As such, each squadron is very cumbersome to deploy, with each Leopard 2 based vehicle weighing over sixty tons. Each squadron is also supported by a number of Leopard 2 and Leopard 1 based armoured recovery, armoured engineering, and armoured bridge laying vehicles. Each squadron is composed of four platoons of four tanks and a headquarters section that contains three tanks. Currently, Lord Strathcona’s Horse has two tank squadrons and the Royal Canadian Dragoons has one. In 2006, it was decided that the Royal Canadian Dragoons would form a new tank squadron. Prior to Canada’s increased involvement in Afghanistan, all tanks in the Forces’ inventory were part of Lord Strathcona’s Horse’s (Royal Canadians) two squadrons. Two of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps three active regiments maintain tank squadrons equipped with German Leopard 2 tanks. With a bleak financial outlook and the conclusion of operations in Afghanistan it would be most prudent to transfer some or all of the active/regular forces’ tank squadrons to the reserve component. The removal of that threat in the post-Cold War period witnessed a downsizing in the tank component but circumstances in Afghanistan brought tanks back into vogue. Throughout the Cold War the Canadian Forces maintained a sizable tank force in preparation for a possible conflict with the Soviet Union. As such, then as now, governments and military planners must make difficult choices and assume risk by hedging. The past twenty-three years stand testament to the vicissitudes faced by defence planners. One of the greatest difficulties military planners face alongside allocating finite resources is engaging in medium-long term force structure planning.
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