- Reaction score
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- Points
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I've highlighted a few tidbits in this one, shared with the usual disclaimer...
Canada bolsters Afghan mission
Casualty ID'd. Top soldier promises more infantry troops, upgraded vehicles
Renata D'Aliesio, CanWest-Global, 1 Oct 06
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=a3ebdae3-5f8e-4af0-8004-31fdc406c6c2&k=67716
In the face of increasing threats from explosive devices in Afghanistan, the Canadian military is working on upgrades for its mainstay armoured vehicle, Canada's top soldier told troops yesterday.
A host of changes are being designed to boost the LAV III's ability to withstand ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), General Rick Hillier said during an afternoon stop to speak with troops stationed on Ma'sum Ghar Mountain in Panjwaii District of southern Afghanistan.
He also told soldiers that a plan has been hatched to significantly bolster the number of combat troops in Canada. The plan would see more recruits being trained as infantry soldiers, even if they requested other assignments..
But an immediate concern to the troops in Afghanistan are the IEDs and their effect on the light-armoured vehicles.
"We've got an entire series of upgrades dealing with the LAVs," Hillier said.
Those upgrades cannot be revealed under operational security rules for journalists embedded with the military.
"We have a real weight restriction here about what we can put on," he said. "It's a good vehicle, we are going to (put in) place some lessons we have learned here, and improve it even further."
IEDs are posing a great risk to Canadian troops working in Kandahar province. Most of the anti-tank mines and other explosive contraptions have been placed on dirt roads used by military vehicles and local Afghans.
They're also turning up on new roads bulldozed through farm fields during Operation Medusa, a major two-week offensive against the Taliban in Panjwaii and Zahri districts in early September.
(. . . .)
Canada is committing to boost its numbers to 2,500 from 2,200 troops, and to send additional equipment. Hillier said yesterday Leopard tanks are expected to arrive in the next few days, while arrangements are being made to deploy another 21 Nyalas: four-wheel-drive jeeps designed to withstand anti-tank mine blasts.
Beyond the equipment, NATO has stressed it needs more boots on the ground - infantry soldiers.
Canada has committed to staying in Afghanistan until 2009. With its infantry already stretched thin, Hillier said a plan is afoot to boost the number of combat soldiers.
"Back home in the army, across the Canadian Forces, we are going to be rerolling a whole bunch of folks in the training pipeline now into the infantry," Hillier said. "They might be signed up to be an armoured soldier or an artillery man or woman, but for the next two years or so we are going to turn them into infantry men or women."
Edit - last Hillier quote added from a longer version of this story that's not online yet
Canada bolsters Afghan mission
Casualty ID'd. Top soldier promises more infantry troops, upgraded vehicles
Renata D'Aliesio, CanWest-Global, 1 Oct 06
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=a3ebdae3-5f8e-4af0-8004-31fdc406c6c2&k=67716
In the face of increasing threats from explosive devices in Afghanistan, the Canadian military is working on upgrades for its mainstay armoured vehicle, Canada's top soldier told troops yesterday.
A host of changes are being designed to boost the LAV III's ability to withstand ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), General Rick Hillier said during an afternoon stop to speak with troops stationed on Ma'sum Ghar Mountain in Panjwaii District of southern Afghanistan.
He also told soldiers that a plan has been hatched to significantly bolster the number of combat troops in Canada. The plan would see more recruits being trained as infantry soldiers, even if they requested other assignments..
But an immediate concern to the troops in Afghanistan are the IEDs and their effect on the light-armoured vehicles.
"We've got an entire series of upgrades dealing with the LAVs," Hillier said.
Those upgrades cannot be revealed under operational security rules for journalists embedded with the military.
"We have a real weight restriction here about what we can put on," he said. "It's a good vehicle, we are going to (put in) place some lessons we have learned here, and improve it even further."
IEDs are posing a great risk to Canadian troops working in Kandahar province. Most of the anti-tank mines and other explosive contraptions have been placed on dirt roads used by military vehicles and local Afghans.
They're also turning up on new roads bulldozed through farm fields during Operation Medusa, a major two-week offensive against the Taliban in Panjwaii and Zahri districts in early September.
(. . . .)
Canada is committing to boost its numbers to 2,500 from 2,200 troops, and to send additional equipment. Hillier said yesterday Leopard tanks are expected to arrive in the next few days, while arrangements are being made to deploy another 21 Nyalas: four-wheel-drive jeeps designed to withstand anti-tank mine blasts.
Beyond the equipment, NATO has stressed it needs more boots on the ground - infantry soldiers.
Canada has committed to staying in Afghanistan until 2009. With its infantry already stretched thin, Hillier said a plan is afoot to boost the number of combat soldiers.
"Back home in the army, across the Canadian Forces, we are going to be rerolling a whole bunch of folks in the training pipeline now into the infantry," Hillier said. "They might be signed up to be an armoured soldier or an artillery man or woman, but for the next two years or so we are going to turn them into infantry men or women."
Edit - last Hillier quote added from a longer version of this story that's not online yet
- changed MOC to MOS
