Outline of the Canadian Armed Forces at the end of the Cold War explained

The following is a hierarchical outline for the Canadian Armed Forces at the end of the Cold War. It is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations.

Following the 1967 Canadian Forces Reorganization Act the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force were amalgamated in 1968 as the Canadian Armed Forces. Since then the Chief of Defence Staff is directly responsible for all services and commands of the Canadian Armed Forces and advises the Canadian Government in all military matters. Policy is developed in the Armed Forces Council, which is made up of the commanders of the functional commands.[1]

In 1989 the Canadian Armed Forces had 84,600 active personnel, 7,800 of which were female, and 21,300 reserve personnel, 4,200 of which were female. Around three quarters of all military occupation were open to women in 1989 and the government actively pursued a policy to open more occupations to women. The 1987 Defence White Paper "Challenge and Commitment" called for an expansion of the reserve forces to approximately 90,000 troops, however with the end of the Cold War this plan was shelved.[2]

The article is based on the Canadian government's 1987 White Paper "A Defence Policy for Canada" (Link), which was published at the end of 1987. The White Paper served as basis for the overall structure and the equipment numbers. The article was then expanded with information from the Canadian Armed Forces Annual Historical Reports, which provided a complete listing of all units in existence in 1989. Additional information came from the linked Wikipedia articles, a German brochure about the Canadian Forces based in Germany (Link) and the current Canadian Armed Forces website and the unit histories listed there.

National Defence Headquarters

Logistics Support Group

Defence Research and Development Canada

Recruiting

Mobile Command

Mobile Command controlled all land force units based in Canada and trained and prepared ground troops for the deployment to Canadian Forces Europe. Mobile Command's major formations were two brigade groups and an ad hoc special service force. Recognisably an army formation but not under Mobile Command, 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group was located in West Germany under the control of 1 Canadian Division (Forward) and Canadian Forces Europe. Mobile Command also commanded 106 major and 25 minor reserve units of the Canadian Militia. Active forces amounted to 22,500 troops with 15,500 reserve forces.[3]

In case of war men Air Command's Air Transport Group would have flown about 1,400 men from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group to Germany to bring 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group up to wartime strength, while 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group would have been shipped over the Atlantic as reinforcements for 1 Canadian Division (Forward). Special Service Force would have contributed a battalion group centered around 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment to NATO's Allied Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)). The Airborne Regiment was destined for defence operations in Canada.

1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

Special Service Force

Militia

The Militia was the primary reserve of Mobile Command and headquartered in Ottawa. Maritime and air reserve formations were part of Maritime Command, respectively Air Command, while communication reserve units were part of the Canadian Forces Communication Command. In wartime the Militia would provide ground units for defence operations in Canada and elsewhere in North America, as well as replacements for the Canadian land force units fighting in the European war theatre. The Militia would also provide lightly armed guards to protect military vital points, and make major contributions to the logistic and medical organizations required to support Canadian Forces overseas. In total the militia fielded 106 major and 25 minor units with 15,500 men. Major units were regiments or battalions, although they seldom exceeded the strength of a company, while minor units were independent artillery batteries, and engineer squadrons. The militia was organized in five militias areas, which were subdivided into militia districts.[4] [5]

In case of war the Militia Areas would have become division commands with the responsibility to conduct all military ground operations in their area. In 1989 the Militia consisted of the following units:

Pacific Militia Area

Prairie Militia Area

Central Militia Area

Atlantic Militia Area

Quebec Militia Area

Reserve units of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC) were equipped with Cougar and Grizzly armoured vehicles.
Reserve units of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA) were equipped with 105 mm C1 howitzers and 81 mm mortars.

Air Command

Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) unified all flying assets of the Canadian Armed Forces in one command. It provided combat-ready air forces for the surveillance and control over Canadian airspace and for the defence of North America. It also provided air groups for other commands:

The other air groups of Air Command remained under its operational control, however in case of war two of Fighter Group's fighter squadrons were assigned as reinforcement to 1 Air Division in Germany, while its other two fighter squadrons were assigned as air defence assets to the Canadian NORAD Region. Air Command fielded only two wings: 3 and 4 Wing, as part of 1 Air Division, to fulfill NATO operational requirements. All other units fell under operational control of the bases they operated from. A key unit of Air Command was 437 Transport Squadron, which in case of crisis would have flown Canadian reinforcements from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group to Germany to augment the strength of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. Together with the US Air Force Air Command operated the Distant Early Warning Line of radar stations on the edge of Canada's arctic North. Beginning in 1988 the Distant Early Warning Line was upgraded with more powerful radars and automated to reduce personnel requirements.[6]

Fighter Group/Canadian NORAD Region

After the United States and Canada signed the North American Air Defence Modernization Agreement during the Shamrock Summit on 18 March 1985 Canada's air defence was undergoing a major restructuring: in 1987 Fighter Group was merged Canadian NORAD Region to create a unified air defence command for Canada. In the same year Canada began to replace the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW) radar sites across the Canadian Arctic with the more modern North Warning System (NWS) radars.

NWS stretched from Alaska across the Canadian Arctic at approximately the 70th parallel and extended down the Canadian East Coast to Labrador. Unlike the manned DEW radars the NWS radars consisted of minimally manned long-range radars and unmanned short-range gap-filler radars. Therefore, Canada began to disband its 19 radar squadrons, with only six being left by 1989, four of which were coastal radars: three on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. The original NWS plan called for the installation of a further four coastal radars along the Canadian West Coast and Southeast Alaska.

Maritime Air Group

10 Tactical Air Group

Air Transport Group

14 Air Training Group

Air Reserve

The Air Reserve consisted of one group headquarters, two wings, seven squadrons, and augmentation flights at 9 bases. Air Reserve Group was formed in 1976 to administer the 950 air reserve personnel, although units responded operationally to the regular force commanders at their bases.[13]

Maritime Command

Canadian Forces Maritime Command had its headquarters at CFB Halifax on Canada's Atlantic coast. It developed, trained and equipped Canada's naval forces. In wartime operational command would have been exerted by Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and Commander Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) respectively. Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic doubled-hatted as commander of NATO's Canadian Atlantic Sub-Area (CANLANT) command. CANLANT was an area command of Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) and responsible to keep the Labrador Sea free from Soviet ships and submarines. As Soviet submarines passing under the ice of the Arctic Ocean and through the many channels of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to reach the North Atlantic were seen as the biggest threat Canada's fleet fielded exclusively ships specialized in the anti-submarine role. Together with the US Navy Maritime Command operated a series the SOSUS underwater listening posts on the Atlantic Ocean's seabed to observe Soviet submarine operations in the Atlantic.[14]

Air Command provided Maritime Command with a group of anti-submarine planes and helicopters. Maritime Command ships participated every year in NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT). After having built no new ships since 1973 Maritime Command began an ambitious construction program for 12 new Halifax-class frigates in 1987, the first of which began to enter service in 1992 and replaced all major surface combatants safe for the Iroquois-class destroyers.

Maritime Forces Atlantic

Maritime Forces Pacific

Naval Reserve

The Naval Reserve consisted of 22 divisions in cities across Canada. In times of war the missions of naval reserve were the naval control of shipping, maritime coastal defence, and the clearance of mines.

Canadian Forces Europe

1 Canadian Division

In case of war 1 Canadian Division would have been reinforced by 5 Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada from CFB Valcartier, while 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group would have been augmented with personnel from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.

1 Canadian Air Division

In case of war 3 Wing would have been reinforced by two CF-18 Hornet squadrons based in Canada:

Communication Command

Canadian Forces Communication Command provided strategic communications for all services of the armed forces. It operated and maintained several data and voice communication networks. With an active force of 3,300 troops and 1,570 reservists Communication Command was the smallest of the armed forces commands.[15]

Communication Command provided signal squadrons to the three brigades and Special Service Force of Mobile Command, as well signal support for Air Command bases. It also operated the Canadian contribution to the Five Eyes ECHELON signals intelligence network. However the Communications Security Establishment, which analysed intercepted material, was not part of Communication Command. The Canadian Government's Emergency Government Headquarters were also managed by Communication Command. Communication reserve units were grouped in six regional communication groups, which also contained active units based in the same region.

Communication Command Structure

Supplementary Radio System

Reserve Communication Units

Canadian Forces Medical Service and Canadian Forces Dental Service

The Canadian Forces Hospital and Medical Supply System was formed in 1989 to command fourth line medical units in Canada. This was an unallocated formation commanded by the VCDS with the Surgeon General serving as Deputy Commander of the formation. Other units of the Canadian Forces Medical Service, and the Canadian Forces Dental Service at the end of the Cold War were commanded by their respective operational formatons (Canadian Forces Bases, Canadian Forces Europe, Land Forces brigades, and the Canadian Forces Training System.

Reserve Medical Units

Canadian Forces Training System

The Canadian Forces Training System provided individual training for the operational commands. It operated 18 schools on five training bases and three schools on other commands' bases. Its strength was around 4,500 active members, 2,400 of which were instructors. Another 500 military instructors from other commands served as incremental staff. The training system was underthe jurisdiction of the Assistant Deputy Minister (Personnel), whose mandate also included the National Defence College, the Military Colleges and the Staff Colleges. The Canadian forces also provided training facilities for allied nations.[18]

Land equipment and aircraft totals

Equipment of Mobile Command

In 1989 Mobile Command fielded the following equipment:[19]

Air Command Inventory

The inventory of the Air Command in 1989 consisted of the following aircraft:

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 69. 14 October 2016.
  2. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 82. 14 October 2016.
  3. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 35. 14 October 2016.
  4. Web site: www.canadiansoldiers.com. www.canadiansoldiers.com.
  5. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 66. 14 October 2016.
  6. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 38–39. 14 October 2016.
  7. Book: Skaarup. Harold A.. Out of Darkness-Light: A History of Canadian Military Intelligence. 15 June 2005. iUniverse. 978-0-595-35928-8. 209.
  8. Web site: 9 Wing Gander. 10 April 2013. Royal Canadian Air Force. 20 October 2016.
  9. Web site: The Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.. TERMIUM Plus. 8 October 2009. Government of Canada. 20 October 2016.
  10. Book: Sokolsky. Joel J.. Canada, Getting it Right this Time: The 1994 Defence White Paper. 31 May 1995. 34. DIANE . 9781428914247.
  11. Web site: 434 Combat Support Squadron. 9 March 2005.
  12. Web site: Shearwater Aviation Museum.
  13. Web site: Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve. Royal Canadian Air Force. 30 April 2013. 18 October 2016.
  14. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 30–31. 14 October 2016.
  15. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 40. 14 October 2016.
  16. http://jproc.ca/rrp/cdn_sigint_stations.html Summary of Canadian Signals Intelligence Stations
  17. Web site: Groves. Richard. The History and Heritage of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps: A Century of Military Dental Service. Canadian Forces. 20 October 2016.
  18. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 41. 14 October 2016.
  19. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 33. 14 October 2016.
  20. Web site: Canadian Armed Forces.
  21. Book: Challenge and Commitment – A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 37. 14 October 2016.
  22. World's Air Forces 1989. Flight International. 29 November 1989. 46. 19 November 2017.
  23. Web site: Canadair CF-5.

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