Canada. Canadian Armed Forces. Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, 4 : On 4 April 1949 Canada signed the North Atlantic Treaty and in 1951 undertook to commit forces in Europe as part of the integrated Western Defence System under the operational command of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade (27 CIB) was posted to Germany and stationed at Hanover under the command of the British army of the Rhine in 1951. In 1953, 27 CIB was reformed as 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, (CIBG), with 2 CIBG subsequently replacing it on the Northern Army Group sector of the front. On 7 November 1957 4 CIBG (which up to 1955 had been 25 CIBG) assumed its NATO land force duties by replacing 2 CIBG. The brigade was oversized, which earned it the knickname the "Light Division" by the British. Included in its capability was a battery of tactical nuclear weapons, Honest John Surface to Surface Missile. On 15 January 1967 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group was incorporated into Mobile Command. Up to 1967 the Canadian brigade in Europe had been posted to a British division, whereas after this it became an independent brigade under British and later American command. The whole of Canada's contribution to the land forces of NATO were known as the Canadian Army National Force Europe, until it was renamed as Canadian Forces Europe (CFE) in 1970. The Brigade was mandated to provide combat ready land forces in order to carry out assigned tasks in its NATO defence role, and in times of war would be commanded by higher echelon formations. The commander of 4 CIBG was the overall commander of Canadian units in Europe (until the establishment of Commander CFE), and responsible to both the Commander Mobile Command in Canada and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. On 19 September 1969, the Minister of National Defence announced the new structure for Canadian armed forces in Europe. Effective 1 December 1970, the brigade was redesignated as 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and co-located with 1 Canadian Air Group (1CAG) to the Lahr area, under operational control of Central Army Group. 4 CMBG's order of battle as listed in its first Canadian Forces Organizational Order 12.3, dated 1 September 1970, was: Headquarters, 4 CIBG, Lord Strathcona's Horse, C Squadron, 8th Canadian Hussars, 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 1 Surface to Surface Missile Battery, 4 Field Squadron, 4 Signal Squadron, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment, 1 Transport Company, 1 Field Ambulance, 4 Dental Company, 4 Ordnance Field Park, 4 Field Workshop, 4 Postal Detachment, 4 Provost Platoon, and 4 Finance Platoon (Mechanized). The brigade was disbanded on 31 July 1993 with the Canadian closure of its European bases.
Brigade Headquarters at CFB Lahr had responsibility to advise and assist the Commander 4 CMBG in all matters relating to his command, to provide combat ready forces in wartime for land operations listed in the Central Army Group Emergency Defence Plan, to maintain proper standards of training, operational readiness and discipline, to prepare force development recommendations, and to advise the Commander CFE on all national responsibilities and their effects on NATO activities. The Headquarters were redesignated in 1978 as 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron. The Headquarters were disbanded with the removal of 4 CMBG from Europe in 1993. RG 24 General Inventory
