Canadian Airborne Regiment

[ejmarty64]

Looking for OOB & TOE for the Canadian Airborne Regiment.

I know that initially it had the following:

HQ squadron
two large airborne commandos (one French speaking)
an airborne engineer squaron
an airborne artillery battery
an airborne signal squadron
an airborne service squadron

and then later reorganised into;

HQ & Signal squadron
three 150-man airborne commandos (one from each regiment - RCR, PPCLI, and R22eR)
and the airborne service commando

Can anyone verify or expand on this?

Thanx in advance.....

[thomas.tmcc]

marty check out this site they will help you out ,its a canadian discussion group .

http://www.army.ca

[Juno]

Hey don't forget the reserves. During my time with the Royal Westminster Regiment (primary militia) we had an airborne platoon and were tasked to the RCAR (meaning if you did a tour you were temporarily rolled over into the RCAR). Specifically, the RWR was tasked to augment 2 commando or form a 4th cammando.

History of the RCAR
Unnoficial site with forum

[Jack Dionne]

I spent two years in the CAR. I did one year in 2 Cdo and cross-posted to 3 Cdo. My tour was from 1984 to 1986. I was posted to 3 Cdo because I was mortar qualified (81mm).

1 Cdo had the Pathfinder Plt attached to it permanently for administrative purposes but where still under the command of the CO.

2 Cdo had the Anti Armour Plt attached to it permanently for administrative purposes but where still under the command of the CO.

3 Cdo had the mortar platoon attached to permanently for administrative purposes but where still under the command of the CO.



Your order of Battle is correct other than that. To be more specific the anti armour was a TOW mounted on a jeep and trailer. The 81mm mortars where all man packed. I know because I used to carry them.

[Jack Dionne]

Originally Posted by Juno

Hey don't forget the reserves. During my time with the Royal Westminster Regiment (primary militia) we had an airborne platoon and were tasked to the RCAR (meaning if you did a tour you were temporarily rolled over into the RCAR). Specifically, the RWR was tasked to augment 2 commando or form a 4th cammando.

History of the RCAR
Unnoficial site with forum

I remember the Loyal Edmonton Regiment being attached to our Cdo (2CDO). But your regiment I don’t remember. What city is the Royal Westminster Regt from, maybe that will jog my memory.

[DANJANOU]

Jack the Royal Westminister Regiment is in New Westminister a suburb of Vancouver. The other two Militia units with an Airborne tasking were the Queesn Own Rifles in Toronto and the Regiment d'Sagueney in Quebec. THE QORs still have a "jump company" and support the CPC at Trenton and 3 RCRs jump company.

BTW I have to ask, when I took my QL4 Inf Mortar (1980)they told us if we had to man pack it there would be a mule for to carry the ammo. I never did see any mules, were they on your TOE?

[Case]

What was the Airborne Regiment's role? - was it a parachute unit or special forces? (ie, was the 'commando' designation an honorific or an indication of the companies capacity?).

[Duncan]

Originally Posted by Case

What was the Airborne Regiment's role? - was it a parachute unit or special forces? (ie, was the 'commando' designation an honorific or an indication of the companies capacity?).

A large part of the Canadian forces is parachute trained. The RCAF was commando. There were only about 900 members. They specialised in rapid deployment and cold weather operations. They were tasked with protection of Northern Canada - the Arctic - against small scale incursions. Specialty missions included things such as pathfinder missions, long range patrol, cold weather ops, small unit limited engagements, domestic counter terrorism, and such. Most of their duties have been taken over by JTF2 with an increased emphasis on counter-terrorism.

Jack would be able to correct or qualify this. I served with the RWR but never did the airborne training or active duty. Therefore, I have no first hand experience of the RCAR - just vague memories of what I was told about them in the mid 1980's.

-Never sign up for a Canadian infantry regiment attatched to the RCAR whose next intake is in November.

[Duncan]

Originally Posted by DANJANOU

BTW I have to ask, when I took my QL4 Inf Mortar (1980)they told us if we had to man pack it there would be a mule for to carry the ammo. I never did see any mules, were they on your TOE?

"Mule" was our nickname for someone who could pack heavy for long hauls. ie: It's what we would call a member of a mortar team.

I recall at least one person who did his TQ in mortar and I remember people complaining about having to haul base plates and a few rounds. But I don't remember having an actual mortar team. We did have a specialised AT section though.

[DANJANOU]

Our nickname was “big guy� or guy with “big mouth� They also got to hump Carl G, GPMG, 50 cal, tripods and just about anything else that was big, heavy and awkward. God I loved being “light infantry.�

Re the mule bit I’m serious that’s what we were told. The 81mm can be carried by the 3 man crew (1 guy carries the barrel, the second guy carries the bi-pod and aiming stakes, and the third the base plate and sight)

As for the Canadian Airborne Regiment (and what is this RCAR you speak of? They never received a Royal prefix). They were not SF or SOF types per say. A close equivalent would be a British Para battalion or RM Cdo, or 2 REP or the 75th Rangers. Highly mobile, highly trained, very motivated conventional light infantry troops.

During the Cold War they were more of less our rapid deployment “fire brigade� including as you noted tasked to defend/operate in our Northern regions.

[Duncan]

Originally Posted by DANJANOU

Our nickname was “big guy� or guy with “big mouth� They also got to hump Carl G, GPMG, 50 cal, tripods and just about anything else that was big, heavy and awkward. God I loved being “light infantry.�

Too light to fight, too heavy to run away.

As for the Canadian Airborne Regiment (and what is this RCAR you speak of? They never received a Royal prefix).

I didn't know this. I thought everyone had the 'Royal.' Thanks for the correction.

edit: doh! No R in PPCLI either, hm... BCR, etc...

[DANJANOU]

Just because you were in one of the "special regiments" doesn't mean all of us were.

Just kidding I like the RWRs and used to play with them all the time in the late 1970's. They even volunteered to run the butts party on my mortar course.

[Jack Dionne]

Originally Posted by DANJANOU

As for the Canadian Airborne Regiment (and what is this RCAR you speak of? They never received a Royal prefix). They were not SF or SOF types per say. A close equivalent would be a British Para battalion or RM Cdo, or 2 REP or the 75th Rangers. Highly mobile, highly trained, very motivated conventional light infantry troops.

During the Cold War they were more of less our rapid deployment “fire brigade� including as you noted tasked to defend/operate in our Northern regions.

You are correct.

[dannybou]

Jack and Sgt Major, when were you guys in Pet? I was there 1981-1983 with 2 MP PL.

[DANJANOU]

Danny the only time I went to PEt was for exercises I was never in the CAR, (I have some brain cells ). Played with them in Sask and Labrador though.

1981-1983 I was on the Rock.