1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Explained

Unit Name:	1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
Native Name:	French: 1<sup>er</sup> Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada
Dates:	1953–present
Country:	Canada
Branch:	Canadian Army
Type:	Brigade group
Command Structure:	3rd Canadian Division
Garrison:	Edmonton
Motto:	Latin: Semper vigilans
March:	"Sons of the Brave"
Commander1:	Colonel R.P. Bourque CD
Identification Symbol Label:	NATO Map Symbol

1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG; French: French: 1^er Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada, 1 GBMC) is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of the 3rd Canadian Division of the Canadian Army. Originally headquartered at CFB Calgary, it is currently based in CFB Edmonton in Alberta with two major units at CFB Shilo in Manitoba, and consists of eight Regular Force units.

History

The brigade was established on 14 October 1953 in Europe.^[1]

• 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade created 14 October 1953
• Redesignated 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Group in October 1955
• Redesignated 1 Combat Group in 1972
• Redesignated 1 Canadian Brigade Group in 1976
• Redesignated 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in 1992

In 1989 at the height of the Cold War the 1st Canadian Mechanized Infantry Division consisted of three brigades, one of them being the 1st Canadian Brigade Group. It had the following structure:^[2]

• Headquarters at Calgary
  • Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) – armoured reconnaissance
  • 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry – mechanized
  • 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry – mechanized
  • 3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery – self-propelled artillery
  • 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers – light engineers
  • 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron – light helicopter support

1 CMBG sent a contingent of approximately 200 personnel for Task Force Kandahar Headquarters for a nine-month rotation starting February 2009 and sent approximately 2500 personnel for the task force in September 2009 for a six-month tour.

Composition

The eight units that comprise 1 CMBG are:^[3]

	Unit	Type	Locations
	1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron	Headquarters and communications	CFB Edmonton
	1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery		CFB Shilo
			CFB Edmonton
		Armoured combat engineers	CFB Edmonton
			CFB Edmonton
	2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry	Mechanized infantry	CFB Shilo
	3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry		CFB Edmonton
			CFB Edmonton

1 CMBG is colocated with, and frequently operates alongside, three regular force units which are not part of the formation:

	408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron of 1 Wing,
	1 Field Ambulance of Canadian Forces Health Services Group, and
	1 Military Police Regiment of Canadian Forces Military Police.

See also

• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Forces
• List of armouries in Canada

Notes and References

1. Web site: www.canadiansoldiers.com. www.canadiansoldiers.com.
2. Book: NATO's Order of Battle 1989. 165.
3. Web site: 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. Canadian Army. 24 November 2016.