On this day in 1982 Colonel JC Griffiths, CD was appointed Honorary Colonel, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. On this day in 1980 Brigadier T. DuMoulin was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA Newsletter on line. This newsletter, and previous editions, are available on the RUSI Vancouver website at: http://www.rusivancouver.ca/newsletter.html NOTE: My new email address :bob.mugford@outlook.com Wednesday Lunches The 15 Field Officers Mess holds weekly lunches, serving a 5 course, ‘homemade’ meal for only $15- you won’t find a better meal - or a better deal, anywhere. If you are in the area on a Wednesday, drop in and join us for lunch. We have just heard that the Officers Mess bar floor does not contain asbestos so lunches will continue as usual until year end. NOABC Speaker Program Wednesday September 30th The RCMP National Shiprider Program presented by Sgt James Jesmer, E Division NCO in charge Lower Mainland Shiprider Program. The Canada-US Shiprider program involves vessels jointly crewed by specially trained and designated Canadian and US law enforcement officers who are authorized to enforce the law on both sides of the international boundary line. Working together, armed Canadian and US law enforcement officers are able to transit back and forth across the border to help secure it from threats to national security, as well as prevent cross-border smuggling and trafficking. World War 2 - 1940 John Thompson Strategic analyst quotes from his book “Spirit Over Steel” Sept 9th: 200 Luftwaffe bombers attack London, the RAF downs 28 aircraft for 19 losses of their own. Six French ships leave Toulon bound for Dakar. A $5.5 billion naval expansion package becomes law in the US; the bill includes contracts for 210 warships, including seven battleships and 12 aircraft carriers. The RAF sends heavy bombers over several targets in Germany and France. Sept 10th: Hitler defers the decision on Sealion until the 14th as the RAF is still too active for his liking. The Italians start a troop build-up of 200,000 men in Albania for operations against Greece. Sept 11th: Buckingham Palace is hit by a bomb (letting the Queen remark “Thank God, now I can look East Enders in the eye”), and so is the Spitfire factory in Southampton; the RAF losses are 25 aircraft to 29 downed Luftwaffe aircraft. Sept 13th: The Italians begin a slow offensive against Egypt. Marshal Graziani has 5 Divisions and 8 more in Libya whereas the aggressive General O’Connor’s Western Desert Force has the 7th Armor (the ‘Desert Rats’) and the 4th Indian Division. Italian troops penetrate 30km inside Kenya. The Royal Navy positions four battleships to be near potential German invasion routes across the Channel. The A6M Zero makes its combat debut when 13 of Japan’s new naval fighter pounce on 27 Chinese Il-15s and I-16s, downing all of these Soviet-built fighters. The action makes Koshiro Yamashita the first ‘single sortie’ ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy as he downs five of the Chinese fighters himself. The fighter will stay in production until August 1945, and 11,000 will enter service. A Luftwaffe bomb lands some 80m away from King George VI and his Queen in London. Sept 14th: Operation Sealion is postponed again until 27th Sept, with more fighting over London resulting in 14 lost aircraft apiece for the RAF and the Luftwaffe. The Germans are under the impression that the RAF’s powers of resistance are fast ebbing away. Sept 15th: A big day over England, Kesselring sends two major raids but the RAF can muster more fighters than the Germans believe they have. The Luftwaffe loses 60 aircraft to the RAF’s 26, and morale in the Luftwaffe bomber crews sinks. The USSR expands its conscription base to include 19 year-olds' Erosion Reveals England’s World War Two Coastal Defences Aug 30, 2015 Erosion caused by weathering on England’s south coast is revealing some vital coastal defences from World War Two. A three mile stretch of the British coastline in the New Forest region, from the town of Barton on Sea to Milford on Sea has been exposed. The exposure comes as natural erosion occurs and it has revealed the vast expanse of World War Two defense lines put in place by the British military in anticipation of a possible land invasion by the Germans. The defenses include a large field of metal poles and concrete posts intertwined with rolls of barbed wire, alongside pill boxes, all emerging from the bottom of the seabed. After the war the defenses were abandoned and left to rot and become covered on the deep shoreline of the English Channel. Now that the defenses are becoming evident war enthusiasts, researchers and archaeologists are visiting the site to document and review the scene so that they can discover more about Britain’s land defense strategy. The coastal erosion is caused by sea storms lashing the coastline as well as the strength of the tides over the years. The defenses had been erected by the British Army’s Wiltshire Regiment in 1940 when the threat of a German land invasion was at its highest and the Blitz was taking place across the UK, The Telegraph reports. Because the defenses are so near to the shoreline, local authorities are warning swimmers and bathers to not venture into the sea at certain points on the beaches. The danger is at high tide when the defences can’t be seen by the naked eye since they are hidden underneath the sea. To provide even more warning, buoys have been anchored to some of the metal poles so that the area is clearly marked whether it is low or high tide. The local authorities have decided to remove much of the defenses during the next set of lowest tides, which will probably be at the end of August, and they will have access only for a short period of two hours at a time. Engineers at the site said that the poles had been installed in a lattice formation along the shoreline and the pill boxes were starting to collapse. They expect these kinds of defenses to continue being unearthed as erosion of the coastline is ongoing. A lot of the defenses were removed at the end of the war, but a lot was left to submerge under the waves. Five tonnes of materials have already been moved by authorities this year alone. The WWII Plane That Could Have Won Germany the War Mar 3, 2014 This is a picture of the Bugatti 100P. It was almost complete in 1940, when the Italian designer, Bugatti, quit production of the aircraft.. Ettore Bugatti refused to show the aircraft and decided to hide it from the German military, by packing it into crates and putting it in a barn in the French countryside. The plane was never assigned for a mission and it never flew out of its hiding place. John Lawson is a 59-year-old Scottish engineer and former RAF engineer from Musselburgh, who owns a model making company in Nottingham and previously worked on the Vulcan bomber. He has started production of a working replica of the Bugatti 100P. The original plane would have had 2450 horsepower engines and a 27 ft wingspan. The recreation of the “Bugatti Veyron of the skies” is taking place in Oklahoma, where a team of experts, led by Lawson are constantly working to develop the replica of the most advanced planes of its time. The designers believe that, if the aircraft had flown, it would have reached 500mph. The record for speed at that time, had been set by a German Messerschmitt in 1939, at 469mph. Ettore Bugatti became a French citizen in between the war and was known to dislike the Nazis, whom he wanted to challenge to an aircraft race, known as the Coupe Deutsch. The French government was already aware of the construction of the plane, but because the designers were not able to finish it before the deadline, which was September 1939, the Bugatti 100P never entered the competition. When World War Two began, the designers decided to hide the plane, the Mail Online reports. Lawson said that the 500mph Bugatti 100P was 85 percent complete when the Second World War began. ‘If it had flown in 1940, it would have been a revolution. It was an incredible aeroplane and Louis de Monge, who worked on it with Ettore Bugatti, was a brilliant engineer,’ insisted Lawson. It is believed that the only person inside the Nazi party, who knew about the construction of the aircraft was Albert Speer, one of the Fuhrer’s ministers. Luckily, they never manage to get hold of the technology, as it could have destroyed the Spitfire and won Germany the Second World War. 70 years later, the plane was displayed in a United States museum, too fragile to ever be restored. Paul Gross' New Movie to Benefit Wounded Warriors Director, actor and writer Paul Gross’ new film Hyena Road brings to life the struggles many Canadian soldiers faced while serving in Afghanistan. Translating that powerful onscreen message to real life, Gross has partnered with Wounded Warriors Canada to bring awareness to the organization and its work. “It’s such a terrific organization. They’re just so committed and most of what they do is really devoted to soldiers and families and I think they do tremendous work. A lot of our interest with the film is to bring awareness to what the Canadian Forces did over there and endured over in Afghanistan and they [Wounded Warriors] seem to really be the ones on the front lines to help with the aftermath of it all and it made sense that we would be partners with them. It’s a great organization,” said Gross. Portions of the proceeds raised from fundraising associated with the movie will be donated to the non-profit organization. Wounded Warriors supports Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who are ill and injured, primarily focusing on soldiers who have PTSD and operation injuries. Gross is hoping the movie will bring these issues to the forefront of audiences’ minds. “I think one of the most difficult things for an organization such as this is to make people aware of what we actually did there... If we can do anything we’ll at least bring a certain degree of authenticity and accuracy to capture the bewildering, chaotic nature of modern warfare and I think once people have a sense of that it will then make them understand why there are these ongoing problems associated with it. There are combat injuries that are physical and also psychological…I hope the film opens up a door onto what it was that they faced and then there’s Wounded Warriors saying here’s what we can do for those who have been damaged by it,” Gross said. Also in an effort to raise awareness, information booths for Wounded Warriors will be set up in select theatres across the country, public service announcements will be in trailers and Wounded Warriors will be recognized in the movie before the credits roll. All in an effort to “broaden the base of awareness for what Wounded Warriors is trying to accomplish,” as Gross puts it. Wounded Warriors is looking forward to the partnership hoping it will help the Canadian public to understand the kind of traumas many soldiers experience while in Afghanistan. "Hyena Road is an important medium to foster a national discussion about Canada's significant military contribution in Afghanistan. The film will help raise awareness about operational stress injuries like PTSD and the need for program funding support," said Scott Maxwell, Wounded Warriors Canada Executive Director. Wounded Warriors is encouraging civilians to watch the movie so they can catch a glimpse of what life as a soldier might have been like for many in Afghanistan. According to Maxwell, many veterans who have seen the movie have expressed that it portrays the war in an authentic and powerful light. Hyena Road centres around three characters with three different journeys all leading to a common purpose while in Afghanistan. The film makes its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday Sep 14 in Toronto and debuts nationwide on Friday, Oct 9. Hidden Nazi Treasure Train A historically significant military train has been found in Poland. At this time it is not clear whether the train includes the Nazi carriages laden with gold as a treasure-hunting duo have claimed, local officials in Poland have said Wednesday. According to NBC News: “The city [of Walbrzych] is full of mysterious stories because of its history,” the town’s deputy mayor Zygmunt Nowaczyk told journalists at a press conference. “Now it is formal information — [we] have found something.” A local press officer has now confirmed that a train has been found in the mountains near Walbrzych, on the Polish border with the Czech Republic. In the aftermath of World War Two, there were rumors that the Nazis had stockpiled a massive hoard of gold onto a train and sent it off, away from the advancing Allied and Soviet troops that were about to occupy Germany. Last week it was revealed that two treasure hunters had discovered a mysterious, old train near the southern town of Walbrzych. A claim has been filed with the Polish Government, since in Poland treasure finders are allowed to keep 10 percent of the value of the find. The train is said to be around 500 feet long, is armored, has gun platforms, and contains precious metals. The rumors about the treasure train spread at the end of the war, when Soviet troops were advancing on the Polish city of Wroclaw. The Germans are said to have filled a train with treasure and gold and sent it west. Locals had seen the train heading into the mountainous region on the Polish and Czechoslovakian border and it hadn’t been seen since. Locals say there are two gold train stories in the area. One is said to be in the area of Walbrzych and the other is said to be under a mountain, but the area has never been fully excavated or researched and so the stories have never been proved. Historians say that the Nazis did dig tunnels in the mountain region where the train has been discovered, and was said to be the biggest construction project that the Nazis undertook during the war. The reason for the tunnels, however, has remained a mystery and no one knows why they were building them, or what ended up being sent or stored there. The lack of documentation about the region suggests that the Nazis wanted to keep it a secret. It is because of this mystery that many believe the train was sent there for safe-keeping and hiding from the Soviets and Allies, The Telegraph reports. The gold on the train may have come from the Nazis looting during the war, but many remain skeptical that even if they have discovered the train that the gold will still be in it. Defence Platforms - Conservative Party The Conservative Party’s platform on Defence includes:
– Increasing the size of Canada’s reserve force from 24,000 to 30,000, a promise originally announced in 2008. Defence Minister Jason Kenney outlined other party platforms/accomplishments, including the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. “The Conservative government maintains a robust defence policy based on the Canada First Defence Strategy (CFDS), which we first unveiled in 2008,” Kenney writes. “Guided by that document, we are committed to defending Canadian sovereignty, providing our men and women in uniform with the equipment they need, and playing an active role in global security.” Canadian Military Education Centre Museum Chilliwack's Canadian Military Education Centre Museum (CMEC Museum), is to close on 14 September, 2015. The museum building on Petawawa Road, on the former military Base Chilliwack, within the Canada Education Park is now required for other occupants in the spring of 2016. Therefore, the old Clothing Stores building, which has been used by the museum, but is owned by Chilliwack's City CEPCO, will be vacated by CMEC by the end of October. The CMEC Museum regrets the loss of our exhibit location, and the circumstances for this decision, but the search for alternative suitable sites to exhibit the extensive CMEC military displays is ongoing. CMEC is a non- profit association of several scores of very enthusiastic, passionate collectors, restorers, re-enactors and military exhibitor members. With the support of CEPCO, the CMEC Museum has been provided with the former Base Clothing Stores building to exhibit their extensive displays of military vehicles, weapons and other military artifacts since 2008. During this seven plus years, the Museum has received more than 25,000 visitors to view the displays and for younger and really interested visitors there was always the opportunity to climb in and on several vehicles. The CMEC Museum has lived up to its motto of "Preserve, Honour and Educate" by also providing group and student tours year round, but especially in the Remembrance month period, with the emphasis on educating Canadians and honouring veterans and the role they have played in building our Canada! The CMEC Association will remain active and will attempt to provide museum displays where ever possible. The Web Site will also remain active Open Season on Drones Just how do you shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles? David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen September 1, 2015 There has been some buzz about the Breaking Defense story out of the U.S., reporting that a U.S. Marine sniper has successfully shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (seven-foot wingspan) during a recent military exercise. The shoot-down took place at this year’s Black Dart counter drone exercise in California. “The Marine sniper shot from a UH-1Y Huey,” Lt. Cdr. Ryan Leary, a Black Dart project officer for the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization (JIAMDO), told Breaking Defense. It was considered the first recorded incident of an airborne U.S. Marine sniper taking out a drone with a rifle, the publication noted. Military personnel in a helicopter also used that aircraft’s machine-gun to destroy another UAV. There was also a recent report about a Serbian sniper, a volunteer with pro-Russian rebels fighting in Ukraine. He is reported to have disabled a Ukrainian Army UAV with sniper fire. Then of course there are the U.S. civilians who have been blasting away at drones. A Kentucky man was arrested last month on charges of criminal mischief and wanton endangerment for destroying a small UAV. The man said the drone was spying on his daughter. When it was in a hover he pumped three rounds from his shotgun into the aircraft, destroying it. A New Jersey man is now facing serious charges for his 2014 shoot-down of a UAV. Again, a shotgun was used. He fired at the aircraft five times, destroying it in flight. Who is it? Last Week: We didn’t get too many replies on this quiz but the picture was taken on 14 June, 1949 and there aren’t too many left from that time. One of the respondents is quite sure that the officer on the right is ‘Curley’ Pettis, who was a 3RCHA BC in the 60s. Another though the officer on the left is Gordon Platt but others disagree as this officer is older than Platt would have been. Some are sure that the NCO is George Chow but George himself doesn’t think it is him. This Week: Our quiz this week continues our “gun” theme. It’s a rather easy one, for some of you, being as it is a gun mounted on a truck. So far, so good. Likewise, the next question: “What is the gun”, is now being scoffed at by some of the cognoscenti, while the other, related question: “What vehicle is that”, receives similar guffaws from many. Nonetheless, you are required to answer such in order to pass “Go”. The harder question is this: “What unit in British Columbia used this particular combination of khaki-coloured things?” The answer to this, I honestly don’t know, yet. However, I will know such by next week (I hope), thanks to the diligence and perspicuity of our many erudite readers. As an interesting, but rather useless aside, a similar combination of things was made by our Italian enemies (now NATO allies) during the Second World War. Kindly Commonwealth units, advancing away from the front line in the Western Desert, for reasons of economy, sometimes left similar vehicles for their future friends, who then mounted Breda guns on them, no doubt in a jocular salute to our lads’ generosity. If you have the answers, or educated guesses, please contact the editor, or the author, John Redmond (johnd._redmond@telus.net). Thank you for playing the game. P.S. To see a similar gun, why not visit the Museum of the 15th Field Regiment (RCA) on a Wednesday morning? From the ‘Punitentary’ Why don't pigs use the telephone? Because there's crackling on the line. Murphy’s other Laws It’s bad luck to be superstitious. Quotable Quotes Fortune knocks but once, but misfortune has much more patience. Laurence J Peter CIC Vancouver and the Royal United Services Institute present a Panel Discussion Canada’s Foreign Policy and the Federal Election 2015 with Dr. James A. Boutilier Dr. Michael Byers Ms. Jill Stirk Following a LIVE SCREENING of the MUNK DEBATES | Date: Monday, September 28th, 2015 | Time: 3:30pm Early Registration 4:00pm Live Munk Debates Screening 5:30pm Panel Registration Refreshments and Cash Bar 6:30-7:30pm Panel Discussion | Location: Law Courts Inn, 5th Floor 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC | Tickets: purchase online here | Three weeks prior to one of the closest federal elections in recent Canadian history, a moderated panel of experts will present their views on the implications of the election outcome for Canada’s foreign and defence policies. This panel will follow a live screening of the Munk Debates, held in Toronto. Foreign policy is often neglected during campaign time. The CIC Vancouver Branch is partnering with the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) to promote public discussion in our collective mission to inform our local community with respect to international affairs. | This year’s election is proving to be a unique one for our nation. The leaders of the three major parties in Parliament have agreed to participate in the Munk Debates on Canadian Foreign Policy, currently scheduled to coincide with this event. Following the screening and refreshments, each of our speakers will provide expert commentary on foreign policy planks of the competing parties, along with informed speculation as to what foreign policy directions might emerge after the October 19th election. We urge members and non-members to attend and put questions to our excellent panelists. MEET OUR PANELISTS Dr. James A. Boutilier Special Advisor, International Engagement Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters Dr. James Boutilier is the Special Advisor, International Engagement at Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters, Canada’s west coast naval formation, in Esquimalt, British Columbia. Dr. Boutilier attended Dalhousie University (BA History, 1960), McMaster University (MA History, 1962), and the University of London (PhD History, 1969). Dr. Boutilier has held posts at various universities throughout his career, including the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Dr. Boutilier’s field of expertise is Asia-Pacific defence and security. He published RCN in Retrospect in 1982 and has written extensively on maritime and security concerns. He lectures nationally and internationally on political, economic, and global security developments. Dr. Michael Byers Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. He has been a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University, a Professor of Law at Duke University, and a Visiting Professor at the universities of Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Nordland (Norway) and Novosibirsk (Russia). Professor Byers is a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail and the National Post. His most recent book, International Law and the Arctic, won the 2013 Donner Prize for the best public policy book in Canada. Ms. Jillian Stirk Former Ambassador to Norway, Head of the Afghanistan Inter-Department Committee; Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe and Africa in DFATD Jillian Stirk is a former Canadian ambassador and Public Service executive with more than thirty years experience in public policy, foreign affairs, international trade, and multinational negotiations. Until June 2013, Jillian was the Chief Foreign Policy Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister-Strategic Policy, Global Issues, and European Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Development. Jillian served as Canada’s Ambassador to Norway from 2005-2009. Jillian is a Dialogue Associate at the Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue and a Mentor with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, where she is co-leading a project on Diversity, Pluralism and the Future of Citizenship. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Allam Advisory Group, a global trade consulting firm and she is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the West Vancouver Memorial Library. She volunteers with the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, and with several other academic and community organisations. MEET OUR MODERATOR Cameron Cathart President, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) of Vancouver Cameron Cathcart is a former broadcast journalist with a career spanning 40 years, including 30 years with the CBC as foreign correspondent in Washington, parliamentary reporter in Ottawa, national correspondent in Canada, executive producer, and on-air presenter for the CBC radio and television networks. Following early retirement Mr. Cathcart became an active volunteer. In July 2015 he was recognized by the City of Vancouver with the 2015 Civic Merit Award for his leadership of the annual Remembrance Day Service at Victory Square which has become one of the largest and most respected ceremonies of its kind in Canada In 2012 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for “dedicated service to his peers, the community and to Canada” and in 2009 was awarded the prestigious Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for promoting awareness of veteran’s issues in Canada. September 5, 2015 Dear Friends, The Chinese Canadian Military Museum is the only museum of its kind in Canada. Our goal is to collect, preserve, document, and celebrate the role of Chinese Canadian veterans in the service of Canada’s military. Our emphasis over the past 15 years had been on educating Canadians on the role Chinese Canadians played during the Second World War, and the double victory that was won as a result of their sacrifice. Not only did Chinese Canadians play a role in the victory of the Allies over fascism in 1945; they also improved the lives of all Chinese Canadians when, in 1947, the federal government finally granted the community full citizenship and the right to vote. Today, we have only a small number of Canadian veterans from this war still with us. Many are active in our museum. All are in their 90s. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It is a milestone year that we need to commemorate. Sadly, we recognize this is one of our last opportunities to honour as many of the few remaining World War II veterans still alive. To this end, our museum is hosting a 70th Anniversary Commemorative Gala dinner on Saturday, October 24, 2015 in Vancouver. This is the year, and the occasion, to really honour the veterans that are left by hosting the most amazing gala commemorative dinner for them with an outstanding, distinguished Canadian in attendance. To make this year truly special, we have invited Lieutenant General (Ret’d), the Honourable Romeo Dallaire and he has accepted to be our keynote speaker for the evening. He is a former soldier and Canadian senator. And he is a man who, due to his time in Rwanda as a peacekeeper, speaks passionately about conflict, resolution, compassion … and forgiveness. Although he is a high profile speaker, he does not take any money for himself. However, he does use his speaking fees to raise money for his humanitarian work – specifically his mission to end the use of child soldiers. All money goes to his foundation, and he is selective as to what speaking engagements he accepts. Your support by attending this dinner will help us to raise money not only for our museum but also for LGen Dallaire’s foundation. The museum is promoting this event to all the military regimental associations, Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans (ANAVETs) units, Royal Canadian Legions (RCL) branches and local militia units and reserves. We hope that you will join us at this momentous occasion to pay tribute to these war heroes. If you also wish to donate to the museum, we are able to issue tax receipts for your contribution to help us carry on with the stories and legacies of these veterans. Please use the attached form to order your tickets and do share this invitation to your family, friends and colleagues at work and clubs. I look forward to seeing you at the dinner. Thank you for your support of our veterans. Sincerely King Wan President Attach. 15th Field Artillery Regt Seeking Recruits
Primary Reserve Artillery Information Session Monday October 19th, 2015 @ 6:00 P.M and Monday October 26th, 2015 @ 6:00 P.M Those interested in applying to the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserves are welcome to attend a one-hour information session as a first step in the recruitment process. These sessions will include information on career availability, benefits, training, and more. Registration is mandatory for all information sessions 2025 West 11th Ave, Vancouver BC To register, call 604-666-4371 or email 15FdRegtRecruiting@forces.gc.ca Be sure to include the following information:· Your name and address Phone number (home, work, cell) Email address Date and time of presentation Newsletter on line. This newsletter, and previous editions, are available on the RUSI Vancouver website at: http://www.rusivancouver.ca/newsletter.html NOTE: My new email address:bob.mugford@outlook.com Wednesday Lunches The 15 Field Officers Mess holds weekly lunches, serving a 5 course, ‘homemade’ meal for only $15- you won’t find a better meal - or a better deal, anywhere. If you are in the area on a Wednesday, drop in and join us for lunch. Note: A contractor will be coming in to remove asbestos tiles from the bar area. This now scheduled for mid to late October and will mean a shutdown of lunches for one to two weeks. NOABC Speaker Program Wednesday September 30th The RCMP National Shiprider Program presented by Sgt James Jesmer, E Division NCO in charge Lower Mainland Shiprider Program. The Canada-US Shiprider program involves vessels jointly crewed by specially trained and designated Canadian and US law enforcement officers who are authorized to enforce the law on both sides of the international boundary line. Working together, armed Canadian and US law enforcement officers are able to transit back and forth across the border to help secure it from threats to national security, as well as prevent cross-border smuggling and trafficking. World War 2 - 1940 John Thompson Strategic analyst quotes from his book “Spirit Over Steel” Sept 2nd: The Lend Lease deal is ratified and the US cedes 50 old destroyers (all of First World War vintage) to the UK in returning for basing rights in West Indies, Newfoundland and Bermuda. Sept 3rd: The Sealion date for the invasion of England is now scheduled for 21 Sept, with Hitler’s final decision due 11 Sept. Elements of 11 divisions will make the assault, with two airborne divisions and 6,700 airborne troops to land on D-Day with 250 tanks on beachheads near Folkestone, Eastbourne and Brighton. At this time, the UK has four fully equipped and eight reasonably equipped divisions, with 350 cruiser/heavy tanks and 500 anti-tank guns, plus many mobile brigade groups. Sept 4th: The US warns Japan to keep its sticky fingers out of French Indochina. So far in Sept, the RAF has lost 120 planes in the air (and more on the ground) while the Luftwaffe has lost 148. Sept 5th: Romania’s Parliament dissolves and the constitution is suspended; General Antonescu is gathering the reins of power. Sept 6th: Under pressure from strongman Ion Antonescu, Romania’s King Michael abdicates in favour of his 19 year old son Prince Michael. Sept 7th: As Britain braces for invasion, the Luftwaffe starts day-bombing London to draw out the RAF’s fighters. 1,150 Sorties over London do much damage to the east end, while the Luftwaffe loses 41 aircraft to 28 aerial losses to the RAF. The British field their first radar-equipped night fighters over London. Albert George Dolphin has volunteered for service in a London Hospital as an emergency porter; and is on hand when a bomb lands in the hospital kitchen, killing four nurses and injuring many others. He starts trying to dig one trapped nurse out of the rubble when a weakened wall gives way. Dolphin doesn’t hesitate and throws himself over her. He is killed, but the nurse survives thanks to his sacrifice and Dolphin posthumously receives Britain’s highest award for civilian courage – the George Cross. What's up with loans to Canadian Forces personnel? David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen A while ago a couple of Canadian Forces members wrote Defence Watch about their attempts to get a CFPAF loan (Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Funds). They were told such loans had ceased and they needed to apply to the Bank of Montreal for a line of credit. They also noted in their quest for a loan they shopped around, pointing out that BMO had poorer interest rates than other banks. They also pointed out that BMO will deny military personnel a loan if they’ve been out of the country for a time. (BMO says the person has to re-establish their credit rating, they were told). These Defence Watch readers also question where the Non-public funds, previously used for the loans, had gone? So on their behalf Defence Watch submitted questions. Here are the answers from Lt(N) Michèle Tremblay, Public Affairs Officer, CF Morale & Welfare Services: Question 1. Why was the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund’s Education Loans ceased? Answer 1. As part of an overall modernization process which begun in 2013, the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund’s Education Loans was replaced with a similar program under the Canadian Defence Community Banking Program through BMO Bank of Montreal. The Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund’s Education Loans had only been available to currently serving members, former members of the Regular Force and their families; currently serving and former Reserve Force members and their families were not eligible for this benefit. In addition, loans were limited to $4 000 per student per year, to a maximum lifetime per student of $16 000. Given the need to expand the eligibility for Education Loans and the desire to increase the loan amounts to those more commensurate with the actual cost of attending post-secondary institutions, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services leveraged its existing relationship with BMO as a potential source of support. This effort was successful and now, through the program, loans are available for full and part-time students, including reservists and their families, to meet the financial demands of post-secondary education today. For the academic year starting September 2014, BMO began extending their Student Line of Credit to the CAF Community at a reduced interest rate. Q2. Where have the non-public funds previously used for the loans under Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance fund gone? A2. In 2013, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services was asked to modernize the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund, originally established in 1967, to ensure that it met the current and evolving needs of the entire CAF Community of One Million Strong. As part of this process, the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund’s Education Loans program was replaced with a similar program under the Canadian Defence Community Banking Program through BMO Bank of Montreal. Also, the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund and Support Our Troops were recently combined into one source of charitable support to better meet the needs of the broader defence community that is One Million Strong. Thus, the funds previously allocated to the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund’s Education Loans remain within the broader CAF support program and continue to benefit the broader CAF community. Q3. Are the interest rates for student loans obtained under the Canadian Defence Community Banking competitive compared with BMO Bank of Montreal? A3. For the academic year starting September 2014, BMO began extending their Student Line of Credit to the CAF community at a reduced interest rate. The rate charged is in line with or better than those of other financial institutions, especially when all the costs of borrowing are included. Q4. If a CAF member is denied a loan under the Canadian Defence Community Bank Program due to their credit rating, is their alternative resources under the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services? A4. As per industry standards, a CAF member’s or student’s credit score is the key factor in confirming eligibility for a BMO Student Line of Credit. When a military member fails to qualify for a BMO loan, or any other education loan program at another financial institution, loans are still available through the Support Our Troops Program. This provision includes those military families who have returned from being posted outside of Canada. Marines Put ONR Augmented Reality System to the Test Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research Public Affairs 8/31/2015 ARLINGTON, VA (NNS) -- Marines enrolled in the Infantry Officer Course were able to use Office of Naval Research (ONR)-developed augmented reality technology for the first time as part of live-fire training exercises, ONR officials announced Aug 31. The Marines, as part of the Infantry Officer Course, had the opportunity to try out the Office of Naval Research AITT (Augmented Immersive Team Trainer) system on Aug 5-6 at a test range on the southern edge of Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The AITT system-which is comprised of a laptop, software and battery pack, and a helmet-mounted display-can support a wide array of live, virtual and cutting-edge training scenarios. It uses augmented reality, which means that virtual objects are superimposed onto a real environment-like the yellow first-down lines added to television broadcasts of football games for the benefit of viewers at home. This differs from virtual reality, which is a wholly computer-generated environment in which users immerse themselves. "The AITT system is like the Marine Corps itself: lean, agile and adaptable," said Brig Gen Julian Alford, vice chief of naval research and commanding general of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. "This affordable lightweight system can be taken anywhere-turning any environment into a training ground-and could be used to prepare Marines for real-world situations and environments they will face." QUANTICO, VA (Aug. 5, 2015) A Marine is fitted with the AITT Trainer from the Office of Naval Research during on-going testing at Quantico, VA. The AITT allows Marines to transform any location into a dynamic training ground by injecting virtual images, indirect fire effects, aircraft, vehicles, simulated people, etc., onto a real-world view of one's surroundings. (US Navy photo by John F. Williams/Released) The field portion of the "call-for-fire" training included aircraft and munitions, which are costly and time-consuming to set up, staff and equip, but an important part of the training experience for the student officers. The wait time for a test range can be six to 12 months, rain can cancel the testing and it can be difficult to get assets in place, since equipment can break down. The AITT completely bypasses these challenges by using virtual ground vehicles, aircraft and munitions. "The system makes the training easier and eliminates the maintenance issues or weather-related restrictions that can pare down or cancel training," said Maj. George Flynn, director of the Infantry Officer Course. "For instance, this system can use virtual air support, so even if it's raining, the students can still be training, getting confidence and learning the points of employing aviation assets." "The system will enable the student officers to use virtual assets to complement live training or to get additional practice repetitions without having to use live assets," said Dr. Peter Squire, a program officer with ONR's Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department who's leading the AITT effort. "And instead of using your imagination, now you can see virtual effects from the blasts, like smoke." Flynn emphasized that seeing virtual effects makes it much easier for the student to picture the situation. "Rather than having the instructor paint a picture to the student without anything happening, now the student can get a visual of the aircraft they've been controlling in support of a maneuver on the deck," he said. Flynn envisioned more potential uses for AITT in the future: "For example, as part of a company training event, a rifle platoon could be conducting a live-fire attack on a range at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, while the Fire Support Team could be on the hill practicing employing fires in support of maneuver, using virtual effects." The AITT program-part of the ONR Capable Manpower Future Naval Capability-will wrap up its fifth and final year with a large-scale demonstration at Quantico, scheduled for October. Pending the results of a Marine Corps assessment in October, the program will transition to the Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems for further testing and development. Royal Roads Recognizes Alumni for Leadership, Positive Change Herb Pitts believes if you ask others to do a tough job, it has to be something you are willing to do yourself. He applies that leadership principle in all aspects of his life: on the collegiate soccer field, the battlefield and in the board room. As a result, his inspired command and his teambuilding efforts have earned him a legacy of deep respect and honour. During a 30-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, Pitts saw active duty in several critical conflicts including the Korean War and the 1956 Suez Crisis (as part of Canada’s peacekeeping force for the UN). Pitts was also posted to Germany and the US as well as cities across Canada, rising to the rank of major-general in his last role as chief of army operations, from which he retired in 1978. He served with some of Canada’s most storied groups and was named Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Infantry Corps, Canadian Airborne Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. As a new lieutenant in the Korean War, Pitts led a dangerous night mission to set barbed wire barricades near enemy lines. After losing two of his men, his calm leadership as a platoon commander earned him the Military Cross for bravery. “If I sent them somewhere, I told them I would be with them all the way,” he says. World War II helped shape Pitts even though he was just a child when the fighting began. Many men, including his own father, were away from home in the services, and so Pitts became a self-described “community leader kid,” actively involved in many groups in his hometown of Nelson, B.C. He entered Royal Roads (then called the Canadian Services College) in 1948, earning the Captain’s Cup as the outstanding senior term athlete. Pitts completed his bachelor’s degree in history at the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston where he continued to excel, winning the Harris Bigelow Trophy (graduate with the best combination of athletic and academic ability) and the Victor Vander Smissen-Ridout Memorial Award (voted on by fellow cadets as the best all around). He received the honorary Doctor of Military Science (Honoris Causa) in 1984 from RMC. After he hung up his uniform, Pitts went from soldier to farmer, raising beef cattle in Ontario and working as president of the Ontario Safety League. Now retired and living in Victoria, Pitts, 86, has devoted himself to community service with the same zeal he displayed in the military. He has volunteered with Scouts Canada (President, International and National Commissioner), Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Broadmead Care Society, the Royal Canadian Legion (Honorary President of the B.C. and Yukon division), and numerous veterans’ committees. An example of his dedication to humanity occurred at the Scouts Jamboree in Korea in 1992, when one of his contingent injured an ankle. While Pitts was visiting him in the hospital, he heard about a Korean toddler who had just had both legs amputated after a car accident. Pitts set up a fund through Scouts Canada to pay for surgeries and prosthetics in Canada as she grew up. The girl, who entered university at age 15 and graduated summa cum laude, credits Scouts Canada with giving her the opportunity to achieve. At the very beginning, it was Royal Roads’ campus and spirit that nurtured him, Pitts said, recalling moments of creekside quiet reflection during brief respites from the hectic cadet schedule. “It wasn’t a sausage factory, it was a testing ground where the value of teamwork was reinforced,” he says. This year’s honour is especially significant, he says. “The Royal Roads Alumni Award is the culmination of everything I’ve been working toward.” Star Trek Actor Was a Gunner Star Trek star shot two snipers on D-Day and was shot seven times in WWII James Doohan was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the youngest of four children of William and Sarah. The family moved to Sarnia, Ontario, and Doohan attended high school at the Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS), where he excelled in mathematics and science. He enrolled in the 102nd Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in 1938. At the beginning of the Second World War, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the 13th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Doohan went to England in 1940 for training. His first combat was the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. While crossing between command posts at 1130hrs that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren gun by a nervous Canadian sentry: four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his right middle finger. The bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case. His right middle finger had to be amputated, something he would conceal during his career as an actor. Doohan trained as a pilot (graduating from Air Observation Pilot Course 40 with 11 other Canadian artillery officers), and flew Taylorcraft Auster Mark V aircraft for 666 Sqn, RCAF, as a Royal Canadian Artillery officer in support of 1st Army Group Royal Canadian Artillery. These three Canadian RCAF Squadrons were manned by Artillery Officer-pilots and accompanied by non-commissioned RCA and RCAF personnel serving as observers. Although never actually a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Doohan was once labelled the “craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force”. A story from his flying years tells of Doohan slaloming a plane—variously cited as a Hurricane or a jet trainer—between mountainside telegraph poles to prove it could be done, which earned him a serious reprimand. (The actual feat was performed in a Mark IV Auster on the Salisbury Plain north of RAF Andover in the late spring of 1945). After the war, Doohan returned to Canada. He worked in radio before making his way to New York City. Joining the Neighborhood Playhouse in 1946, Doohan studied with Sanford Meisner and performed with the likes of Tony Randall, Lee Marvin, and Leslie Nielsen. Commuting between the United States and Canada, he reportedly did more than 4,000 Canadian radio programs and appeared some Canadian and American programs during the 1950s. Doohan’s credits included The Twilight Zone, GE True, Hazel, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, Bewitched, Fantasy Island, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964, 1966) and Bonanza. In the Bonanza episode “Gift of Water” (1962), he co-starred with actress Majel Barrett who would later play Star Trek’s Nurse Chapel. He played an assistant to the United States president in two episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He had an uncredited role in The Satan Bug (1965), appeared in an episode of Daniel Boone (TV series) “A perilous Passage” (1970), appeared as a state trooper in Roger Vadim’s 1971 film Pretty Maids All in a Row (which was produced by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry), and played opposite Richard Harris in the 1971 movie Man in the Wilderness, which was filmed in Spain In his later years, Doohan’s health began to decline. He developed Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and lung fibrosis. Around 2004, Doohan was also experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s as his short-term memory began to deteriorate. He was, however, able to attend the ceremony held in his honor as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 31, 2004. On July 20, 2005, Doohan died at his home in Redmond, Washington. He was survived by third wife Wende, their three children, sons Eric and Thomas and daughter Sarah who was only five years old at the time. Doohan also had four adult children from his first marriage, Larkin, Deidre, Chris and Montgomery as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. THUNDER IN THE SKIES: A Canadian Gunner in the Great War An extraordinary, newly discovered account from an ordinary Canadian on the ground in the crucial battles of the First World War. As featured in the Jul 21st newsletter. What was it like to be a field gunner in the Great War? Drawing on the unpublished letters and diary of field gunner Lt Bert Sargent and his fellow soldiers, Thunder in the Skies takes the reader from enlistment in late 1914, through training camp, to the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, the Hundred Days Offensive, and home again with peace. Now available at: www.amazon.ca and ITunes Who is it? Last Week: That was the Battery Observation Post at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park. It was demolished in the 1960s. All that remains is the concrete base. Just to the north is the Officers Mess and quarters building, which is still there. It had a couple of wings added and is now the Teahouse and Restaurant. Across the road is a big concrete pad, which is the top of the ammunition bunker and at the tip of the Point, if you are there at the right time of year, you can see the colour change in the grass where the gun platforms are, as seen this picture. The BOP was located between the big trees and Restaurant. This Week: Sometimes, even in our well-organized, state-of-the-art museum, we come across surprises. Such was the case a couple of years ago when I found a collection of slides from the 1950s, hidden in a box of unsorted items, dead rats, live rounds, etc, deep in the subterranean cavern we call the storage room. The slides were of the dreaded “Anscochrome” variety, dreaded due to their propensity to fade to nothing. They were also held in aluminium frames, with glass covers for the image. In theory this is great, protecting the photo from dust and finger prints. However, in this case, due to improper handling years ago, the frames served to hold in the dust and dirt, and made an excellent home for mould. Several weeks of careful (but amateur) conservation, which required removal of the slides from the frames, cleaning and remounting, allowed for them to be then scanned, with the resulting image manipulated so that it could be seen. What you see is a lot better than what I first found. So, all you military sleuths, what is this image of? Who are these properly bush-dressed, pukka-sahib, officer chaps (and one warrant officer)? Do you know any of them? Their regiment might be a no-brainer, but what of the gun upon which they are assembled? Do any of you know where we can get one? Ideas, guesses and curses can be sent to the editor (note new email: bob.mugford@outlook.com - (the latter, especially), or the author (the two former, please), John Redmond (johnd._redmond@telus.net). Thank you for your help. Think you recognise someone? Email the editor (see above) for a larger picture. From the ‘Punitentary’ Why did the pig stop sunbathing? He was bacon in the heat. Murphy’s other Laws Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by hitting back. Quotable Quotes The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein CIC Vancouver and the Royal United Services Institute present a Panel Discussion Canada’s Foreign Policy and the Federal Election 2015 with Dr. James A. Boutilier Dr. Michael Byers Ms. Jill Stirk Following a LIVE SCREENING of the MUNK DEBATES | Date: Monday, September 28th, 2015 | Time: 3:30pm Early Registration 4:00pm Live Munk Debates Screening 5:30pm Panel Registration Refreshments and Cash Bar 6:30-7:30pm Panel Discussion | Location: Law Courts Inn, 5th Floor 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC | Tickets: purchase online here | Three weeks prior to one of the closest federal elections in recent Canadian history, a moderated panel of experts will present their views on the implications of the election outcome for Canada’s foreign and defence policies. This panel will follow a live screening of the Munk Debates, held in Toronto. Foreign policy is often neglected during campaign time. The CIC Vancouver Branch is partnering with the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) to promote public discussion in our collective mission to inform our local community with respect to international affairs. | This year’s election is proving to be a unique one for our nation. The leaders of the three major parties in Parliament have agreed to participate in the Munk Debates on Canadian Foreign Policy, currently scheduled to coincide with this event. Following the screening and refreshments, each of our speakers will provide expert commentary on foreign policy planks of the competing parties, along with informed speculation as to what foreign policy directions might emerge after the October 19th election. We urge members and non-members to attend and put questions to our excellent panelists. MEET OUR PANELISTS Dr. James A. Boutilier Special Advisor, International Engagement Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters Dr. James Boutilier is the Special Advisor, International Engagement at Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters, Canada’s west coast naval formation, in Esquimalt, British Columbia. Dr. Boutilier attended Dalhousie University (BA History, 1960), McMaster University (MA History, 1962), and the University of London (PhD History, 1969). Dr. Boutilier has held posts at various universities throughout his career, including the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Dr. Boutilier’s field of expertise is Asia-Pacific defence and security. He published RCN in Retrospect in 1982 and has written extensively on maritime and security concerns. He lectures nationally and internationally on political, economic, and global security developments. Dr. Michael Byers Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. He has been a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University, a Professor of Law at Duke University, and a Visiting Professor at the universities of Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Nordland (Norway) and Novosibirsk (Russia). Professor Byers is a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail and the National Post. His most recent book, International Law and the Arctic, won the 2013 Donner Prize for the best public policy book in Canada. Ms. Jillian Stirk Former Ambassador to Norway, Head of the Afghanistan Inter-Department Committee; Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe and Africa in DFATD Jillian Stirk is a former Canadian ambassador and Public Service executive with more than thirty years experience in public policy, foreign affairs, international trade, and multinational negotiations. Until June 2013, Jillian was the Chief Foreign Policy Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister-Strategic Policy, Global Issues, and European Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Development. Jillian served as Canada’s Ambassador to Norway from 2005-2009. Jillian is a Dialogue Associate at the Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue and a Mentor with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, where she is co-leading a project on Diversity, Pluralism and the Future of Citizenship. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Allam Advisory Group, a global trade consulting firm and she is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the West Vancouver Memorial Library. She volunteers with the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, and with several other academic and community organisations. MEET OUR MODERATOR Cameron Cathart President, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) of Vancouver Cameron Cathcart is a former broadcast journalist with a career spanning 40 years, including 30 years with the CBC as foreign correspondent in Washington, parliamentary reporter in Ottawa, national correspondent in Canada, executive producer, and on-air presenter for the CBC radio and television networks. Following early retirement Mr. Cathcart became an active volunteer. In July 2015 he was recognized by the City of Vancouver with the 2015 Civic Merit Award for his leadership of the annual Remembrance Day Service at Victory Square which has become one of the largest and most respected ceremonies of its kind in Canada In 2012 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for “dedicated service to his peers, the community and to Canada” and in 2009 was awarded the prestigious Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for promoting awareness of veteran’s issues in Canada. 15th Field Artillery Regt Seeking Recruits
Primary Reserve Artillery Information Session Monday October 19th, 2015 @ 6:00 PM and Monday October 26th, 2015 @ 6:00 PM at 2025 West 11th Ave, Vancouver BC Registration is mandatory for all information sessions To register, call 604-666-4371 or email 15FdRegtRecruiting@forces.gc.ca Be sure to include the following information: · Your name and address · Phone number (home, work, cell) · Email address · Date and time of presentation On this day in 1988 Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Carter was appointed Commanding Officer, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA and Master Warrant Officer David K Levien, CD was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major. On this day in 1988 Brigadier RT DuMoulin, ED, CD was appointed Honorary Colonel, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA and Lieutenant-Colonel RJ Webster, CD was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. On this day in 1985 Lieutenant-Colonel John Jessop, CD was appointed Commanding Officer, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. On this day in 1939 details from the 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA were mobilized for active service under the designation 15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA, CASF (Details) and details from the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA were mobilized for active service under the designation 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, CASF (Details).
Newsletter on line. This newsletter, and previous editions, are available on the RUSI Vancouver website at: http://www.rusivancouver.ca/newsletter.html Wednesday Lunches The 15 Field Officers Mess holds weekly lunches, serving a 5 course, ‘homemade’ meal for only $15- you won’t find a better meal - or a better deal, anywhere. If you are in the area on a Wednesday, drop in and join us for lunch. Note: The Bar is OPEN again! A contractor will be coming in to remove asbestos tiles from the bar area. This now scheduled for mid to late October and will mean a shutdown of lunches for one to two weeks. NOABC Speaker Program Wednesday September 30th The RCMP National Shiprider Program presented by Sgt James Jesmer, E Division NCO in charge Lower Mainland Shiprider Program. The Canada-US Shiprider program involves vessels jointly crewed by specially trained and designated Canadian and US law enforcement officers who are authorized to enforce the law on both sides of the international boundary line. Working together, armed Canadian and US law enforcement officers are able to transit back and forth across the border to help secure it from threats to national security, as well as prevent cross-border smuggling and trafficking. Canada’s Foreign Policy and the Federal Election 2015 A Panel Discussion presented by RUSI Vancouver & Canadian International Council – See notice at end of newsletter. World War 2 - 1940 John Thompson Strategic analyst quotes from his book “Spirit Over Steel” Aug 26th: German raids hit Portsmouth and three RAF bases, losing 45 aircraft to 31 RAF fighters. Aug 27th: RAF Coastal Command starts flying convoy protection operations out of Iceland with Fairey Battles. Aug 28th: Night bombing of cities takes off as the second RAF raid on Berlin is matched by a German attack on Liverpool. Over England by day, the RAF is finding new Luftwaffe tactics to strip down their fighter strength are getting costly and they lose 20 fighters while the Luftwaffe loses 30 aircraft. The Armed Merchant Cruiser Dunvegan Castle is sunk by a U-Boat. Aug 29th: A Luftwaffe fighter sweep takes 9 RAF fighters but lose 17 – they left their bombers back in France and looked for the Hurricanes and Spitfires with their Messerschmitts alone. Aug 30th: RAF Fighter Bases Biggin Hill and Lutton are badly hit in raids, with 36 Luftwaffe and 26 RAF aerial losses. Hitler announces he will decide about Operation Sealion on Sept 10th. Germany intervenes in the Bulgarian and Hungarian attempt to bully Romania into ceding territory, and forces Romania to yield land without another war occurring. Aug 31st: The RAF is very close to losing parity over southern England, losing 39 aircraft in the air (to 41 Luftwaffe losses), and almost all of its fighter bases in the south have been badly hit or knocked out. September 1940: The Few Fend off Hitler. General: Kriegsmarine E-boat torpedo attack craft go into action off England, and Allied shipping losses reach 100 ships - 448,600 tons; 59 of which are sunk by U-Boats. Sept 1st: The Italians capture Buna in Northeast Kenya; they have been modest in their advances largely because of logistical difficulties and the main focus of their forces in Western Somalia so far has been road-building. The Luftwaffe pace against RAF fighter bases slacks off as the bombers start going after factories. The Soviets expel Japanese Consul Sempo Sugihara from the formerly Polish city of Kovno – Sugihara had managed to allow over 3,400 Polish Jews to transit through the USSR and Japanese controlled territory in a quest for safety. The US Army's Official Humvee Replacement The US Army has just awarded a $6.75 billion contract to Oshkosh Defense to build 17,000 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the Army and Marine Corps The US Army and Marine Corps have made their final selection for the replacement to the aging Humvee. Meet the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JTLV, built by Oshkosh Defense. The decision caps off a three-year investigational phase, during which Oshkosh, Lockheed Martin, and AM General (maker of the long-serving Humvee) submitted 22 prototype vehicles each to be subjected to an intensive 14-month competitive test. The $6.75 billion contract awarded to Oshkosh covers production of 17,000 new vehicles. The Army anticipates receiving its first units in 2018, with a procurement period that runs until 2040. The first three years of JLTV production will be low-rate, with an anticipated output of 17,000 vehicles. 5,500 of those vehicles will be earmarked for the Marine Corps, delivered between 2018 and 2022. The US Army plans to buy 49,099 production vehicles from fiscal year 2015 (FY 2015) through FY 2040, with 2,200 annually from FY 2020-36. JLTV design requirements called for a larger, more mechanically reliable, safer vehicle than the Humvee, which has been continually patched and modified to deal with the evolving challenges of global combat. The vehicles will come in two variations, four-passenger combat vehicles and two-seat combat support vehicles, with a maximum weight of 15,639 pounds to enable helicopter transportation, USNI reports. Is Russia Developing an F-35-Hunting UAV? James Drew Moscow Flightglobal.com Russia could be working on a low-observable, F-35-hunting unmanned air vehicle that uses deeply-integrated electronic warfare systems to stay hidden from radars. The tip-off comes from electronic systems producer KRET, which has a curious UAV model on display at the MAKS air show in Moscow. According to the company’s first deputy chief executive officer Vladimir Mikheev, this aircraft model is more than just a sleek promotional display – it is an advanced military UAV being developed by the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) is a subcontractor on the project, he says, providing the fundamental communications, radar, electronic warfare and self-protection systems, as well as the ground control station. Speaking via a translator, Mikheev tells Flightglobal that the company is involved with two military UAV projects – one in development and one in the concept phase – but both ventures of UAC. He declines to name the project and does not say which UAC design bureau is in charge, but confirms some of its key capabilities. Mikheev says the UAV has been designed to detect stealth aircraft in the same vein as China’s ambitious “Divine Eagle” project, which he claims is based on technology “borrowed” from Russia and the USA. Such aircraft aim to detect low-observable US combat aircraft using X-band and UHF radars, specifically the Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35 and Northrop Grumman B-2. But airborne surveillance is just one of the UAV’s capabilities. Mikheev says KRET is providing a deeply-integrated electronic warfare system that not only provides a protective electromagnetic sphere around the aircraft to counter air-to-air missiles, but also cloaks it from radars. The unmanned aircraft closely resembles Northrop’s carrier-based X-47B demonstrator, but adds two lift fans on each wing and vertical stabilisers. Mikheev says the UAV’s avionics, radar and electronic warfare systems are derived from those being produced for the Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter and the Kamov Ka-50 attack helicopter. KRET is also deeply involved in the Sukhoi T-50/PAK FA fighter project. In an article published on KRET’s website on 2 August, Mikheev says Russia has been competing with the USA in the realm of electronic warfare “for our entire lives”, and about five years ago the company decided it needed to bring in the next-era of electronic warfare systems. “Today we are talking about 15% to 20% annual growth in the direction of electronic warfare systems,” he says. It remains to be seen whether this UAV project is just marketing or a mature development programme with similar goals to China’s Divine Eagle UAV. It would come as the stealthy F-35 enters serve as the West’s primary “first-day-of-war” combat jet Ships Deploy to the Arctic for Operation NANOOK Navy News Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer HMCS Nanaimo and Saskatoon left the shelter of Esquimalt Harbour last week to work in the ice‑laden waters of the Arctic for six weeks. The two ships will make the 6,500‑km journey to Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories, where they will conduct surveillance and presence activities in the area for this year’s Operation NANOOK. Operation NANOOK is the Canadian Armed Forces’ largest sovereignty operation in Canada's North, working alongside other government departments to establish a visible federal presence in our northern communities. This year’s operation marks the first deployment north of the 60th parallel for a Pacific fleet ship since HMCS Cedarwood in 1949. “This particular Operation NANOOK is special,” says Lieutenant‑Commander Brad Henderson, Commanding Officer of HMCS Saskatoon. “In the past, ships participating in Operation NANOOK left from the East Coast, so this is the first time we are entering the Arctic from the west.” This operation will help prepare the stage for more extensive operations to be conducted in the future by Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships. Training in the northern environment is anticipated to iron out logistical and operating challenges posed by remoteness and harsher environmental conditions in the North. The exercise will also play a key role in establishing a federal presence in Canada’s northern communities, which LCdr Jeff Hopkins, Commanding Officer of HMCS Nanaimo, says is integral to supporting Canada’s Northern Strategy. Crew aboard HMCS Nanaimo will operate a towed side-scan sonar system that will capture high definition images below the water. The device is used efficiently to create an image of large areas of the sea floor. Once in the Arctic, HMCS Saskatoon will help recover hydrophone arrays left by scientists off Banks Island. The ship will use a Bottom Object Inspection Vehicle (BOIV) to recover the arrays, which has cameras and a robotic arm capable of manipulating objects under water. LCdr Henderson’s ship will bring three divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) to operate the BOIV that will also be used to conduct surveillance of underwater topography. To prepare for the operation, the commanders of both ships are familiarizing themselves with the environmental conditions of the Arctic. But they aren’t too worried – August up north is similar to winter in Victoria, with temperatures ranging from five to 10 degrees Celsius. “There will be the least amount of ice when we’re up there,” says LCdr Henderson. “The ice will lock up on the shoreline in October. But we’re still making sure we understand ice, how to operate in it, how to navigate through it, and the limitations that it can bring.” In terms of supplying the ship with goods and fuel, LCdr Henderson says there’s isn’t a big difference fueling the ship and stocking it with food and provisions than any other deployment; and, with the moderate weather conditions, all gear needed for the crew falls under the standard scale of issue. “The one thing we do is try to take on more rations than we normally would to ensure we won’t have to rely on northern supply chains,” says LCdr Hopkins. Other factors each commander is keeping in mind include the distance from ship to shore in Tuktoyaktuk. Extensive shallows mean the closest the ships will get to port is approximately 18.5 km, making for long lines of transit. “The novelty of the Arctic is huge, and getting to operate that far north is rare. As the first ships from the West Coast heading up in roughly 60 years, we’re looking forward to the challenge,” says LCdr Hopkins. Battle of Heligoland Bight Kennedy Hickman Military History Expert The Battle of Heligoland Bight, which occurred less than a month after the beginning of the conflict, was the first naval battle of World War I and resulted from a British raid on the German coast. The principle forces for the raid were Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt's Harwich Force (two light cruisers and 31 destroyers) and Commodore Roger Keyes' group of 8 submarines. These were to be supported by Cruiser Force K (5 antiquated cruisers), as well as Commodore William Goodenough's First Light Cruiser Squadron (6 light cruisers) and Vice Admiral David Beatty's First Battlecruiser Squadron (5 battlecruisers). Early on the morning, Tyrwhitt encountered the first German torpedo boats to the west of Heligoland. Anticipating a British attack, the Germans quickly sortied two light cruisers, SMS Frauenlob and SMS Stettin, and then deployed four additional light cruisers under Rear Admiral Leberecht Maass. Outgunned, Tyrwhitt's flagship, the light cruiser HMS Arethusa, was heavily damaged and called for help. Goodenough's squadron, on reaching the scene, sank the light cruiser SMS Mainz and pummeled Frauenlob, forcing it to retire. Fighting amid the smoke and morning fog, Tyrwhitt signaled Beatty for aid. He arrived around 1240hrs and his First Battlecruiser Squadron sank Maass' flagship, the light cruiser SMS Cöln, and light cruiser SMS Ariadne. British, realizing it was only a matter of time before German battlecruisers emerged from their base at Wilhelmshaven, withdrew west victorious. In the day's fighting, the Royal Navy had sunk three German light cruisers and one destroyer, while damaging three other light cruisers. The battle cost the Germans 712 killed, 149 wounded, and 336 captured. For the British, the cost was 35 killed and 55 wounded. While the battle did not involve either side's battleships, it did have a significant impact on the conflict. Struck by the loss of ships, Kaiser Wilhelm ordered the navy to "hold itself back and avoid actions which can lead to greater losses." He also stipulated that his permission was required before the fleet could sortie, effectively confining it to port. These actions largely prevented the High Seas Fleet from conducting offensive operations during World War I and ensured that the British retained the initiative for the length of the conflict Divers Raise Wreckage of Confederate Warship CSS Georgia Vessel, scuttled by its own crew 150 years ago, being raised in 5-ton chunks. By ASSOCIATED PRESS 16 August 2015 After 150 years at the bottom of the Savannah River, the armored skeleton of the Confederate warship CSS Georgia is being raised to the surface one 5-ton chunk at a time. Navy divers who began working in late June to recover cannons, unexploded shells and other artifacts from the riverbed finally started midweek on their last major task — retrieving an estimated 250,000 pounds of the Civil War ironclad's armored siding. The CSS Georgia was scuttled by its own crew to prevent Gen. William T. Sherman from capturing the massive gunship when his Union troops took Savannah in December 1864. Still classified as a captured enemy vessel by the Navy, the remains of the Confederate ironclad are being salvaged as part of a $703 million deepening of the Savannah harbor for cargo ships. 'The historical significance is evident in everything we do,' Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jason Potts, the Navy's on-scene commander, said Wednesday as his crew prepared to start raising the first of three giant slabs of armor. The CSS Georgia was a crude example of the first armored warships designed during the Civil War to stand up to cannon and artillery fire. Its 1,200-ton frame was built using three layers of timber topped with 24-foot strips of railroad iron. Having sections of the Georgia's armor for study should reveal more about how the Confederacy compensated for the South's lack of an industrial base when it came to building ships and other war machines. 'A lot of these ironclads are built by house carpenters, they're not built by shipwrights,' said Jeff Seymour, historian and curator for the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus. 'So what are the construction techniques? They vary from ship-to-ship.' The Georgia proved so bulky its own engines were too weak to propel it against the Savannah River's currents. The Confederates anchored the ironclad off Old Fort Jackson as a floating gun battery. It was sunk without ever firing a shot in combat. After months of preparation work by underwater archaeologists, Navy divers from the Virginia Beach-based Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2 arrived in late June. Their first task was to raise 132 unexploded shells — both cannonballs and rifled shells shaped like large bullets — found scattered across the wreckage site. Using a crane mounted on a barge, they also pulled up four cannons weighing 1,000 to 10,000 pounds apiece. Other artifacts soon emerged from 40 feet or more of water: a flywheel, a pump and sections of the steamship's boiler. Perhaps most impressive, the Georgia's propeller was recovered intact and still attached to the long shaft that turned it. 'We don't just simply want to bring it all back to the surface,' Potts said. 'We want to bring it back intact. So we go to the maximum effort to make sure we don't rip these things apart on the way up.' The three large sections of the Georgia's armored casemate, however, proved too heavy to raise without cutting them down into smaller pieces. They're being separated into about 20 total chunks, each measuring about 4 feet by 24 feet and weighing roughly 5 tons. After a century and a half, Potts said, most of the ship's wooden hull has rotted away. But the railroad iron remains essentially glued together by mud and silt from the riverbed. The crew uses a crane-held tool with a long, flat blade to slide between the iron strips and pry apart chunks of the armor. A web of slings is then attached to the slab of armor to ensure its weight is evenly distributed as the crane lifts it from the river. With river currents typically limiting divers to less than three hours underwater each day, Potts estimates it will take his team nearly a month to raise all of the armored siding. That's at a rate of roughly one 5-ton chunk per day. All artifacts from the CSS Georgia are being sent to the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, for cataloging and preservation. The Navy hasn't said where those artifacts will ultimately reside. THUNDER IN THE SKIES: A Canadian Gunner in the Great War An extraordinary, newly discovered account from an ordinary Canadian on the ground in the crucial battles of the First World War. As featured in the Jul 21st newsletter. What was it like to be a field gunner in the Great War? Drawing on the unpublished letters and diary of field gunner Lt Bert Sargent and his fellow soldiers, Thunder in the Skies takes the reader from enlistment in late 1914, through training camp, to the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, the Hundred Days Offensive, and home again with peace. Now available at: www.amazon.ca and ITunes. Who is it? Last Week: This photo dates from around 1937, and is most likely taken at Sarcee. As part of the artillery mechanization programme in 1936, four half-track gun tractors were ordered. Standard 2-ton truck chassis were ordered from Ford of Canada, and sent to James Cunningham, Son & Co. of Rochester, New York, to be converted to half-tracks. On their return to Canada, they were fitted with ammunition and storage boxes from 18-pounder limbers, and sent to C Battery in Winnipeg for trials. At the end of the trials, the vehicles had averaged 4,378 miles (7.045 km). Because of the exceptionally dry season, the trials were unable to test the half-tracks in prairie “gumbo” mud. The vehicles were subsequently sent to infantry units for further trials, ending their connection with the Artillery. There is a half-track, limber and 18pdr in the Canadian War Museum. View a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJO9n3T3s7w This Week: Around the world, one finds remnants of coastal and other defences. Until ten years ago, machine gun pillboxes, once manned by men of the Middlesex Regiment, were clearly visible at the base of the old Star Ferry dock in Central, Hong Kong, something unlikely in a city known for rapid development. Similarly, one can still stumble upon long-forgotten gun emplacements all around the coast of the United Kingdom, relics of not only the last great war, but of almost every conflict going back to the Roman period. However, urban development, stone-robbing, and nature itself have erased much of that which was once built to defend our British and Canadian liberties. Vancouver is no exception to this trend, with much of that constructed during World War Two gone, and nothing visible from the Great War, unlike the situation in our provincial capital. One large object that is no more is that in this week’s photo. Here it is seen in its post-war decline, empty and no longer in use, but still sporting a rather quirky, but fading camouflage pattern. Your task, dear readers, is to identify the object, its location, and tell us whatever became of it. One thing we know for certain: it isn’t there anymore. However, your editor, and the author, John Redmond (johnd._redmond@telus.net) are still here, so send us your ideas. There are bonus points for identifying the auto. From the ‘Punitentary’ What's the definition of a will? (Come on, it's a dead giveaway!) Murphy’s other Laws The man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone he can blame it on. Quotable Quotes The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill RUSI Vancouver & Canadian International Council Present a Panel Discussion Canada’s Foreign Policy and the Federal Election 2015 When: Monday, September 28, 2015 Where: Law Courts Inn, 5th Floor, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver Timing:
Cost: RUSI & CIC Members $15; Non-Members $20. (Payment made at registration) Panelists:
Moderator: Cameron Cathcart, President of RUSI Vancouver. Three weeks prior to the federal election of October 19, 2015, a moderated non-partisan panel of experts will present their views on the implications of the election outcome for Canada’s foreign and defence policies along with informed speculation as to what foreign policy directions might emerge after the October 19th election. Foreign policy often gets neglected in a federal election campaign and in keeping with our collective mission to promote public discussion on the topic, RUSI and the CIC believe it is important to stage an event of this kind before the election. We urge members and non-members to attend and put questions to our excellent panelists. Note: As the leaders Election Debate on foreign policy is being held the same day as the RUSI/CIC panel discussion, the live telecast of the debate will be shown at 4:00 pm at the Law Courts Inn for those wishing to watch |
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