In September 1987, when MBT’s hypothetical hostilities commenced, 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG) fielded three combat maneuver battalions plus support elements. The following is a summary of those forces.

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Royal Canadian Dragoons

As the brigade’s armoured contingent, the RCD was slated to rotate out of Europe in 1987, but with the threat of hostilities looming on the horizon those plans were cancelled. Instead, its fourth tank squadron was fully mobilized in preparation for action.

The regiment is actually a battalion-sized formation, as is also common for British armoured regiments. Originally formed in 1883 as a horse cavalry unit, it served in that role in 1900 in South Africa and as both dismounted and mounted roles during the Great War, from 1915 to 1918. During WWII, it was deployed as an armoured car regiment in Italy. However, due to the difficult mountainous terrain, the RCD served the majority of its time as dismounted infantry.

1er Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment

As one of the brigade’s two mechanized infantry battalions, The Van Doos (an anglicized pronunciation of the French twenty-two, vingt-deux), remains the largest regiment in the Canadian Army. While its official creation date is 1869, it traces its history back to the War of 1812.

As the 22nd (French Canadian) Battalion, it served in World War I from 1915 as part of the 2nd Canadian Division until the end of the war. During WWII it landed in Sicily in 1943, then transferring to the Italian mainland. The regiment finished the war in 1945 in Northwest Europe. Three battalions saw action in Korea from 1951 until the armistice in 1953.

2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

As the brigade’s other mechanized infantry battalion, the Patricia’s were established in 1914. The regiment was named for the daughter of the then Governor General of Canada, Princess Patricia of Connaught (she was Queen Victoria’s granddaughter).

During World War I, the Patricia’s was the first Canadian infantry unit to enter Europe arriving in 1914. There it served until the armistice in 1918. During World War II, it mobilized and arrived in England in December 1939. The regiment spent three and a half years training and providing coastal defense. It landed in Sicily in 1943 as part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Husky. Later that year the unit transferred to Italy where it fought until 1945 finishing the war in Northwest Europe.

During the Korean War, the regiment’s 2nd battalion was the first Canadian infantry unit to serve in Korea. As part of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, US 8th Army, in April 1951, the regiment’s 2nd battalion was awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation for service during the Battle of Kapyong. At least one of the regiment’s three battalions was in place until the armistice in 1953.

1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery

As the brigade’s artillery contingent, its six self-propelled heavy batteries are listed as Organic Artillery assets; its anti-aircraft battery is listed as three Blowpipe equipped Air Defense Sections.

The regiment was formed in 1898 in Ontario and Quebec. It deployed to South Africa in 1900. During World War I, it landed in France in 1915 where it provided artillery support as part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade until the end of the war. For its World War II service, it departed for England in 1939 and landed in France in 1940 as part of the Second British Expeditionary Force. The entire force was soon evacuated as part of the general retreat from France. The regiment landed in Sicily in 1943 as part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Husky. Later that year the unit transferred to Italy where it fought until 1945 finishing the war in Northwest Europe. During the Korean War, the regiment served from 1952 to 1953.

4 Combat Engineer Regiment

Formed in 1977, the 4 CMBG fielded the regiment’s combat engineer company.

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