12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion
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| 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion | |
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 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion |
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| Active | 15 February 1965 - Present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Combat Service Support Unit |
| Part of | Land Force Western Area |
| Garrison/HQ | Col Sherman Armoury |
| Nickname | "Circus Battalion" |
| Motto | "Duty Above All" |
| March | "Duty Above All" |
| Abbreviation | 12 Svc Bn |
12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion (12 SVC BN) is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve Combat Service Support Unit of the Canadian Forces that can fight in a defensive role and provides logistical support to the units within land Force Western Area's 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which consists of all Primary Reserve units in British Columbia.
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[edit] Service battalion background
In Canada, service battalions were originally created from many corps that were once part the Canadian Forces. The units which were amalgamated to form service battalions were:
- Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC
- Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC)
- Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME)
- Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps (RCAPC)
- Canadian Provost Corps (C Pro C)
- Canadian Intelligence Corps
- Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC)
[edit] Battalion history
No. 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion was created on 15 February 1965 and received royal assent in June 1977. Originally, the battalion was based at the North Jericho Complex and was named Vancouver Militia Service Battalion. In 1971, the battalion was reassigned to the South Jericho Complex.
In 1974, changes to Militia service battalions of the Canadian Forces occurred and then led to the change in the battalion's name from Vancouver Militia Service Battalion to the current title, 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion.
On 10 April 1988, 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion moves for the final time, from the South Jericho Complex to the current location where the battalion is headquartered, the Col Sherman Armoury in Richmond, British Columbia.
On 8 March 1993, the City of Richmond, awarded 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion with freedom of the city and the on 17 April 1993, 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion marched "through the city streets with drums beating, flags flying, and bayonets fixed."
[edit] Organization and duties
No. 12 SVC BN is organized into 3 companies
- Headquarters Company (HQ Coy)
- Close Support Company (Cls Sp Coy)
- Maintenance Platoon
- Supply and Transport Platoon
- 12 Military Police Platoon (12 MP Pl)
[edit] Headquarters Company
Headquarters Company (HQ Coy) is the administrative part of the battalion. HQ Coy is responsible for the following services:
- Battalion operations
- Staffing
- Administration
- Pay services
- Food services
- Supply
[edit] Close Support Company
Close Support Company (Cls Sp Coy) is the operational part of the battalion, and most troops are assigned to Cls Sp Coy. The company is divided into 2 platoons:
[edit] Maintenance Platoon
Maintenance Platoon is responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles and equipment that the brigade group and battalion use. This platoon provides:
- Vehicle maintenance and support
- Mechanical maintenance and support
- Electrical maintenance and support
- Weapons maintenance and support
Members of this platoon train to preform maintenance duties under combat conditions and are essential to ensure the operational and combat readiness of the Canadian Forces' Land Forces.
[edit] Supply and Transport Platoon
This platoon is responsible for supplying and transporting the troops that are operating on the front lines. This includes transporting:
- Ammunition
- Food
- Fuel
- Parts
- And much more essential supplies and equipment
[edit] 12 Military Police Platoon
The Canadian Forces Military Police is the police force for the Canadian Forces as a whole and operates several units across Canada; 12 Military Police Platoon (12 MP Pl) is one of these. No. 12 MP Pl is not attached to 12 SVC BN, but coordinates with the battalion. No. 12 MP Pl is part of 15 Military Police Company (15 MP Coy), which is based in Edmonton, Alberta, and reports directly to the commanding officer of Land Force Western Area (LFWA) at CFB Edmonton. No. 12 MP Pl operates sections both in Victoria, British Columbia and Richmond, British Columbia. MPs provided several services:
- Traffic control
- Refugee control
- Prisoner of War (POW) containment
- Detention services
- Reconnaissance
- Road marking
- Property, base and installation protection
- CF law enforcement
[edit] Colonel Sherman Armoury
The Colonel Sherman Armoury was built specifically for the needs of 12 Svc Bn and was the first armoury in Canada that was built for the needs of Primary Reserve (Militia) Service Battalion. The armoury includes:
- Drill Hall
- Viehicle Maintenance Bay
- Viehicle Compound
- Forest Training Area
- Quartermaster
- Officers and NCO's Mess
- Several classrooms and a conference room
- Battalion Operations Room (BOR)
- Kitchen
- 12 Military Police Platoon office
- Recruiting Office
- Driver's Room
- Museum
In addition to hosting 12 Svc Bn, the armoury also houses 2 Royal Canadian Army Cadets units, and 1 Royal Canadian Air Cadets unit:
- 655 (Richmond) Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
- 2381 British Columbia Regiment (Irish Fusiliers) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps
- 2947 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps
2947 RCACC is affiliated to 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion and receives logistical support and support. Cadets are entitled to receive affiliated unit accourtments and tranditions from their affiliated unit of the Canadian Army. Cadets are NOT soldiers. They are part of program dedicated to citizenship and leadership among young Canadians aged 12-18 years old with a military flavour.
[edit] References
- 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion unofficial website
- 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion official website
[edit] See also
- Canadian Forces
- Land Force Command
- Land Force Western Area
- 39 Canadian Brigade Group
- Service battalion
- Canadian Forces Military Police
- Logistics Branch (Canadian Forces)
[edit] External links
- 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion unofficial website
- 12 (Vancouver) Service Battalion official website
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