Royal Canadian Armoured Corps

Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
Active	13 August 1940 – present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Role	armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army
Motto	Through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond

The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC) is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.

History

Canadian-manufactured Ram tanks during World War II. These tanks were used for training and never saw combat.

The corps was formed on 13 August 1940 as the Canadian Armoured Corps with Major-General (then Colonel) F. F. Worthington as its first colonel-commandant, but claimed lineage from the Canadian Tank Corps of the First World War.

Initially its equipment was 219 US M1917 tanks – a First World War design – obtained at scrap prices. They were sufficient for some training and familiarization but otherwise museum pieces of no combat use. To form the 1st Army Tank Brigade, Valentine tanks were ordered. This British design was to be built in Canada. Aside from the necessary adjustments to the design to incorporate local engineering standards and available components, the Canadian Valentines used a GMC engine, which being an improvement over the original engine was applied to British production. In practice Canada never used most of the 1,400 Valentines they built: they were supplied under lend-lease to the Soviet Union.

In early 1941 the 1st Tank Brigade was sent to Britain and equipped with the Matilda tank. For the formation of two armoured divisions it was expected that 1,200 cruiser tanks were needed. The United Kingdom was not in a position to supply them, as it had shortfalls in supply for its own needs, and orders placed in the United States to fill these meant that Canada had to develop its own production. To this end a tank arsenal was set up under the management of a subsidiary of a US firm engaged in tank production.

The royal designation was added on 2 August 1945, after the European war ended. Canadian armoured regiments split their heritage between the cavalry, from which many armoured regiments were created, and the infantry beginning in 1936 with the creation of "infantry (tank)" regiments and continuing from 1940 when many infantry regiments mobilized armoured units for the Second World War and eventually transferred from the (Royal) Canadian Infantry Corps into the RCAC.

In Canada, with the integration of the Canadian army into the Canadian Forces, the Armour Branch has continued to use the title Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.

Training

Armour School

The Armour School at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, sustains and conducts armour advance qualifications, advanced armour leadership qualifications, basic armour officer requirements, and specialized qualifications on behalf of the Army.

Tactics School

The Tactics School at CFB Gagetown develops, conducts and monitors combined arms operations. Within a battle group context, the tactics school focusses on tactics, techniques, and procedures at the combat team level. The Tactics School's mission is to educate and train army junior officers in the integration of combat functions at the combat team level on the tactical battlefield.

Regular Force

1. The Royal Canadian Dragoons — armoured/armoured reconnaissance
2. Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) — armoured/armoured reconnaissance
3. 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada — armoured/armoured reconnaissance

Primary Reserves

1. The Governor General's Horse Guards — household cavalry/armoured reconnaissance
2. The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance
3. 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) — armoured reconnaissance
4. The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance
5. The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance
6. Sherbrooke Hussars — armoured reconnaissance
7. 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada (Milice) - armoured reconnaissance
8. 1st Hussars — armoured reconnaissance
9. The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance
10. The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) — armoured reconnaissance
11. The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) — armoured reconnaissance
12. The South Alberta Light Horse — armoured reconnaissance
13. The Saskatchewan Dragoons — armoured reconnaissance
14. The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance
15. The British Columbia Dragoons — armoured reconnaissance
16. The Fort Garry Horse — armoured reconnaissance
17. Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance
18. The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) — armoured reconnaissance

Equipment

The main vehicles operated by the RCAC include:

• Leopard 2 main battle tank, purchase announced in 2007
• Leopard C2 main battle tank
• LAV III infantry fighting vehicle
• Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle; this is in service with the Regular Force regiments
• G-Wagon reconnaissance vehicle; this is used by the Reservist regiments

Order of precedence

RCHA on parade with guns: (See note below)

Preceded by Army elements of Royal Military College of Canada

Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (Armour Branch)

Succeeded by Royal Canadian Artillery

RCHA on dismounted parades: (See note below)

Preceded by Royal Canadian Horse Artillery

Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (Armour Branch)

Succeeded by Royal Canadian Artillery

Note: The honour of "The Right of the Line" (precedence over other units), on an army parade, is held by the units of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery when on parade with their guns. On dismounted parades, RCHA units take precedence over all other land force units except formed bodies of Officer Cadets of the Royal Military College representing their college. RCA units parade to the left of units of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.

See also

• Royal Armoured Corps
• Royal Australian Armoured Corps
• Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps
• Monarchy of Canada

External links

• List of Civilian organizations with prefix "Royal" - Heritage Canada.
• List of civilian organizations with the prefix "Royal" prepared by the Department of Canadian Heritage
• Canadian Forces Recruiting
• Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence

References

• John Marteinson & Michael R. McNorgan "The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps - An Illustrated History" The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association 2000