Posted on 11/15/2006 6:46:03 PM PST by NorthOf45
Canada to storm Carolina
Military amphibious training exercise to cost $19 million
The Chronicle Herald
By Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press
November 9, 2006
OTTAWA — The Canadian military is about to do something it hasn’t done in a grand way since the Second World War: storm the beaches.
In a $19-million training exercise, troops will stage an amphibious assault on a beach in North Carolina next week, with help from the U.S. navy.
A military spokesman says it’s all just an experiment, but one analyst says the exercise is a response to new global threats, which may require Canada to challenge a rogue state by mounting a seaborne assault.
"We are very likely going to have to land troops on foreign soil, where they’re likely not going to have a welcome reception," said historian and naval expert Richard Gimblett.
The exercise is set for Nov. 16 when a company of troops from Quebec’s Royal 22nd Regiment, the Van Doos, will storm ashore from the USS Gunston Hall, an American amphibious assault ship.
Also participating will be detachment of Canadian Sea King helicopters, converted to carry troops from ship to shore.
"It’s a chance to experiment, to build and understand an amphibious capability," said Maj. Mario Couture, spokesman for the Canadian army. "I’m not sure whether this is a lost art for us."
The troops will land on the beach at Camp Lejeune, N.C., home of the U.S. Marine Corps on the eastern seaboard.
The Canadian military has participated in much smaller amphibious landing exercises in recent years, including one off Nova Scotia.
But nothing has come this close to the major operations of the Second World War, such as the D-Day landings in Normandy and the Dieppe raid.
Unlike the United States, Britain, Australia and the Netherlands, Canada does not have an independent marine corps, that is, soldiers trained to fight from ships.
The Canadian army is primarily land-based and has often relied on other countries for sea and air transport to troubled regions. Canada’s navy has no amphibious assault vessels.
Gimblett said the army, navy and air force will quickly learn to work together effectively, but he questions whether Ottawa will provide adequate resources in future.
"Our country has an inadequate understanding of the nature of sea power as it can be exercised by a medium power like Canada," said the former naval commander.
"We don’t understand it at the political level."
Politicians and military leaders have warned that the biggest threats in this century will come from failed and failing states, such as Afghanistan.
And many of the countries that will pose the biggest problems are located along coastlines, said Gimblett.
Given Ottawa’s history over the last decade of keeping the military on a shoestring budget, Gimblett said some tough political decisions have to made in the aftermath of the training exercise.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier has already asked naval planners to draw up proposals for Canada’s own amphibious transport ships, though there has been no commitment to such a project.
That would be kinda cool to watch.
Canadian Military Ping
Sounds like tough duty.
Hey Murray, US Navy is spelled with a capital N.
You twit.
Have them land at Myrtle Beach during Bike week if you want to see some fun.
Here's another picture:
The same building is in both pictures.
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Canada ping.
Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.
I was born in Canada, and came to the USA as soon as I could. I watched Canada dissemble their Armed Forces into something called the 'Nairmy'.
I guess Canada's expecting to see amphibious action sometime soon............FRegards
It is if you would like to watch just go to the Northern end of Topsail Island. I have seen them do manuvers at Lejune it is cool. If you need directions let me know.
LOL!! You didnt know that NC was the 13th colony of Mexico?
I live in NC. I am tempted to go to the beach and attempt to repel the invasion. It might be fun. I played the role of "insurgent" many years ago when US troops "invaded" a hamlet near where I lived. Truth is, I wasn't much of an insurgent.
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