Canadian Millitary History

Hey! What ever happened to Canadas only Aircraft Carrier? I heard stories but nothing to reliable.

I've never heard of Canada having an aircraft carrier. Knowing the Canadian Gov't it was probably an old relic that we bought from the states and it sunk on its way here.

...... ONLY aircraft carrier? - and Evan,you suprise me again considering the fact that you are in the military

http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/quarters/2230/

I know we had one even thou some may say we didn't its been kinda of Canada's little secret. But I want to know If anyone here knows anything?

crazy! i had no idea we had these, very cool

Sorry about that....... My work has that site block, but I checked it out at home. Thats a pretty cool site thanks a lot. I guess I have some reading to do. I never knew we had more tha one!!!

Sorry Evan,it's just that quite often Canadians are very well informed in general.Since your armed forces have been integrated for many years I just figured you knew alot about your military right out of basic training.Before I went in,I learned a little about all the branches before finally choosing the navy-in hind sight i shoulda joined the Coast Guard -they LITERALLY serve THIS country every day.
Aboot aircraft carriers- I served on one (U.S.S. Eisenhower) and made a six month Med cruise in 1988.Carriers are power projection tools-nothing more,nothing less.They provide a means to bring tactical airpower to parts of the world that the U.S. may not have access to land airfields.Since the end of WWII, the U.S. has used it's carriers to project U.S. power overseas-sometimes called gunboat diplomacy.Carriers are extremely expensive,and are really only effective when tactical airstrikes are called for.And in any case,there are few places in the world where the U.S.has political and strategic interests that don't have "friendly" airbases close by.Of course you can't tell the Navy that-it would mean that the Air force would get more funding to buy more land based fighters and aerial refueling tankers.
So yeah Evan,Canada ain't got no more "floating airfields",but if you feel your country should make it's military presence felt around the globe-go ahead and build one-I'm pretty sure they only cost a couple billion each -plus a million per day to operate (those are at sea rates).That way,if some country pisses you off and you don't have decent ground intelligence there,and can no longer afford special forces, then WALLA- you can then bomb them into submission! and then wait for the marines to come in and stabilize the savages-just like in Iraq eh?
Here's a brain-teaser for the enviromentalists out there: The average U.S. aircraft carrier has a crew of about 5,500.There are about a dozen carriers in the U.S. fleet.They carry millions of gallons of jet fuel,aviation gas for prop planes,hydraulic fluid,and various other chemicals that spill,get washed overboard,or have to be purged,and dumped before landing.Consider all the trash generated by a small city of 5,500 and the fact that at any given time a half dozen carriers are "deployed" around the globe,every day for the past 25 years.Where does all that trash,and chemicals and excess fuel go? (I'll give you a hint-the carriers don't have trash compactors :wink:

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I have to agree with you Evan, we have had an amazing millitary history with many triumphs and success storys. However this all sadens me. Back in the day, we had a huge millitary force, that was a leading power. When we went places, the enemy were scared when they heard us comeing, we had a certian respect the others held for us. Are successes were many and our failures were few. But now, to look at us we are a sad bunch of schools boys (no offence). We went from a respected millitary "power" to a state where we can barley patrol our own borders and portect oure selves. It is sad times. Thats why I think we need more money for the millitary we should bring it back to what it was. We don't need to be a power house but to go from a dominate force that was able to help win wars to a state where we can barley provide peacekeeping, is sad. Our history speaks for it self, every Canadain should be proud for what we wera able to accompliship. I for one would die for my country. But we should be able to do more.

it would help if Canada had an enemy. In WWI and WWII we all had a common enemy. Now we have terrorists but they havent targeted us. The problem is that we have a govt that doesnt see the point in giving more money to the military. Its more important for them to vote themselves raises.

True True its a sad stae of affairs. We're all going to hell in a hand basket.

... is that wars aren't fought with men anymore... They're fought by the push of a button. Majority of the Iraq Airstrikes used bombs, that when deployed from either a cruiser or jet, rely completely on someone else, using a computer the same size as yours, to direct it. Now a days, due to technology, 55,000 men could be as effective as 550,000 men. Hell, the Spartans beat the majority of their battles while out numbered. Alexander the Great had roughly 75,000 soldiers when he fought (and beat) the Persian army consisting of 400,000 men. Why is it that our enemies in the Great Wars were afraid of us? Because, we had better training... better discipline. They knew that 100 of our men could beat 200 of their men... Hell, even when the Germans deployed their Paratrooper regiments during Orotona, we still kicked there assess... They had to deploy their best trained troops just so they could still lose to us...

I agree, we need better military funding... I don't think we need a bigger military though... Maybe one like Evan said it was once like, 100,000 but no more... Then its just a waste... Hell, we should be focusing more on just upgrading our technology and current armnaments instead of getting more men... Thats the only way to win these days.. Technology... And if your in a place like Iraq, its discipline and training.

The answer to this one is easy. We have 87,000 lawyers in this country and only 57,000 troops. Send the lawyers we'll litigate the bastards to death.