Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
Encyclopedia
The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC) is the armoured
branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.
, 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.
, New Brunswick
, sustains and conducts armour advance qualifications, advanced armour leadership qualifications, basic armour officer requirements, and specialized qualifications on behalf of the Army.
RCHA on dismounted parades: (See note below)
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.
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.
History
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. The royal designation was added on 2 August 1945, after the European war ended. Canadian armoured regiments split their heritage between the cavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, from which many armoured regiments were created, and the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, with the integration
Unification of the Canadian Forces
Unification of the Canadian Forces took place in 1968 when the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces....
of the Canadian army into the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, the Armour Branch has continued to use the title Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
Armour School
The Armour School at CFB GagetownCFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, 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
- The Royal Canadian Dragoons — armoured/armoured reconnaissance
- Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of Land Force Western Area's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group...
— armoured/armoured reconnaissance - 12e Régiment blindé du Canada12e Régiment blindé du CanadaThe 12e Régiment blindé du Canada is a Canadian Forces armoured regiment based in CFB Valcartier, on the outskirts of Quebec City...
— armoured/armoured reconnaissance
Primary Reserves
- The Governor General's Horse GuardsThe Governor General's Horse GuardsThe Governor General's Horse Guards is an armoured reconnaissance regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. Based in Toronto, it is the most senior reserve regiment in Canada, and the only Household Cavalry regiment of...
— household cavalry/armoured reconnaissance - The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)The Halifax Rifles is a Canadian Army regiment that served between the years of 1860 and 1965 before being placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, which meant that they were reduced to nil strength. The regiment was reactivated on May 10, 2009, as a reserve force unit performing the role of...
— armoured reconnaissance - 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)The 8th Canadian Hussars is one of the longest serving armoured regiments in the Canadian Army. A Squadron being Regular Force served in CFB Gagetown and B, C and HQ Squadrons served in Sussex, Moncton and Sackville...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)The Ontario Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces Land Force Command. The unit is based in downtown Oshawa, Ontario...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)The Queen's York Rangers R.C.A.C. is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve regiment based in Toronto and Aurora. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment consists of two reconnaissance squadrons, A Sqn in Aurora and B Sqn in Toronto, and a Headquarters...
— armoured reconnaissance - Sherbrooke HussarsSherbrooke HussarsThe Sherbrooke Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces.-Sherbrooke Regiment:The Sherbrooke Regiment was initially formed in 1866 as the Sherbrooke Battalion of Infantry, becoming the 53rd Battalion in 1867. The regiment provided volunteers for the 12th Battalion,...
— armoured reconnaissance - 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (Milice)12e Régiment blindé du CanadaThe 12e Régiment blindé du Canada is a Canadian Forces armoured regiment based in CFB Valcartier, on the outskirts of Quebec City...
- armoured reconnaissance - 1st Hussars1st HussarsThe 1st Hussars is an armoured Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Forces, currently based in London, Ontario and Sarnia, Ontario.-Foundation and organisation:...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)The Prince Edward Island Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces, Land Force Atlantic Area, 36 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment is based in Charlottetown and Summerside.-Perpetuations:...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)The Royal Canadian Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. The unit is based in Montreal.-Lineage:...
— armoured reconnaissance - The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) — armoured reconnaissance
- The South Alberta Light HorseThe South Alberta Light HorseThe South Alberta Light Horse, or SALH, is an armoured reconnaissance unit of the Canadian Forces Army Reserve based in Medicine Hat and Edmonton, Alberta...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Saskatchewan Dragoons — armoured reconnaissance
- The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)The King's Own Calgary Regiment , or KOCR, is an armoured unit of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve based at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta....
— armoured reconnaissance - The British Columbia DragoonsThe British Columbia DragoonsThe British Columbia Dragoons is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is based in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, British Columbia...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Fort Garry HorseThe Fort Garry HorseThe Fort Garry Horse is a Canadian Army Reserve Armoured Regiment based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is currently part of Land Force Western Area's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.- History :...
— armoured reconnaissance - Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC)Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC)Le Régiment de Hull is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment is based in Hull, Quebec near Ottawa...
— armoured reconnaissance - The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)The Windsor Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment, which was founded in 1936 as The Essex Regiment , is based in Windsor, Ontario. During World War II, the regiment was designated as the reconnaissance regiment for the 7th Canadian Infantry Division...
— armoured reconnaissance
Equipment
The main vehicles operated by the RCAC include:- Leopard 2Leopard 2The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
main battle tank, purchase announced in 2007 - Leopard C2 main battle tank
- LAV IIILAV IIIThe LAV III armoured vehicle is the latest in the Generation III Light Armoured Vehicle series built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999. It is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8....
infantry fighting vehicle - Coyote Reconnaissance VehicleCoyote Reconnaissance VehicleThe Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle is a lightly armoured fighting vehicle built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for the Canadian Forces, for use in the reconnaissance role....
; 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)RCHA on dismounted parades: (See note below)
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 CorpsRoyal Armoured CorpsThe Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
- Royal Australian Armoured Corps
- Royal New Zealand Armoured CorpsRoyal New Zealand Armoured CorpsThe Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps is the overall umbrella grouping of Regular Force and Territorial Force units equipped with armoured vehicles in the New Zealand Army. The corps was formed in 1942 as the New Zealand Armoured Corps, before being given the Royal prefix in 1947...
- 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