently combat-capable.
He added "We have seen here on this mission...the value and benefit of light infantry. " However , he said "It‘s shortcomings....is that for many of the operations it is too light". The challenge, therefore, "is to improve their mobility and firepower to the extent that they can still do this kind of specialist function, but can be used more interchangeably with other units. A greater degree of versatility is what we‘re looking at."
Col Peters says the army is looking at starting a Light Infantry Battalion Enhancement Project, which "should be reflected in the next round of the long-tern capital plan for equipment". He says the LIBs will not be equipped with the new 25mm armed LAVIII armoured personnel carrier, but "will need some integral transport and it needs some additional combat capability".
The army has two projects under way to address its firepower deficiencies: The Medium Indirect Fire System and the Battle Group Indirect Fire Systems (JDW 5 September 2001). It is also looking at moving its pioneer and mortar functions to the engineer and artillery regiments(3).
The army had been converting 54 of its Coyote reconnaissance vehicles to direct fire-support vehicles, but that conversion, with 22 vehicles completed, has been halted since the introduction of the LAVIII.
(1) The correct abbreviation being of course Lt Inf Bn. LIB being a USAF abbreviation, formally to do with Strategic Air Command, and now Space Command.
(2) In 2001 they were established for 533 men.
(3) Interestingly the USMC has just made proposals to establish assault engineer platoons (similar to those of the Royal Marine Commandos) in each of their infantry battalions. While the British Army has also made proposals to change their regimental establishments to include a full time assault pioneer pl, at present time either the Corps of Drums or 1 rifle section in each company have assualt pioneer as a secondary task. A proposal for British infantry battalions to transfer their mortar pls to the Royal Artillery, was rejected out of hand by infantry, artillery and armoured Directorates. it being considered that the mortar pl being the initimate close support for infantry sub-units was essential, and artillery could not perform the role if they were only attached to units. The RAC adding the same and applying once more for a mortar troop for each armd or recce regts.
Yours,
Jock in Sydney.
17 April 2002 Jane‘s Defence Weekly
INFANTRY EQUIPMENT
Canada Retains light infantry
Sharon Hobson JDW Correspondent Ottawa.
The Canadian Army has abandoned plans to reduce its regular force strength from 19,350 to 18,400 and to convert two of its three light infantry battalions (LIB)(1) to training support roles.
The third LIB was to have formed the basis for a seventh mechanised battle group.
The move comes in the wake of a deployment of a LIB to Afghanistan as part of the US -led ‘war on terror‘.
The changes, which would have left the army‘s three brigades with 10 manoeuvre units instead of 12, aimed to bring the army‘s structure into line with its budget, which has been severely cut in recent years.
However, in an amendment to the army‘s planning document, Chief of the land Staff Lt Gen Mike Jeffrey says "the events of 11 September have made it clear that a reduction in the size of the army‘s force structure in order to move towards sustainability is no longer possible".
Col Bill Peters, Director Land Strategic Planning, told Jane‘s Defence Weekly that the LIBs each with a peacetime strength of 489 (2)troops, compared with 679 for mechanised infantry battalions, will not be changing roles or be reduced, but instead the army will be "enhancing their capability".
The LIBs were created after the disbandment of the Canadian Airborne Regiment in 1995 and have always been "equipment deficient battalions". An LIB-the 3rd Battalion Princess Particia‘s Canadian Light Infantry - has been deployed to Afghanistan> During a visit tot the unit in theatre, Gen Jeffrey said, "We need to improve the capability of light infantry battalions because the current model is not sufficiently combat-capable.
He added "We have seen here on this mission...the value and benefit of light infantry. " However , he said "It‘s shortcomings....is that for many of the operations it is too light". The challenge, therefore, "is to improve their mobility and firepower to the extent that they can still do this kind of specialist function, but can be used more interchangeably with other units. A greater degree of versatility is what we‘re looking at."
Col Peters says the army is looking at starting a Light Infantry Battalion Enhancement Project, which "should be reflected in the next round of the long-tern capital plan for equipment". He says the LIBs will not be equipped with the new 25mm armed LAVIII armoured personnel carrier, but "will need some integral transport and it needs some additional combat capability".
The army has two projects under way to address its firepower deficiencies: The Medium Indirect Fire System and the Battle Group Indirect Fire Systems (JDW 5 September 2001). It is also looking at moving its pioneer and mortar functions to the engineer and artillery regiments(3).
The army had been converting 54 of its Coyote reconnaissance vehicles to direct fire-support vehicles, but that conversion, with 22 vehicles completed, has been halted since the introduction of the LAVIII.
(1) The correct abbreviation being of course Lt Inf Bn. LIB being a USAF abbreviation, formally to do with Strategic Air Command, and now Space Command.
(2) In 2001 they were established for 533 men.
(3) Interestingly the USMC has just made proposals to establish assault engineer platoons (similar to those of the Royal Marine Commandos) in each of their infantry battalions. While the British Army has also made proposals to change their regimental establishments to include a full time assault pioneer pl, at present time either the Corps of Drums or 1 rifle section in each company have assualt pioneer as a secondary task. A proposal for British infantry battalions to transfer their mortar pls to the Royal Artillery, was rejected out of hand by infantry, artillery and armoured Directorates. it being considered that the mortar pl being the initimate close support for infantry sub-units was essential, and artillery could not perform the role if they were only attached to units. The RAC adding the same and applying once more for a mortar troop for each armd or recce regts.
Yours,
Jock in Sydney.
