"4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group - First Look" Topic

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The beginnings of my Cold War Canadians project. Armour, recce, truck, infantry, FOO stand. Some models will require updating as the project originally began for an earlier period.

Enjoy!

I think we(US 197th Mech Bde) "engaged" the 4CMBG during REFORGER '88. They were using Leopards and M113s …

That would be right for '88. I am retiring my Centurions, Ferrets, and trucks in favour of the C1, M113, and Lynx.

Have any pictures of your ex?

Outstanding Sir!

I hope you are going to refight some of the scenarios from Kenneth Macksey's 'First Contact' novel/training manual starring 4 CMBG….

Thats certainly on my bucket list, but I will attempt it in 15mm, given my braille scale painting skills aren't up to yours!

Cool.

Definitely intended for First Clash.

@ Ditto – thanks! The canvas cab trucks are a result of not having the hardtop available. Good enough to make the professional think twice ;)

GHQ doesn't make a Lynx, but C in C does, and it's a superb model. The M114 is close-ish, but really not right, eh?

Cheers!

Maybe Ditto can confirm but I understand that a Canadian unit won the "Canada Cup" symbolic of the top tank unit in NATO using the borrowed Leopards

Excellent work and a bit of an inspiration to get off my fifth pint of contact and get back to working on my 00 1/600 4CMBG.

Tim I've heard the rumours re embarrasing PET into gettign the Leos. I was just hunting down some old pics on my PC for another post on here and came acros some of Leos on Reforger 1980, not sure if they were the loaners, but I think thaty were the newly purchased ones.

Unfortunately I don't think I have any pics of the Exercise, that would be of use to you … But I'll look … And when you asked about my "ex" … in US lingo, I thought you were asking about my girlfriend from back then !

Thanks RJ! 1/600 – cool!

@ Legion LOL Photos of … either? ;) No, no… just the field exercise, eh?

@ Ditto – really?!? Centurions with 20lbrs?!? Wow, that is grim!

Did a 30 day FTX with the 8th Canadian Hussars, in 91 or 92.
It's was some were in south-west Germany.
They were using Leo 1's at the time.
Open bar every night.
Great time had by all!

SSG R Henry
3rd,d Plt, Anvil Troop, 1/11th ACR.

Soldat Etain, I did manage to find a couple of pics of Canuck Leos, pretty sure they were from the 4th. Nothing really that has not been seen before … The crews were wearing black berets, the Leos were a dark green with camo nets draped over the turret top and hull, and on the turret side was a black maple leave outlined in white. I also do remember some Canuck M113s my Mech Co. ran into in a small village. The M113s appeared to be mounting the updated version of the old M1919 .30 cal MG … which I thought was pretty neat. Believe they were from a Recon unit. And one of my Plts was chasing them around the vill as they were our OPFOR. Around noon, one of the M113s rolled up to my HMMWV in the town square, and the TC asked if we didn't mind if they took a break for lunch ? How could I deny such a polite request !? So I radio'ed my Plt and told them we were all breaking for chow … and to stop shooting at the Canadians …

We are rather nice like that :)

Oh yes, generally a very civil lot …

RCD Leo Reforger 1980

M-113s 3 RCR again 1980 in Hohenfels
according to the notes on the picture file

Legion 4 most of the APCs at least in the rifle coys would have had a Browning M2 .50 cal HMG not a C5 GPMG (our name for the old M1919) IIRC. You may have bumped some A Ech vehicles.

And finally as long as I'm going down memory lane M-109's of
1 RCHA fring at guncamp in Grafenwöhr

Only just seen this thread. Those models are rather nicely done! Look forward to seeing more and to eventually seeing them in action!

Andy

Great pics !!! I remember the "C5" so I'm sure you are correct. Thanks for that intel. I also now remember going into a village and a battery of Canadian M109s were set up behind it. Resulting in a sharp "firefight" between my Mech Co. and the troops from the Battery. Until the OCs/Umpires took control and accessed losses. The Germans in the vill were cheering like at a football games. And one old gentleman with a cane was yelling "Sturma, Sturma !" and pointed out the Canadian positions … I guess we looked more like [WWII] Germans in our Kevlar Helms and camo BDUs than the Canucks wearing what looked like old US helms and green uniforms … Ah … memories …

I remember catching a West German rear guard unit in a small town as they were coming out of Gausthof. We had them dead to rights, someone fired a few blanks, and then we all went inside to refresh ourslves.

The locals on Reforgers were fantastic, I can hardly imagine a Canadian farmer back then being so understanding of a mechanized combat team tearing up his fields and then literaly squatting in in his out buildings.

Always had some old WW2 vet come out with the schnapps and/or a plate of fresh bread or pastries and shoot the breeze with us. Funny how they all fought on the Ost Front though.

LOL !!!! I seem to remember we tore up a corner of a beet field ! And Yes, the old WWII vets, they always fought on the Ost Front ! That was my experience too !

That is a very interesting story Ditto … and little sad … but can be appreciated by soldiers of all generations …

Tim 3RCR Oscar and later Mike Coys and Mortar Pl

Horrible story! When my dad was overseas (I was born over there), he met a vet, who gave him his Winterschlact im Osten medal, which I still have. Those were earned, for sure.

The only vets I've met were Canadian or American. Always a great experience, and frankly humbling.

I have picked up a pack of Leopards and the two-part white/black maple leaf decals for them, in 1:285. Should be done at a moment of perfect serenity, those two part maple leafs …

That metal is a quite a piece of history. I'm sure he wouldn't have given it to just anybody … A tribute to both the Vet … and your Father …