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This website has been designed to provide information on the Regiment’s history, recent events and current taskings. 2 RCHA was formed on 7 August, 1950 as the Artillery Component of the Canadian Army Special Force for United Nations service in Korea. Since then, 2 RCHA has operated and trained across the world and across the spectrum of operations including humanitarian relief in Turkey, Honduras, Haiti, and Pakistan, peacekeeping in Cyprus and Bosnia and war fighting in Korea and Afghanistan.Petawawa, Ontario — When the whistle of an incoming artillery round is followed by a loud explosion and a thundering shockwave, it is then that you realize the artillery’s M777 Howitzers are facing in your direction. This is what life is like for a forward observation officer (FOO) party at an observation post (OP).
During typical operations, a FOO party consists of an artillery officer, a technician and a signaller/driver. However, several infantry joined the FOO party under Exercise EARNEST GUNNER to learn how to call in accurate artillery fire. Troops from Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) practiced the all-arms call for fire August 8–9 and effectively harnessed the power of these deadly guns.
When done correctly, this procedure saves lives on the battlefield.
Artillery support
With E Bty, 2 RCHA deployed to the field on Ex EARNEST GUNNER, it was a perfect opportunity to show the infantry what the artillery can do for them in times of need.
“Our affiliation with 3 RCR dates back quite some time,” continues Maj Heer. “Each gun battery in 2 RCHA has an affiliated manoeuvre unit; ours is 3 RCR. We supply OP parties to each company in 3 RCR.” This goes hand in hand with 2 RCHA supporting and participating in the Parachute Company Group by supplying an airborne mortar troop. Even though affiliation is an important concept in the grand scheme of the battlefield, the boots-on-the-ground, observable results matter most to infantry personnel like Corporal Jeff Giacomelli of Mike Company.
“It’s pretty exciting stuff,” says Cpl Giacomelli. “A range like this is perfect for us because it gives us that confidence and confirms our skills. You can do this at the simulated range, but it’s not quite the same thing. It doesn’t have as much variance or randomness to it. It’s more dynamic.”
After a day learning to call in for artillery support, Mike Company visited the gun line on day two and saw first-hand what happens when the call for fire is received.
Under the watchful eyes of their gunner comrades, they even had the opportunity to pull lanyards and send rounds down-range.
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Members of 2 RCHA conduct a fire mission using M777 Howitzers as 3 RCR soldiers observe during Ex EARNEST GUNNER in Petawawa, Ontario.
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Cpl Rob Mullins of 3 RCR (L) prepares to pull the lanyard and fire the M777 during Ex EARNEST GUNNER in Petawawa, Ontario.
Soldiers of 3 RCR observe the action while visiting 2 RCHA's gun position during Ex EARNEST GUNNER in Petawawa, Ontario.
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