http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/86805-poor-equipment-for-troops-is-a-canadian-tradition
I would argue that 2nd hand equipment is the tradition.
You're right ! A much more accurate statement - with the exception of the Iltis ;)
Which would bring us back, full-circle, to poor equipment!
It is sobering to read just how ill equipped Canadian troops were for the Afghanistan mission. However, the "tradition" of poor equipment is even longer standing. RCN ships that were deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Friction in the Gulf War were hastily fitted with Harpoon and Phalanx weapons systems that were meant for the new Halifax class frigates, while the Canadian Brigade stationed in Europe during the later years of the Cold War made do with obsolete Centurion tanks and Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles, not to mention having CF-104 Starfighters that were designed as interceptors being tasked for close support!
If only...
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fverydemotivational.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F04%2Fdemotivational-posters-canadian-navy.jpg&hash=47d3a3bee1e254a16ef60613638c9a965da77454)
Quote from: Shelldrake on April 18, 2012, 01:20:45 PM
It is sobering to read just how ill equipped Canadian troops were for the Afghanistan mission. However, the "tradition" of poor equipment is even longer standing. RCN ships that were deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Friction in the Gulf War were hastily fitted with Harpoon and Phalanx weapons systems that were meant for the new Halifax class frigates, while the Canadian Brigade stationed in Europe during the later years of the Cold War made do with obsolete Centurion tanks and Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles, not to mention having CF-104 Starfighters that were designed as interceptors being tasked for close support!
How true - didn't they even get a gun from a museum or somewhere to mount on one the ships we sent to the Gulf War (1) ?
The CF-104 was a real crazy choice for CAS or low-level interdiction. My uncle was one of the techs that maintained both the 104's in Germany and the 101's in Canada. He always told me all the horror stories about the CF-104 crashes during training flights - the good 'ole widowmaker.
You are correct Migs. HMCS Protecteur was fitted with two WW2 vintage 40mm Bofors guns that were museum pieces originally mounted on HMCS Bonaventure 20 years earlier.
http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/navy/galery-e.aspx?section=2-H-1&id=4 (http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/navy/galery-e.aspx?section=2-H-1&id=4)
These same Bofors guns are now the big gun on our Kingston class coastal defence vessels! Waste not want not should be the RCN motto.
On the upside, the CF-101 made one hell of a gut-sucking roar at airshows. 2nd only to visiting F-111s flying low.
Quote from: Shelldrake on April 18, 2012, 01:20:45 PM
It is sobering to read just how ill equipped Canadian troops were for the Afghanistan mission. However, the "tradition" of poor equipment is even longer standing. RCN ships that were deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Friction in the Gulf War were hastily fitted with Harpoon and Phalanx weapons systems that were meant for the new Halifax class frigates, while the Canadian Brigade stationed in Europe during the later years of the Cold War made do with obsolete Centurion tanks and Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles, not to mention having CF-104 Starfighters that were designed as interceptors being tasked for close support!
All I know is that one of your guys was well-equipped enough to have set the record for a sniper distance shot. :)
I think a US spec forces snlper has reclaimed the honor.
Oh, Bofors guns are great.
When you fired them on manual they went "boompa-boompa".
At full auto, the went "Pom, Pom, Pom".
Real character, there.
Quote from: MIGMaster on April 18, 2012, 05:08:36 PM
I think a US spec forces snlper has reclaimed the honor.
I think a brit now holds the record with a Lapua round.