Canadian Land Forces: 2300AD History General History (1900-2300) The Canadian Army has a long, proud and honourable tradition of service. This started in early Militia units raised to protect British North America (as it then was) against the French, Native Americans and the newly formed United States of America. Once North America had become settled Canada faced only the occasional internal threat. The outbreak of WW1 saw Canada mobilise en-masse to protect the British Empire of which it was a proud member. Canadian militia regiments were reformed into numbered regiments and sent off to fight and die in the mud of the Western Front. However the Canadian Corps earned itself the reputation as one of the best fighting forces on any side in the war (alongside the ANZACS). The sacrifices of young Canadians at places like Vimy Ridge and Amiens helped to define the Canadian nation. WW2 saw the Canadians responding once more to the home country's hour of need. The Canadians provided the bulk of the troops for the disastrous Dieppe landings, from which vital lessons for the eventual D-Day landings were learnt. Canadian troops also fought in the long Italian campaign. On D-Day itself Canadian troops landed alongside British and American units, and took part in the grim attritional struggle that was the Normandy Campaign. For which the Canadians were noted for their bitter fight against the fanatical 12th SS Panzer Division. After the war Canada became a founder member of the NATO alliance, committing troops to the central front and to the Northern Flank. In the so-called Cold War Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson founded the UN Peacekeeping Force, and soon Canada became something of a world leader in this, often unforgiving and unappreciated, role. The Third World War saw Canada devastated along with most of the rest of the world. Its armed forces in Europe were destroyed or absorbed into the stronger forces of allies. Canadian home forces would also rally against the Warsaw Pact invasion of Alaska and were a vital component of the force that pushed the Pact forces away from western Canada and into containment. Francophone revolts also broke out in Quebec, which because of French aid to the rebels, took no little time to suppress. However in all this fighting the north of Canada was relatively unscathed by the war, and reserve units from these areas along with the Canadian Rangers and Royal Canadian Mounted Police helped in Canada's reconstruction. They first had to stamp out regional warlords in Canadian territories as well as warlords raiding across from US territory. However the reserve units with their strong local links provided great service in this role and generally proved equal to the task. Canada's recovery was aided by its mineral and agricultural resources and its trading links to Britain, which provided a market for Canadian raw materials. In the centuries since the end of the Twilight Era Canada remained a peaceful and prosperous state working alongside its allies. The Canadian military was rebuilt and alongside the British Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy helped to maintain peace and prosperity in the North Atlantic region. However when a resurgent Argentina threatened British holdings in the Falklands and the Antarctic, Canada sent naval units and 2 Maritime Commando, SSF to fight alongside the British. In danger of being overwhelmed by the Anglo-Canadian Fleet the Argentines quickly backed down. Canada's major conflict of the 23rd Century occurred against an alien species, when alongside Manchuria the Canadians fought the Slaver War (2252-2255) against the Sung. Canadian ground units fought in the second phase of the War as the human forces destroyed Sung bases and forced labour camps on the Xiang Homeworld. Canadian forces performed excellently, but the success of the operation was somewhat tarnished by allegations of atrocities committed by Canadian soldiers. The Slaver War involved only a small proportion of Canada's forces, but provided a vital insight into the conduct of expeditionary warfare in the colonial arms. One main lesson learned was that self-sufficiency in logistics was vital for any force, another was that maintaining combat effectiveness in the face of casualties was very difficult. The Slaver War forged close links with the Manchurian colonial military which had proved important in later years during the so-called Pirate Wars. Today most of Canada's national defence is delegated to the local Reserve units of part time soldiers. Including the famous Canadian Scottish regiments and the French-Canadian Quebecois units. Although available for national defence Canada's excellent regular soldiers have a number of roles, mostly away from the home country. The 1st Canadian Division is a force of four heavy fighting brigades that would form any Expeditionary Force that Canada would send to a major war on Earth. For duties that require a quicker deploying, lighter force, Canada maintains three battalions of intervention troops. Three battalions are also normally on stand-by for, or deployed on peacekeeping operations. Lastly Canada's extra solar possessions are protected by the Colonial Commandos of the Special Service Force in tandem with the Royal Canadian Space Navy.
Kafer War (2300-2303) Canada's own colonial possessions were never threatened by the Kafers yet once again Canada prepared to go to war to aid its allies. Canada's first contribution was in increasing the tempo of its RCSN operations in the Chinese Arm and Core to free up British ships for action further up the French Arm. Further contributions in the threatened area were considered, including a small RCSN squadron or providing Canadian battalions to integrate into British formations, however these plans never matured. The catastrophic Invasion of Hochbaden and Dunkelheim dramatically changed the situation as it became obvious to all that a major military effort would be required to rescue the situation. However that situation would go from bad to worse with the subsequent assaults on Kimanjano and Beta Canum. In consultation with its Allies the Canadians decided to provide a Brigade Group together with enough shipping to support it in theatre, an important asset that would make the Canadian contribution independent of reliance on other nations logistic support. The 1 CABG was put on standby, brought up to war establishment and embarked on a testing training program. Liaison teams were also pushed forward to marry up with the British II Corps under whose aegis they would operate. A major problem was found to be the age and performance of the brigade's Makwa Hovertanks, a last minute decision was made to replace them with British Montgomery's. A crash conversion course was undertaken in under three weeks and although the maintenance crews would encounter some difficulty with the new machines, none of the troopers of Lord Strathcona's Horse objected. This program delayed the departure of the Canadian force to join the human ground forces massing at Beowulf and as a gesture of solidarity the Canadian Airborne Regiment was dispatched. The CAR was placed under OPCON to the British 6 Assault Brigade and prepared with it to defend Beowulf from invasion. The 1 CABG was again held up as news of the coming Kafer assault on Beowulf was imminent and remained in the Neubayern system. However thanks to Graham's Reserve Fleet the Battle of Beowulf was a turning point in the War and the Kafers were thrown back. As the Reserve Fleet swept after the Kafers and dispersed the remnants of Triumphant Destiny's armada at Kimanjano they were followed by the spearhead troops of the Liberation Forces. French troops with Azanian, American and other contingents, (including some of the troops saved from that world in January 2302) landed on Kimanjano and engaged the garrison aided by guerrillas. The next wave then quickly leapfrogged on to Beta Canum where the survivors of the original garrison combined with battered Marines landed by Rochemont's Fleet were struggling against the large Kafer forces. It was here that the Canadians would be once again engaged in battle. Unlike at Kimanjano the assaulting forces had secure Drop Zones in already liberated New Africa. However specialist forces from Britain, Germany, Australia and France were landed first to insure security. The Canadian Airborne Regiment was part of this first wave but as with the other units saw no action. Its lead elements were soon involved under 6 Assault Brigade in clearing the New African capital New Middlesex of Kafer remnants. When 1 CABG arrived it would see action across the planet in sometimes vicious mopping up action, especially on the German Continent. The CAR would see fierce fighting when securing Bayview alongside Australian and British paratroopers before being placed under the command of 1 CABG. In addition to these units 3 RCR, deployed on peacekeeping duties on Vogelheim, became a part of the famous Joint Vogelheim Brigade formed also of Australian, American and British peacekeepers. This brigade was a part of Admiral Rochemont's landing forces throughout the conflict and fought on Joi and Beta Canum. The Canadian Expeditionary Force still remains on Beta Canum-4, however now the mobile fighting has ceased although fighting still continues in the jungles of New Africa in the so called 'K-Zone'. The CAR has already started the journey home to Canada and as all of the disputed colony worlds have been liberated the future of the Canadian Expeditionary Force is under discussion back in Ottawa.
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