The Canadian military

[humvee2800]

In modern Canadian politics the military is often brought up. Conservatives generally wish to increase it, though Harper is trying to cut it, while liberals usually want to get rid of chunks or leave it as it is.

Now do to canadian beliefs, practices and defence needs it would appear that such a army would be needed for defence, coastal patrol, and aiding allied and UN support.

Now most military personal seem to agree change is needed, though what? other then basic equipment which i know in the army is severely outdated.

Wikipedia has some good sources on the basics


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Air_Force

[Axeman]

Canada has a military!?

But seriously, I really can't comment on this since I know nothing about Canadian Polotics, I just couldn't risk loosing that line you fed me.

[Farnan]

In modern Canadian politics the military is often brought up. Conservatives generally wish to increase it, though Harper is trying to cut it, while liberals usually want to get rid of chunks or leave it as it is.

Now do to canadian beliefs, practices and defence needs it would appear that such a army would be needed for defence, coastal patrol, and aiding allied and UN support.

Now most military personal seem to agree change is needed, though what? other then basic equipment which i know in the army is severely outdated.

Wikipedia has some good sources on the basics


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Air_Force

My ROTC Instructor, a Sergeant First Class in the US Army, was relieved by Canadians during Operation Anaconda. He said though they were great soldiers they were lacking in essential equipment, and his unit had to run a collection to donate to them.

[bushbush]

your military should just fit your needs. Canada doesn't really have a need to project power all over the world. It's primary goal should be peace-keeping...and i think the size of Canadian army at the present is enough for that.

[Exarch]

canada is a peace loving country where rivers flow with chocolate and children play with gumdrop smiles; canada needs no military. it's aggressive and violent boyfriend who lets her be on top will protect her from anything
really, canada needs no military

[Farnan]

Its not size that is the main issue, but essential equipment.

[humvee2800]

The problem is many canadians use americas proximity as a excuse to have a smaller military, or use or use as a peacekeeping nation. Fact is we do not even have enough boats to patrol our own cost, especially with the possibility of the northern passage opening up, and if a situation does arise somewhere in the world if you are lucky we might send a under manned frigate to help you. Simply we need more ships, not a huge amount but more.


It also seem's our air force needs some updating but is not that bad really, for what we do and what we could require of it to do.

[DisgruntledGoat]

The problem is many canadians use americas proximity as a excuse to have a smaller military, or use or use as a peacekeeping nation. Fact is we do not even have enough boats to patrol our own cost, especially with the possibility of the northern passage opening up, and if a situation does arise somewhere in the world if you are lucky we might send a under manned frigate to help you. Simply we need more ships, not a huge amount but more.


It also seem's our air force needs some updating but is not that bad really, for what we do and what we could require of it to do.

Canada's navy HAS to be revamped. After world war 2 it was one of the best in the world (same goes for our army). Now, our navy consists of rust buckets and subs that spontaneously combust. Harper, for all his vaunted arctic sovereignty talk hasn't done anything about it. He even wanted to purchase aircraft carriers. Canada doesn't need aircraft carriers. We need ships as you said to maintain our sovereignty in the arctic and patrol our coasts.

I like Cabada, i think it is one of the best nations on earth

Oh Canada, our home and native land

true patria? in all thy sons command
with glory hearts we see thee rise
frown true north strong and free
oh Canda our antive land we stand on guard for thee
God gave the land nanananana
oh canadaaaaaa we stand on guard for thee

Its actually

True patriot Love, GLOWING hearts and God KEEP our land, glorious and free

[Exarch]

canadians have no stomach for war; they'd rather make love with their faces than make war...(kudos to whomsoever gets which film that's from)

[Farnan]

canadians have no stomach for war; they'd rather make love with their faces than make war...(kudos to whomsoever gets which film that's from)

Does WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam (the Canadian government was neutral, but 30,000 Canadians fought in US uniform) and Afghanistan ring any bells?

[Exarch]

Does WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam (the Canadian government was neutral, but 30,000 Canadians fought in US uniform) and Afghanistan ring any bells?

it's just that typically canadians are more renowned for their arts and philosophy rather than war; canadaisn are so much more...civilised than the rest of us.

of course, heaps of canadians died during both world wars, but tell me, do any canadian specforces fight in afghanistan/iraq like the brits and the australians?

[Farnan]

it's just that typically canadians are more renowned for their arts and philosophy rather than war; canadaisn are so much more...civilised than the rest of us.

of course, heaps of canadians died during both world wars, but tell me, do any canadian specforces fight in afghanistan/iraq like the brits and the australians?

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroo..._e.asp?id=2596

[mrmouth]

No modern Army has all the essentials they should have. The benefit of having been fighting for around 7 years, is that the average US Soldier/Marine finally has what he truly needs, and a lot of the 'wants' too.

Unfortunately countries like Canada, and the plethora of Western European nations who are in the same boat, will likely never sort out the political obstructions in order to truly modernizing their forces, and fill the glaring holes.

All of these countries are financially sound at the moment, and some are very well off currently. Its almost criminal they send men to fight without proper support assets, like medevac choppers, etc. The list goes on and on, and things keep getting cut.

[kev-o]

Bunch of Duddley Doo-Rights on Mooses

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I kid! I kid!

[Exarch]

who would want to attack canada?
the makers of my much beloved childhood show, degrassi junior high
canadian military seems fine the way it is, so long as they resume their normal behaviour of peace loving and putting mayonaise on everything

[DisgruntledGoat]

In modern Canadian politics the military is often brought up. Conservatives generally wish to increase it, though Harper is trying to cut it, while liberals usually want to get rid of chunks or leave it as it is.

Now do to canadian beliefs, practices and defence needs it would appear that such a army would be needed for defence, coastal patrol, and aiding allied and UN support.

Now most military personal seem to agree change is needed, though what? other then basic equipment which i know in the army is severely outdated.

Wikipedia has some good sources on the basics


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Air_Force

Actually the equipment in the army isn't outdated at all. Canadians in Afghanistan are probably the best equipped soldiers there after the Americans. Our armored vehicle is the basis of the US striker vehicle and can be out fitted numerous ways (including anti-tank weapons that give it a higher attack range than the Abrams tank), the jeeps we use are right up there with the US Humvee. Now our navy and airforce.... thats a totally different story.

[Rapax]

Actually the equipment in the army isn't outdated at all. Canadians in Afghanistan are probably the best equipped soldiers there after the Americans. Our armored vehicle is the basis of the US striker vehicle and can be out fitted numerous ways (including anti-tank weapons that give it a higher attack range than the Abrams tank), the jeeps we use are right up there with the US Humvee. Now our navy and airforce.... thats a totally different story.

Except that the lightly armored LAV's led to such high casualties due to IEDs and RPGs that canada leased the latest Leopard 2A6M tanks from germany. Saved the life of one tank crew already.

[mrmouth]

I think it was more a commentary on what they came to the fight with, not what they have now. Either way, I speak to a number of people on other forums who routinely post about cuts to necessary assets in development.

[Exarch]

i just cant see canada being invaded etc, it's surrounded by fwends and really, who'd want to invade canada?
all these go through policy makers minds when it comes to deciding on a military budget; sure u need more ships for the coast guard etc, but attack helicopters?!

[humvee2800]

(france) who would invade us?


well the purpose of the military is largely against unseen threats. Also canada does have alot of resources and a possible northern passage to protect.