"Games for present day invasion of Canada?" Topic

So, are there any wargames about an invasion of Canada set in the near future?

I'm joking…

Sort of…

We recently had this:

TMP link

Wow, funny, not funny at all (from this Canadian's perspective), though I can understand the temptation, given recent news.

Canada, or British North America if you prefer, is 2-for2 versus wartime invasions from the south, though I'd not like our chances a third time around. That said, we're a big place with lots of places to hide and plenty of hunters with long-guns and attitude, and who here doesn't have enough booze and car washing rags for Molotov cocktails?

The short game would be over quickly (with maybe 80,000 regulars and reserves spread from Newfoundland to BC and points north, how could it be otherwise?), but the long game? Maybe notta so much. Never seize something you can't actually control, or at least can't control for long.

Attacking Canada triggers Article 5 of NATO also, with implications at least politically severe and maybe military too, which necessitates an 'intervention' rule of some magnitude, and would all US units answer the call with enthusiasm? Suggests some rules around refusal to obey orders maybe. Remember all those state units that would not cross the Niagara River in the War of 1812?

Of all NATO allies, Canadian forces are THE most integrated with American ones, from shared commands in NORAD to frigate integration with US CBGs to battle group functionality with the Army to intense special forces cooperation, from Latvia to Syria. I have a hard time believing that invasion commands could be issued, obeyed, or carried out with any vigour.

The fact we'd think of this, even in jest and love of gaming challenges, kind of saddens me.

We taught US forces tactics in 1917, having learned them over the previous three years of fighting, and led the way towards the Kaiser's surrender with our many other allies. We beat the U-boats together, created a storied joint special forces brigade, fought through Sicily and Italy, took one of Normandy's beaches alongside the US and UK, carried forward the great bomber offensive, commanded Americans at times in NW Europe, and collaborated under Lend Lease to supply the world. American forces laboured in Canada to build the Alaska Highway and helped garrison key positions in Newfoundland, with Canadians too (Newfoundland not yet being part of Canada). Thousands of Americans before 1917 and 1941 crossed the border to join the Canadian forces, which were already fighting in 1914 and 1939. Thousands of Canadians crossed the other way to serve with US forces in Vietnam.

We founded NATO together, fought with American friends in Korea, Gulf War I, the skies over Libya and Kosovo, Afghanistan, and we stood the long Cold War watch, with a brigade group and fighter squadrons in CENTAG in support of US and FRG forces. NORAD was a joint creation, like the US-Canada planning group within NATO. We trained together with Rangers and Marines to fight the Soviets in Norway. Our air and sea units cooperate all the time. Canadian General Rick Hillier commanded an American corps from Fort Hood. Our connectivity is historic, omnipresent, and envied by the world.

Canadians died in the Towers, and Canadian homes hosted thousands of Americans when planes were grounded after 9/11. We're with you, even now, fighting fires in California. I could go on.

It could make for a fantastic game, I suppose. But I wouldn't be playing it, even in fun.

Americans are our brothers in arms, friendships born of generations forged in blood, from the Meuse to the bocage to Kandahar to the Baltic. And whatever is to come.

Cheers for Fred!

I am appalled, as a US resident and friend of Canada, that a monstrosity like this is even a thing that bears discussion.

Fact is, if Uncle Sam tries to push Canada around, I'm off to join our good buddies to the north and Resist. Mort aux tyrans!

Well, if it's a "what-if" you're looking for:
1: The EU gets fed up with some trade issues and launches an invasion of Canada. The plan is to rush through the east coast, make it around the Great Lakes then hook south in a surprise invasion of the USA.
2: China and North Korea decide to invade across the Pacific with the idea of flanking around the west coast states or cutting off and taking Alaska.
3: A Russian experiment goes horribly wrong and creates flesh eating, animated snow men! (You didn't specify who would be doing the invading.) Talk about a Winter War!

Thank you Fred Mills. My family arrived in 1710 in the USA before it was a country. They left everything behind in Germany to better their lives during the Great Lutheran Wars in Germany. They felt beholden to the British Monarchy for their indentured servitude when they were hung out to dry when the German Tar camp proved to be a poor investment. My G-G-G-G-G Grandmother was arrested and beaten to death in jail for not bowing to the Revolutuonists. Even though they fought and died along with you during the FIW. Having a lot of lush farmland and properties and animals in NY state, they lost everything during the American Revolution and were forced to leave their belongings again and move north to Canada before it was a country. They received no land, or restitution in Canada either. My family is brave, resilient, strong and determined and we will not be bullied by a President wanting to forcr us to be American. I have many, many friends in the USA and they all need to realize a "tea" party is happening under their noses by an angry Pumpkin 🎃

Thanks for the history Hitman, your family are a bunch of tough cookies! Like us Brits re the Empire, our US friends tend to forget the horrors of their revolution. I wouldn't worry overmuch about the tariff issue, I think these threats are made with no real intention of application!

I'm with you Canada. In New England we feel a strong connection, play some pretty good hockey, share supermarket products, and have winter in our blood. I suspect a lot of us would never fight you, and a number of us might join you. Most of us are already disconnected from the current US government in our hearts.

Scenario background info:

Tim Horton coffee shops in USA: 659

Scrapehero – Tim Horton USA

Burger King restaurants in USA: 6,638

Scrapehero – Burger King USA

Starbucks coffee shops in USA: 17,011

Scrapehero – Starbucks USA

So – to win Canada needs to take-out Starbucks HQ in Seattle WA and then shut-down all of the above sources of caffeine.

and then…

…sit-back and watch mayhem ensue as the full horror of life in Murca without a decent cup-of-joe sinks into the yankee psychee.

More background:

The wiley Canadians have planted Tim Horton coffee shops in these US Naval/Military bases:
- Aberdeen Proving Ground MD
- Naval Station Norfolk VA
- Fort Knox KY

So – caffeine-less tankers(*), artillerists, naval aviators, and pay-roll cashiers (assuming Ft Knox still has gold)

(*) assuming that US AFVs don't have BVs fitted

Well said Fred! Does anyone remember a book written in the early 1970s called Exxoneration?

Tim Hortons are Canadas secret weapon. Destroy all Starbucks, Costa etc immediately.

As I understand it there are far more crossing points on the Intra-Ireland border than there are on the American-Canadian border.

If that is the case, does it mean that any American onslaught would be channelled into only a few crossing points, mitigating to an extent the huge numerical advantage of the USA.?

This would have to be a fantasy game for the USA to actually want the dumpster fire that is currently Canada.

StoneMtnMinis gets a +1 on morale rolls and a -4 for intelligence. Generalship rating 'impetuous'. Alliance building 'zero'.

I spent some time recently with Canadians, Latvians, and a few Poles of the NATO brigade over there (Canadian led, with 1700 troops deployed of the 3500 brigade strength). They didn't seem very dumpster-y to me.

Speaking of fires, California is burning, isn't it? Last time I checked, seven (out of ten) Canadian provinces were sending or had sent water bombers, kit, ground pounders, and emergency aid. No question, 'cause that's what neighbours do.

In the US News rankings of world's best countries in 2024, our American friends rank third in the world (huzzah!!) with a rank of 94.2 out of hundred, behind Switzerland (100 on the nose) and Japan.

Canada, that old dumpster fire of a country, is waaaaaaay behind….. at a mere 94.1, for a distant fourth place.

Roll 6 for shock and awe?

Scenario #2 – the nasty one.

US Naval/Military forces engaged in unspecified overseas conflict(s), severely denuded/exhausted, possible defeat-on-world-stage situation.

Federal Government imposes mass conscription and Federal Value-added-tax with no-state-representation. Citizens riot, loot, and run amok. Governors impose martial law and call out state security forces (national guard and state para-military police).

Get to: Wiki – Civil War – Garland 2024.

Due to politickes inter-state conflict ensues. Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota states in trouble – call in Canadian assistance. New Mexico attacked by Texas – call in Mexican assistance.

US reacts by launching amphibious assault from Detroit and Cleveland across Lake Erie against London, Ontario.

Etc, etc.

Gives chance to line-up NATO strength forces versus second-line military and para-militaries; without the massive air-power and naval advantages that US forces can project.

Fantasy options:

- California sports purchased K2 Black Panther tanks (KR).
- New York sports purchased Merkava MkIV tanks (IL)
- Massachusetts accepts donated Comet Tanks (IE) and Olifants (ZA)
- Mexicans use Leclerc tanks (FR)
- Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama use Challenger 2s (GB)