Navy.ca Wiki - User contributions [en]

Infantry Battalion

2007-08-06T11:22:45Z

Pinger206: /* Rifle Company */

A unit of infantry is a Battalion, and is composed of subunits called Companies. Each infantry battalion identifies first with its regiment, and secondly with the [[Royal Canadian Infantry Corps]].

Infantry regiments are a unique case in that each battalion of the regiment is a seperate unit. They are distinguished by a number prefix, and then by their historic title, for example - 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for example, or 1 PPCLI in short form.

Independent subunits do not exist in the current Army structure.

== General ==
The Infantry Battalion is the standard [[unit]] within Canadian infantry. The doctrinal Canadian infantry battalion is divided into three rifle companies, a combat support company, and an administation company. However, most reserve infantry regiments consist of only one battalion with only one rifle company and no combat support nor administration company.

Through the last dedcade, regular force infantry battalions have been either mechanized infantry battalions or light infantry battalions. This has changed to a common infantry battalion with two mechanized rifle companies and one light company. In the third battalions of the regular army, the third company is parachute.

== Rifle Company ==
All rifle companies consist of a headquarters, which includes the echelons, and a number of platoons. In light and parachute companies, there are three rifle platoons and a fire support platoon. In a mechanised company, there are three rifle platoons.
Companies are typically commanded by a major who is assisted by a second in command (Captain) and in a mechanised company by a LAV Captain and in light and parachute companies by an operations officer (Captain). A sergeant major (master warrant officer) is the company commander's "right hand man". Unlike in other sub-units, where the sergeant major will command the echelon, the infantry sergeant major (CSM) stays with the company commander (OC) in the "F" echelon.

== Combat Support Company ==

== Administration Company ==

[[Category:Land Force Organization]]
[[Category:Infantry]]

Infantry Battalion

2007-08-06T11:18:00Z

Pinger206: /* General */

Platoons, Brigades, Divisions Oh My!

2007-08-06T11:16:39Z

Pinger206: /* x - Brigade */

Here is a general descriptor of how the army is structured. Don't get too caught in the numbers though. Sections will vary in size. Platoons may be short sections (or may have extra sections). Regular Force infantry battalions only have three rifle companies these days (as opposed to the traditional four) and many reserve regiments only have one company.

Note that generally the "rule of three" gives you a rough estimate of what an element can be broken down in to (ie: 3 sections to a platoon, 3 platoons to a company, 3 companies to a battalion, etc, etc). However, that rule of three typically breaks down when you try to apply it to support elements or combined arms groups.

The dot/line/x system is the NATO standard designation used in conjuction with [[NATO Map Symbols|map symbols]].

== . - Detachment, Crew or fireteam ==
Two to four soldiers. This could be a vehicle crew, a sniper team, an engineer firing party, or something else which is tiny.

== .. - Section ==
A section normally numbers about 8-10 men and is commanded by a Sgt with a MCpl as second in command.

== ... - Platoon or Troop ==
A platoon is a basic building block of sub-unit organizations. They are headed by a junior officer (2Lt to Capt) and number about 30 to 45 members. They consist of 3 or 4 sections (depending on the Arm) plus additional detachments as necessary (ie an infantry platoon Weapons Det). A Tank Troop would consist of 4 battle tanks.

== l - Company ==
A company is considered a sub-unit and is the building block of "unit" sized organizations. They are commanded by Majors (referred to as Officer Commanding, or OC) and consist of a headquarters and 2 to 4 platoons (or troops). An Artillery sub-unit is refered to as a Battery, and the Armoured, Engineers and Signals refer to their sub-units as squadrons.

== ll - Batallion ==
The Battalion is the standard sized "[[unit]]" of the Army. The Artillery, Armoured, Engineers, and Signals refer to thier units as Regiments. Tactical Aviation refers to its units as squadrons. Units are commanded by a commanding officer (typically a LCol). In some rare cases, smaller organizations may be given the designation of "unit" (but they would still use the map designator of their smaller size).

As for the Infantry Battalion structure, it is comprised of three rifle companies, a combat support company, a combat service support company and a battalion headquarters. Two rifle companies are mechanised while the third is light, and in one battalion per regiment, parachute. The combat support company is comprised of a reconnaissance platoon, a sniper platoon and a signals platoon. The combat service support company is comprised of a maintenance platoon, a transport platoon and other logistical elements. The headquarters is comprised of the Commanding Officer and his staff.

== lll - Regiment ==
Common for Soviet and WWII German forces in which a Regiment was a fighting [[formation]]. A Regiment typically consists of three to four battalions under the command of a Col.

(This should not be confused with the term "[[The Regiment|regiment]]" as it is used in commonwealth armies. Those Canadian regiments which are larger than one unit are still not formations. PPCLI, RCR, R22R, RNBR, etc will never deploy under a regimental headquarters. They will always be battalions as part of a Bde. For this reason you won't see Canadian units marked as Regiments on a map. The same is true of most of our allies.)

== x - Brigade ==
A Brigade typically consists of three to four battalions under the command of a BGen. Brigades lack sufficient resources to conduct independent operations. They must operate within a division and they are dependant on division troops for support.

In Canada we have Brigade Groups, which are slightly larger than brigades and include brigade troops (reconnaissance, artillery, engineers, signals, aviation, medical and logistics (including military police)). The term "Brigade Group" is often used to designate a combined arms Brigade. These formations are not dependant on divisional troops for support, and can be fought independent of a higher formation.

Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups are typically composed of the following:
* 1x Headquarters / Signal Squadron
* 3 x [[Infantry Battalion|Infantry Battalion]]s
* 1x [[Armoured Regiment]] (including a reconnaisance squadron)
* 1x [[Field Artillery Regiment]]
* 1x [[Engineer Regiment]]
* 1x [[Service Battalion]] (but it is technically not part of the CMBG)
* 1x [[Field Ambulance]] (but it is technically not part of the CMBG)
* 1x Military Police platoon

Canadian Brigade Groups (the title given to the reserve brigades) have no fixed organization and are primarily trainining organizations with a certain domestic operations capabilities (although this is changing too...). For example, one Res CBG may consists of a headquarters, two Armoured units, three Artillery units, five Infantry units, one Engineer sub-unit and three combat service support units. Other CBGs are totally different: it is really a geographic and administrative grouping rather than an operational one.

== xx - Division ==
A division consists of 2 to 3 brigades (or 2 to 3 Regiments), plus division troops (reconnaissance, artillery, engineers, signals, aviation, medical and logistics (including military police)) commanded by a Major General.

There are currently no Divisions within the Canadian Army.

== xxx - Corps ==
2+ divisions, plus corps troops (reconnaissance, artillery, engineers, signals, information/electronic warfare, aviation, medical and logistics (including military police))commanded by a Lieutenant General

== xxxx - Army ==
2+ corps

== xxxxx - Army Group or Theater Command ==
2+ Armies

== Return to Land Force Command ==
[[Land Force Command]]

[[Category:Land Force Organization]]

Platoons, Brigades, Divisions Oh My!

2007-08-06T11:15:22Z

Pinger206: /* ll - Batallion */

Here is a general descriptor of how the army is structured. Don't get too caught in the numbers though. Sections will vary in size. Platoons may be short sections (or may have extra sections). Regular Force infantry battalions only have three rifle companies these days (as opposed to the traditional four) and many reserve regiments only have one company.

Note that generally the "rule of three" gives you a rough estimate of what an element can be broken down in to (ie: 3 sections to a platoon, 3 platoons to a company, 3 companies to a battalion, etc, etc). However, that rule of three typically breaks down when you try to apply it to support elements or combined arms groups.

The dot/line/x system is the NATO standard designation used in conjuction with [[NATO Map Symbols|map symbols]].

== . - Detachment, Crew or fireteam ==
Two to four soldiers. This could be a vehicle crew, a sniper team, an engineer firing party, or something else which is tiny.

== .. - Section ==
A section normally numbers about 8-10 men and is commanded by a Sgt with a MCpl as second in command.

== ... - Platoon or Troop ==
A platoon is a basic building block of sub-unit organizations. They are headed by a junior officer (2Lt to Capt) and number about 30 to 45 members. They consist of 3 or 4 sections (depending on the Arm) plus additional detachments as necessary (ie an infantry platoon Weapons Det). A Tank Troop would consist of 4 battle tanks.

== l - Company ==
A company is considered a sub-unit and is the building block of "unit" sized organizations. They are commanded by Majors (referred to as Officer Commanding, or OC) and consist of a headquarters and 2 to 4 platoons (or troops). An Artillery sub-unit is refered to as a Battery, and the Armoured, Engineers and Signals refer to their sub-units as squadrons.

== ll - Batallion ==
The Battalion is the standard sized "[[unit]]" of the Army. The Artillery, Armoured, Engineers, and Signals refer to thier units as Regiments. Tactical Aviation refers to its units as squadrons. Units are commanded by a commanding officer (typically a LCol). In some rare cases, smaller organizations may be given the designation of "unit" (but they would still use the map designator of their smaller size).

As for the Infantry Battalion structure, it is comprised of three rifle companies, a combat support company, a combat service support company and a battalion headquarters. Two rifle companies are mechanised while the third is light, and in one battalion per regiment, parachute. The combat support company is comprised of a reconnaissance platoon, a sniper platoon and a signals platoon. The combat service support company is comprised of a maintenance platoon, a transport platoon and other logistical elements. The headquarters is comprised of the Commanding Officer and his staff.

== lll - Regiment ==
Common for Soviet and WWII German forces in which a Regiment was a fighting [[formation]]. A Regiment typically consists of three to four battalions under the command of a Col.

(This should not be confused with the term "[[The Regiment|regiment]]" as it is used in commonwealth armies. Those Canadian regiments which are larger than one unit are still not formations. PPCLI, RCR, R22R, RNBR, etc will never deploy under a regimental headquarters. They will always be battalions as part of a Bde. For this reason you won't see Canadian units marked as Regiments on a map. The same is true of most of our allies.)

== x - Brigade ==
A Brigade typically consists of three to four battalions under the command of a BGen. Brigades lack sufficient resources to conduct independent operations. They must operate within a division and they are dependant on division troops for support.

In Canada we have Brigade Groups, which are slightly larger than brigades and include brigade troops (reconnaissance, artillery, engineers, signals, aviation, medical and logistics (including military police)). The term "Brigade Group" is often used to designate a combined arms Brigade. These formations are not dependant on divisional troops for support, and can be fought independent of a higher formation.

Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups are typically composed of the following:
* 1x Headquarters / Signal Squadron
* 2 x [[Infantry Battalion|Mechanized Infantry Battalion]]s
* 1 x [[Infantry Battalion|Light Infantry Battalion]]
* 1x [[Armoured Regiment]] (including a reconnaisance squadron)
* 1x [[Field Artillery Regiment]]
* 1x [[Engineer Regiment]]
* 1x [[Service Battalion]] (but it is technically not part of the CMBG)
* 1x [[Field Ambulance]] (but it is technically not part of the CMBG)
* 1x Military Police platoon

Canadian Brigade Groups (the title given to the reserve brigades) have no fixed organization and are primarily trainining organizations with a certain domestic operations capabilities (although this is changing too...). For example, one Res CBG may consists of a headquarters, two Armoured units, three Artillery units, five Infantry units, one Engineer sub-unit and three combat service support units. Other CBGs are totally different: it is really a geographic and administrative grouping rather than an operational one.

== xx - Division ==
A division consists of 2 to 3 brigades (or 2 to 3 Regiments), plus division troops (reconnaissance, artillery, engineers, signals, aviation, medical and logistics (including military police)) commanded by a Major General.

There are currently no Divisions within the Canadian Army.

== xxx - Corps ==
2+ divisions, plus corps troops (reconnaissance, artillery, engineers, signals, information/electronic warfare, aviation, medical and logistics (including military police))commanded by a Lieutenant General

== xxxx - Army ==
2+ corps

== xxxxx - Army Group or Theater Command ==
2+ Armies

== Return to Land Force Command ==
[[Land Force Command]]

[[Category:Land Force Organization]]

Infantry

2006-11-26T03:03:16Z

Pinger206: /* Tasks of the Infantry */

The Infantry is one of the [[The Combat Arms|combat arms]] of the Canadian Forces. The Royal Canadian Infantry Corps is an administrative entity which oversees the needs of all component regiments.[[Image:RCIC_Badge.gif|right]]

== 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 <i>(We Lead)</i>

=== The "Pillars" of the Infantry ===

Speed, violence and aggression.

==Regiments==
Regiments are listed in Order of Precedence.

=== Regular Force ===

# [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]]
# [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]]
# [[Royal 22e Regiment]]

=== Reserve Force ===

# [[Governor General's Foot Guards]]
# [[The Canadian Grenadier Guards]]
# [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]]
# [[The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada]]
# [[Les Voltigeurs de Quebec]]
# [[The Royal Regiment of Canada]]
# [[The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)]]
# [[The Princess of Wales Own Regiment]]
# [[The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment]]
# [[The Lincoln and Welland Regiment]]
# [[4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment]]
# [[The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada]]
# [[The Grey and Simcoe Foresters]]
# [[The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)]]
# [[The Brockville Rifles]]
# [[The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders]]
# [[Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent]]
# [[Le Regiment de la Chaudiere]]
# [[4e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment (Chateauguay)]]
# [[6e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment]]
# [[Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal]]
# [[The Princess Louise Fusiliers]]
# [[The Royal New Brunswick Regiment]]
# [[The West Nova Scotia Regiment]]
# [[The Nova Scotia Highlanders]]
# [[Le Regiment de Maisonneuve]]
# [[The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa]]
# [[The Royal Winnipeg Rifles]]
# [[The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment]]
# [[48th Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[Le Regiment du Saguenay]]
# [[The Algonquin Regiment]]
# [[The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment]]
# [[The North Saskatchewan Regiment]]
# [[The Royal Regina Rifles]]
# [[The Rocky Mountain Rangers]]
# [[The Loyal Edmonton Regiment]]
# [[The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[The Royal Westminster Regiment]]
# [[The Calgary Highlanders]]
# [[Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke]]
# [[The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)]]
# [[The Royal Montreal Regiment]]
# [[2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada]]
# [[The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)]]
# [[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.

*In 1995, the [[The Canadian Airborne Regiment]] was disbanded.
*In 2006 the [[Canadian Special Operations Regiment]] was formed.

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}}

[[Category:Combat Arms]]

Infantry

2006-11-26T02:59:36Z

Pinger206: /* General */

The Infantry is one of the [[The Combat Arms|combat arms]] of the Canadian Forces. The Royal Canadian Infantry Corps is an administrative entity which oversees the needs of all component regiments.[[Image:RCIC_Badge.gif|right]]

== 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 <i>(We Lead)</i>

=== The "Pillars" of the Infantry ===

Speed, violence and aggression.

==Regiments==
Regiments are listed in Order of Precedence.

=== Regular Force ===

# [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]]
# [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]]
# [[Royal 22e Regiment]]

=== Reserve Force ===

# [[Governor General's Foot Guards]]
# [[The Canadian Grenadier Guards]]
# [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]]
# [[The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada]]
# [[Les Voltigeurs de Quebec]]
# [[The Royal Regiment of Canada]]
# [[The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)]]
# [[The Princess of Wales Own Regiment]]
# [[The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment]]
# [[The Lincoln and Welland Regiment]]
# [[4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment]]
# [[The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada]]
# [[The Grey and Simcoe Foresters]]
# [[The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)]]
# [[The Brockville Rifles]]
# [[The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders]]
# [[Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent]]
# [[Le Regiment de la Chaudiere]]
# [[4e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment (Chateauguay)]]
# [[6e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment]]
# [[Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal]]
# [[The Princess Louise Fusiliers]]
# [[The Royal New Brunswick Regiment]]
# [[The West Nova Scotia Regiment]]
# [[The Nova Scotia Highlanders]]
# [[Le Regiment de Maisonneuve]]
# [[The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa]]
# [[The Royal Winnipeg Rifles]]
# [[The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment]]
# [[48th Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[Le Regiment du Saguenay]]
# [[The Algonquin Regiment]]
# [[The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment]]
# [[The North Saskatchewan Regiment]]
# [[The Royal Regina Rifles]]
# [[The Rocky Mountain Rangers]]
# [[The Loyal Edmonton Regiment]]
# [[The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[The Royal Westminster Regiment]]
# [[The Calgary Highlanders]]
# [[Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke]]
# [[The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada]]
# [[The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)]]
# [[The Royal Montreal Regiment]]
# [[2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada]]
# [[The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)]]
# [[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.

*In 1995, the [[The Canadian Airborne Regiment]] was disbanded.
*In 2006 the [[Canadian Special Operations Regiment]] was formed.

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}}

[[Category:Combat Arms]]

C7A2

2006-05-21T11:32:37Z

Pinger206:

[[Image:KevonpatrolwRCMP.jpg|right|400px]]

The C7A2 was a "mid-life" service upgrade - albiet done on the LCMM - SA's (Life Cycle Material Manager Small Arms) meager budget.

The [[C7A1]] had been criticised especially by [[Princess Patrcia's Canadian Light Infantry|1VP]] in Kosovo as being cumbersome, and very awkward to adapt to nigth operations. Such that members where often stuck with a pistol during some operations since in body armour they could not effectively use the C7A1 with its fixed buttstock. A Coy 1PPCLI had been lent a number of KAC (Knights Armament Company) M5RAS (Rail Accessory System) that provided an aluminum M1913 Picatiny rail handguard for the attachment of flashlights and Infra-Red lasers (at that point the Insight PAC4A and B). Similarily a large quantity of the C79 ELCAN scopes were non-servicable due to wear (or poor design) so something was going to have to be done about the Forces principle small arm.

==C7A1 w/M5RAS==
The time frame coninsided with the fact the USMC had recently released a requirement for the M16A4 - which was effectively a M16A2 with a flatop receiver (a la C7A1) with a M5 RAS, the US Army had decided that they required a shorter modular weapon and had ordered full scale transition from the M16A2 to the M4 (and M4A1 for SOF).

For reasons that still baffles the land force the LCMM and Diemaco quoted the Army $834.93 for each M5 RAS when the Army went to consider a modular handguard section. Having seen the memo from KAC to Diemaco (right of first refusal on small arms contracts) the CF was to pay $220 USD -- or at then current rate of exchange $305 Cdn (FOB Vero Beach Fla.) The Army balked (and ignored the testing that had lead to the SOPMOD RIS/RAS) and adopted the Diemaco designed TRIAD-1 (or pitchfork as I like to call it).

==TRIAD-1==
{|align="center"
|align="center"|[[Image:TRIAD.jpg|300px]]
|align="center"|[[Image:M203PAC.jpg|300px]]
|-
|colspan="2" align="center"|TRIAD not compatible with Canadian M203 as PAC/PEQ must be moved to a different mount.
|}

Due to both budgetary and the desire of the [[Royal Canadian Infantry Corps|Infantry Corps]] RSM for rifle drill (not SMG drill) the 20" barrel was retained - despite the desire and recomendations of the soliders that had been deployed to Kosovo to adopt a flatop version of the C8 for Infantry usage.

As well despite soldiers desiring a more robust scope that the C79 a program was put to replace them with the C79A2 effectively the same scope that has an upgraded mount available in civilian circles. No effrot was made to obtain a Close Combat Optic that the US and Allies had been leaning to since the Somalia conflict.

Then several addtions where decided upon in order to make the weapon easier on left handed firers. A modified version of the Norgon Ambi-Catch was added to the mag could be released from either side of the weapon, however for reasons unaware the Diemaco version had less of an engagement surface and was easily bumped and the mag would fall out -- After speaking with Robert Garrett president of Norgon LLC he went to Diemaco and corrected their error. Apparently someone had thought with less engagement surface it woudl make for faster reloads...

A "tactical" charging handle was added - the idea was that left handed personnel could charge the weapon easier without removing their hand from the pistol grip this way -- however it was a large piece of metal that stuck out from the weapon -- getting tangled and bent often.

When 3PPCLI returned from Afghanistan with the first "real" combat deployment since Korea a number of weapon modication recomondations where made specifically to adopt the C8SFW en masse for the Infantry.

In DLR 5-5 Maj Louis DeSoussa was listening however he had a limited budget and a LCMM that beleived he knew better.

So for Roto0 Op Athena many C8's where made avialable for the Infantry and supporting personnel in the form of a C8A1 (flattop C8)
AND Maj D had ordered the C8A1's from Diemaco with an added perk - the EOTECH HDS (holographic difraction sight) (a close combat optic that had been in use with Canadian SOF very sucessfully for the past few years)

Roto2 Op Athena was the first widescale issue of the C7A2 -
*the green furniture was not the right choice for desert warfare
*the 20" barrel was not appreciated
*The TRIAD had numerous problems
*etc.

Currently the idea is to tranfrom the Land Force to the C7A2 and the Infantry units and supporting trades will recieve the C8FTHB (Flatop heavy barrel - effectively a C8SFW without the KAC M4RAS)

{|
|[[Image:C8FTHB.jpg|350px]]
|[[Image:C8toSFW.jpg|400px|thumb|C8A1 versus C8SFW.]]
|}

What the end state was
*C8
*C8A1
*C8SFW
*C7A2
*C7CT
*Remington 870

[[Image:IMG_3511.jpg|500px]]

More to follow

[[Category: Small Arms]]