4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG) served as Canada’s main forward ground element in Europe. It served from 1968 until it was disbanded in 1993 at the time Canada drew down its armed forces from Europe.

Canada maintained a ground force in Europe as part of NATO since 1951. Initially, an infantry brigade was deployed temporarily to Hannover, Germany subordinate to the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). In 1953, the Canadian brigade moved to permanent quarters at Soest, Germany when 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group (1 CIBG) rotated to Germany. This was in turn replaced by 2 CIBG in 1955, and by 4 CIBG in 1957.

Up until the arrival of 4 CIBG, the Canadian force fielded just a single squadron of main battle tanks. 4 CIBG included a full regiment of Centurion tanks essentially quadrupling the available tank force. In 1959, when its two year rotation was due to end, Canada modified the rotation policy whereby the brigade would retain its command and administrative elements in Germany and only rotate the major combat formations, i.e., armor, infantry, and artillery, now every three years.

After Canada’s three separate armed forces – army, air force, and navy – were merged into a unified force in 1968, the brigade was reflagged as the 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in recognition of its three mechanized infantry battalions and its armored regiment. Note that in Canadian usage, as is the case with similar British formations, armored regiments are battalion sized formations.

Around the same time, Canada’s foreign policy and defense spending went through major revisions. It military presence in Europe was cut in half. As such, the 4 CMBG was reduced to three combat effective battalions, 2 infantry and 1 armor, and was re-rolled as a reserve formation. It relocated to Lahr in southern Germany in support of VII (US) Corps and II (West German) Corps.

The 1960s also saw the move away from majority British equipment. The US produced M113 armored personal carrier began appearing in the mid-60s. The late-60s saw the first appearance of the Lynx reconnaissance vehicle, a variation of the US M113. The Centurion tank served until 1978 when they were replaced by the Canadian version of the German Leopard 1. The artillery units field various towed guns including the British 25pdr and US 105mm and 155mm howitzers. In 1968, the towed guns were replaced by the US self-propelled M109 155mm howitzer. The brigade’s aviation reconnaissance element fielded US produced helicopters from the unset, initially with CH‑112 Nomad helicopters in 1961, and subsequently replaced by CH‑136 Kiowa helicopters in 1972.

As one of NATO’s most significant armored formations, the 4 CMBG served over three decades, accomplishing a long and distinguished career.

Author: James M. Day