Informing the Army’s Future Structure - CAMO Discussion

[daftandbarmy]

So begins the changes, CANFORGEN dropped this morning annnouncing who the first brigade SM of the Canadian Artillery brigade and sustainment brigades are going to be

It's important to announce that before the name of the Bde Comd comes out.

Ranging shots...

 

[markppcli]

You are mixing up VSHORAD with CUAS. VSHORAD includes both man portable and vehicle mounted systems such as the RBS 70 acquired by UOR for Latvia.

Folks should remember that prior to 2000, over 400 reservists were in the air defence branch in five batteries which were tasked to provide 5 Javelin missile troops for service in Europe. Missile based VSHORAD for the ARes is a proven capability. The concept of localizing the Atlantic region units integrating them with what will be the primary area for RegF units is one of the solid aspects of this program.

Similarly having the ARes arty units in MB, SK and NW ON aligned with 9 Rocket Regt in Shilo makes sense.

It's also, critically for the reserves, generally really cheap to train AD with sims.

 

[DBNSG]

You are mixing up VSHORAD with CUAS. VSHORAD includes both man portable and vehicle mounted systems such as the RBS 70 acquired by UOR for Latvia.

Folks should remember that prior to 2000, over 400 reservists were in the air defence branch in five batteries which were tasked to provide 5 Javelin missile troops for service in Europe. Missile based VSHORAD for the ARes is a proven capability. The concept of localizing the Atlantic region units integrating them with what will be the primary area for RegF units is one of the solid aspects of this program.

Similarly having the ARes arty units in MB, SK and NW ON aligned with 9 Rocket Regt in Shilo makes sense.

York Redoubt and the Citadel serve again.

 

[FJAG]

It's also, critically for the reserves, generally really cheap to train AD with sims.

If things are done right, it might also be possible for ARes units to train with the SPs. There will be guns allocated to the ARes but kept at RegF units for ease of maintenance. A good training simulator would work wonders. The real trick is going to be when the gun is finally chosen and the appropriate configuration for a CS battery/regiment and its doctrine and TTPs set. Arty organizations and tactics will undergo dramatic changes.

FOOs, FSCCs and loitering munitions are still an open question for me.

 

[ArmyRick]

If things are done right, it might also be possible for ARes units to train with the SPs. There will be guns allocated to the ARes but kept at RegF units for ease of maintenance. A good training simulator would work wonders. The real trick is going to be when the gun is finally chosen and the appropriate configuration for a CS battery/regiment and its doctrine and TTPs set. Arty organizations and tactics will undergo dramatic changes.

FOOs, FSCCs and loitering munitions are still an open question for me.

Sooo, whats your take on the future of our arty in terms of types of batteries?
Do you see SP batteries being the main field force sub units? What about all the CUAS and Loitering munitions? Does that fall under arty still?

How about the AD side? Would it make sense to have an AD for the field force and AD for the RCAF airfields?

 

[FJAG]

Sooo, whats your take on the future of our arty in terms of types of batteries?

It's not bad. The aim is that each of 1 RCHA, 2 RCHA and 5 RALC all become three 6-gun batteries - so 54 guns for the division. There are more guns on order for and the plan is that there will be guns designated for some of the ARes arty units (specifically the regiments in southern ON; AB; and near Quebec City) albeit the guns themselves with stay with the RegF regiments for maintenance etc.

1 RCHA is planned to be grown and take on rockets until large enough to split with 1 RCHA staying with SPs and creating a new 9th Rocket Regt, RCA in Shilo. The ARes regiments in Reginal, Brandon and the battery in Kenora will align on HIMARS wit 9 Rocket.

The ARes regiments in northern ON will allign with 2 RCHA as well but as FOOs and STA.

4 Regt (GS) will be renamed 4 AD Regt and will become VSHORAD NLT 2028 while a new AD SHORAD regiment (8 AD Regt) will stand up this year in Gagetown. 5 and 15 Fd Regt in Victoria and Vancouver, 1 Fd Regt Halifax and 84 Ind Bty (Yarmouth) will all be VSHORAD. 3 Fd Regt St John will be alligned with the RCAS in Gagetown. A new CAF joint integrated air and missile defence system (IAMD) is also under consideration in which the RCA will have a significant GBAD role.

For the time being 2 Fd Regt Montreal is unaligned and untasked.

Effectively, while ARes arty regiments remain in the CBGs for admin and non arty trg, there will be an ARes arty coord in 1 Div so essentially ARes arty is occupationally aligned with 1 CAB RCA for the Fd and STA folks and 6 CCSB for the AD folks.

It's a workable solution as there should be enough guns and equipment to go around for everyone (including SPs and HIMARS for reservists), but as I keep saying the devil is in the details and quite dependent on there being sufficient simulators to train at armories and enough of the right leadership to keep the focus. There should be tons of deployment opportunities for ARes in all roles.

Do you see SP batteries being the main field force sub units?

Absolutely

What about all the CUAS and Loitering munitions? Does that fall under arty still?

That's a weak point. There are both UAVs and loitering munitions (probably Switchblade) assigned to each field battery's tactical group. I expect a lot of experimentation needed to work out the TTPs.

There's another whole establishment that is in the very early planning stages which is a Target Acquisition Regt which, more likely will be an RCAF resource. It currently appears as having two RCAF SUAS squadrons, an RCAF long range loitering munition squadron, an artillery radar battery and a CSS company. It's all pretty vague right now.

Personally, I think the arty needs a much heavier LM capability than is planned.

How about the AD side? Would it make sense to have an AD for the field force and AD for the RCAF airfields?

Things are still a bit fluid, but between 4 and 8 AD there will be an Army Organic Air Defence (AOAD) capability to support army field forces for operational roles. It's far too early to see what the contemplated IAMD structure will be and how that fits with 4 AD and 8 AD but these issues are being actively pursued.

I'm not displeased with the direction this is taking. Do I think more could be done with the people we already have and the equipment being contemplated - yup. But I'll check firing on that for the time being.