1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG; French: 1er 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.
1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group | |
---|---|
1er Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada | |
Brigade group badge | |
Active | 1953–present |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Army |
Type | Brigade group |
Part of | 3rd Canadian Division |
Garrison/HQ | Edmonton |
Motto(s) | Semper vigilans |
March | "Sons of the Brave" |
Website | army-armee |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel L.W. Rutland OMM, MSC, MSM, CD |
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
1989
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
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 | Artillery | CFB Shilo |
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) | Armoured | CFB Edmonton |
1 Combat Engineer Regiment | Armoured combat engineers | CFB Edmonton |
1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Mechanized infantry | CFB Edmonton |
2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Mechanized infantry | CFB Shilo |
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Light infantry | CFB Edmonton |
1 Service Battalion | Combat service support | CFB Edmonton |
Three regular force units of other formations, 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron of 1 Wing, 1 Field Ambulance of 1 Area Support Group, and 1 Military Police Platoon/1 Military Police Regiment are co-located with 1 CMBG at CFB Edmonton and work closely with the brigade group, but are not officially a part of it.
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.
See also
References
- "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com.
- NATO's Order of Battle 1989. p. 165.
- "1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group". Canadian Army. Retrieved 24 November 2016.