Thousands of rifles ordered for Rangers
Testing of new weapon completed
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Saturday, September 10, 2016
NUNAVUT
An extensive period of testing on a new weapon for Canadian Rangers in Nunavut and elsewhere is complete, resulting in the Sept. 2 announcement by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan at Operation Nanook 2016 that thousands of the C-19 Canadian Ranger rifle have been ordered from Colt Canada.
1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group member Master Cpl. Barney Masuzami, left, describes the benefits of the new C-19 Canadian Ranger rifle to Lt.-Gen. Steve Bowes, commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command, during Operation Nanook 2015. - photo courtesy of Petty Officer Second Class Belinda Jeromchuk, Forces Imaging
|
Last year, 125 test rifles were issued on a trial basis. The $1.5-million prototypes went through three operational trials, first in Borden, Ont., then during Operation Nanook in 2015, and then a final followup trial in British Columbia to iron out any needed corrections, said Ranger instructor Warrant Officer Thomas Harvey.
Only a few adjustments were made to the models, Harvey said, feedback was positive and 6,820 new rifles will be issued between 2017 and 2019.
The firearms will replace the Second World War-era Lee Enfield rifle that has been used by the Rangers since 1947. The new gun is based on the Sako Tikka compact tactical rifle, a Finnish design. The contract for the firearms is worth $32.8 million.
Harvey, originally of Kugluktuk, says efficiency is a primary perk of the new rifle.
"The Enfield is a wonderful, robust rifle, in operation since 1947, but it has a lot of moving parts, there are a lot of different screws on it, it's very hard to maintain," said Harvey, "The overall maintenance of the new rifle is going to be easier."
Parts for the Lee Enfield have been difficult to replace since the 1980s.
"A lot of these rifles are stamped from around the 1950s era," said Harvey.
Harvey said the weapons were built to feel similar to the old model, so Rangers would transition easily and be comfortable with the firearm.
"The weight of the rifle is almost exactly the weight of the Lee Enfield."
This is good news for 23-year-old Cpl. Shoaty Michael, a Canadian Ranger for four years with 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Kimmirut.
"I've been using a 303 Lee Infield since I was six years old," Michael said.
His father taught him to use the firearm, and he took additional training for use of the weapon when he became a Ranger at age 19.
"As a Ranger we do drills with it, clean it and take care of it," said Michael. He keeps the rifle wet with oil in the summer, but dry in the winter. "I run them dry," he said, because oil freezes at low Arctic temperatures.
"We go out of the community and we do patrols," said Michael. "We are watchers of the North."
Rifles are essential part of the Rangers' patrol work, for safety and self defence from predators on the land, and for hunting for food on the land. The rifles also serve as a personal hunting rifle for Rangers when they are not on patrol duty but are hunting for their families and communities.
The Rangers will be able to keep their Enfield rifles, as long as they have the appropriate, valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate. That licence will be verified before the Ranger is allowed to retain their weapon.
Harvey is pleased with the selection of the new rifle.
"We want a very durable, robust rifle that is able to operate in harsh environments."
He said the new rifle is up to the task.
"This rifle is a wonderful piece of equipment. If I had the option to purchase one I would," said Harvey. But you can't just get one off the shelf. "They are rifles provided to Canadian Rangers specifically."
The rifles cost approximately $3,000 each, including transit cases, cleaning kits and locking devices. And the cosmetics on the rifle's stock and barrel are designed so that Armed Forces and RCMP personnel can easily identify a Ranger rifle from a distance.
