Infantry

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The Infantry is one of the combat arms of the Canadian Forces. The Royal Canadian Infantry Corps is an administrative entity which oversees the needs of all component regiments.

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General

The role of Canadian infantry units has been unchanged for hundreds of years, despite technological and organizational changes: to close with and destroy the enemy as footsoldiers.

Role of the Infantry

To close with and destroy the enemy.

Well armed individuals with fighting spirit and dogged determination constitute the backbone of the infantry battalion. All the rest - vehicles, stores and equipment - merely exist to assist the infantry soldier to carry out the mission. It is by determination and the skilful use of weapons and ground that the battalion succeeds in battle

Tasks of the Infantry

To destroy the enemy in close combat

To defend a position by the holding of ground

To fight as covering force troops

To act as all or part of a reserve to counter-attack or block

To participate in airmobile, airborne and amphibioius operations

To establish surveillance and conduct patrols

To conduct security tasks, including rear area security; and

To exploit the effects of NBC weapons

Motto of the Infantry

DUCIMUS (We Lead)

The "Pillars" of the Infantry

Speed, violence and aggression.

Regiments

Regiments are listed in Order of Precedence.

Regular Force

  1. The Royal Canadian Regiment
  2. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
  3. Royal 22e Regiment

Reserve Force

  1. Governor General's Foot Guards
  2. The Canadian Grenadier Guards
  3. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
  4. The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
  5. Les Voltigeurs de Quebec
  6. The Royal Regiment of Canada
  7. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
  8. The Princess of Wales Own Regiment
  9. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
  10. The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
  11. 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
  12. The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
  13. The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
  14. The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
  15. The Brockville Rifles
  16. The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
  17. Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent
  18. Le Regiment de la Chaudiere
  19. 4e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment (Chateauguay)
  20. 6e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment
  21. Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
  22. The Princess Louise Fusiliers
  23. The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  24. The West Nova Scotia Regiment
  25. The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  26. Le Regiment de Maisonneuve
  27. The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
  28. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
  29. The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment
  30. 48th Highlanders of Canada
  31. Le Regiment du Saguenay
  32. The Algonquin Regiment
  33. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
  34. The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
  35. The North Saskatchewan Regiment
  36. The Royal Regina Rifles
  37. The Rocky Mountain Rangers
  38. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
  39. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
  40. The Royal Westminster Regiment
  41. The Calgary Highlanders
  42. Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
  43. The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
  44. The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
  45. The Royal Montreal Regiment
  46. 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada
  47. The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
  48. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment


Historical Progression

Many Infanty Regiments have come and gone since Confederation. Canada did not have designated infantry regiments until May 1900, when all existing Militia battalions were redesignated. In 1920, a massive reorganization of Canada's land forces saw all infantry regiments redesignated and the archaic system of numbering the regiments was abandoned. Many reorganizations were also made, reflecting the need to perpetuate the histories, traditions and battle honours won by the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War.

A second set of sweeping reorganizations occurred in 1936 as the Canadian military modernized; again, many older designations were lost and many small regiments were amalgamated (combined) into larger regiments.

During the Second World War, many former infantry regiments converted to armour, and some regiments changed roles in the post-war period also, as the process of evolution continued through the Cold War and Canada's defence needs changed.

By the 1970s, the designations and roles of Canadian infantry regiments stabilized, and other than minor changes in designation, only two major changes have occurred since 1968.

Although traditionally called Infantrymen or Infantrywoman, Infanteer has gained in popular usage. This term specifies any soldier employed in any infantry role.

Equipment of the Infantry

Land Force

Arms of Land Force Command
The Combat Arms
Artillery | Armour | Engineers | Infantry
The Combat Support Arms
Intelligence | Security & Military Police | Communications
The Service Support Arms
CFHS | Logistics | EME | Chaplains