Afghanistan

11 September 2001 Suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda take place in the United States

Suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda take place in the United States

7 October 2001

Operation Apollo

On the same day that the United States begins operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Canada announces that it is prepared to contribute sea, land and air forces to America’s Operation ENDURING FREEDOM under the Canadian operation named Operation APOLLO.

9 October 2001 First Canadian Deployment

First Canadian Deployment

The first Canadian military asset, HMCS Halifax, already at sea with the NATO Standing Force Atlantic, is directed to detach from this force and proceed to the Arabian Sea. Halifax begins counter-terrorism operations as part of Operation APOLLO on 2 November. Halifax is joined by two more frigates, a destroyer and a replenishment ship, bringing the Canadian Task Group to full strength. HMCS Vancouver is also in theatre as part of an American aircraft carrier battle group.

Late 2001 JTF2

JTF2

The first Canadian Special Forces JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2) members arrive in Afghanistan.

January-July 2002 RCAC deployment

First RCAC subunit deploys

First RCAC subunit to deploy is Reconnaissance (Recce) Squadron Lord Strathcona’s Horse (RC) (LdSH) (Major T. Bradley / Master Warrant Officer (MWO) D. Lee). The squadron is tasked with the security of the Kandahar Airfield which is being used by the US 101^st Airborne Division. The squadron redeploys to Canada in July 2002 and is not immediately replaced.

February 2002 Infantry Deployment

Infantry Deployment

First elements of the Canadian battalion group based on 3^rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry arrive in Afghanistan and become an integral part of the 187^th Brigade Combat Team of the US 101^st Airborne Division.

August 2003 Kabul

Kabul

Canada contributes combat forces to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Kabul as part of Operation ATHENA. Roto 0 includes ‘D’ Squadron Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) (Major D. Cross / MWO D.W. Head).

February 2004 LGen Hillier

LGen Hillier

Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier assumes command of NATO’s (ISAF). Roto 1 includes ‘D’ Squadron 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (12e RBC) (Major A.J. Zdunich / MWO J.R.D. Cossette).

August 2004 Roto 2

Roto 2

Roto 2 includes Recce Squadron, LdSH (Major D.A. Macaulay / MWO B. Talty). The squadron is deployed to Kabul.

February 2005 Roto 3

Roto 3

Roto 3 includes ‘B’ Squadron RCD (Major R.W. Ermel / MWO C. Cox).

July 2005 Roto 4

Roto 4

Roto 4 includes ‘D’ Squadron, RCD (Major A.J. Atherton / MWO C. Chouinard).

August 2005 To Kandahar

To Kandahar

Canadian troops operating under Operation ATHENA in Kabul begin transitioning to Kandahar Province.

Canada assumes leadership of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team. Approximately 350 military, police, foreign affairs, correctional services and development personnel assist Afghans with the provision of governance, security and development.

Operation ARCHER is implemented with Roto 0 including the already deployed ‘D’ Squadron, RCD (Major A.J. Atherton / MWO C. Chouinard). When ‘D’ Squadron is redeployed to Canada in December 2005 it is not replaced leaving Operation ARCHER without an armoured component.

January 2006 Op Archer

Op Archer

Canadian troops begin combat operations in Kandahar as part of Operation ARCHER. At its height, nearly 3,000 soldiers were deployed at any one time in Kandahar. For more than five years, these soldiers operated as part of a multinational force.

Operation ARCHER is referred to as Operation ATHENA Part 2 or Operation ATHENA Phase 2 in some sources.

February 2006 Kandahar

Kandahar

Canadian medical personnel assume command of the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield. Canadians would remain in command until 2008 and medical personnel continued to serve until December 2011. Roto 1 includes just a single reconnaissance troop; 7 Troop, ‘B’ Squadron, 12e RBC (Captain B. Fleming / Warrant Officer D. Dubé).

February 2006 ISAF

ISAF

Brigadier-General David Fraser assumes command of the Multi-National Brigade (Regional Command South), based in Kandahar as part of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

august 2006 OMLT

OMLT

The first Canadian Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) deploys to Kandahar. OMLTs worked with Afghan soldiers and police to deliver individual and group training, to mentor leaders at every rank level, and to provide liaison with ISAF forces in partnered operations. Roto 2 includes ‘A’ Squadron, RCD (Major A.J. Lussier / MWO S. Lehman).

2-17 September 2006 Op Medusa

Op Medusa

Operation MEDUSA is fought in the village of Panjwayi, Kandahar Province. The 1^st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, including the RCD squadron, clear a battalion-sized Taliban stronghold. Twelve Canadian soldiers are killed during this period.

September 2006 Tanks to Afghanistan

Tanks to Afghanistan

As a direct result of lessons learned in Operation MEDUSA, Canada deploys a tank squadron (Leopard C2) to the war in Afghanistan.

October 2006 Tanks arrive

Tanks arrive

‘B’ Squadron LdSH (Major T.J. Cadieu / MWO W.A. Laughlin) are deployed marking the first use of Canadian tanks in combat since Korea.

February 2007 Roto 3

Roto 3

Roto 3 includes ‘B’ Squadron RCD (Major S.G. Graham / MWO W.A. Richards) as the reconnaissance element and ‘A’ Squadron LdSH (Major D.J. Broomfield / MWO W.J. Crabb) as the tank element.

August 2007 Roto 4

Roto 4

Roto 4 includes ‘A’ Squadron 12e RBC (Major J.P. Huet / MWO J.R.D. Mageau) as the reconnaissance element and ‘C’ Squadron LdSH (Major T.P. Gosselin / MWO G. Bamford) as the tank element. This tour saw the introduction of the Leopard II main battle tank into theatre. Due to the national shortage of tank-trained personnel, this tour also saw the tank squadron supported by individual augmentees and formed troops from other regiments. This form of augmentation continued for all subsequent rotations.

28 January 2008 Manley Report

Manley Report

The Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan (commonly known as “The Manley Report”) is published.

February 2008 Roto 5

Roto 5

Major-General Marc Lessard assumes command of Regional Command (RC) South in Kandahar as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Roto 5 includes ‘D’ Squadron 12e RBC (Major J.R.S. Boivin / MWO J.M.C. Rodrigue) as the recce component and ‘B’ Squadron LdSH (Major C.R. Adams / MWO A.S. Batty) as the tank component.

June 2008 Strategic priorities

Strategic priorities

Canada establishes six strategic priorities and three signature projects that will guide its whole-of-government Afghanistan engagement until 2011.

August 2008 Roto 6

Roto 6

Roto 6 includes ‘D’ Squadron RCD (Major D. Tremblay / MWO S. Mercer) as the recce component and ‘A’ Squadron LdSH (Major I. McDonnell / MWO D.W. Hall) as the tank component.

December 2008 JTFA Air Wing

JTFA Air Wing

The Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing deploys to Afghanistan to provide air mobility support to coalition troops, as well as airlift, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. It stood down in August 2011.

February 2009 Roto 7

Roto 7

Roto 7 includes ‘B’ Squadron 12e RBC (Major J.F. Cauden / MWO L.P. Pelletier) as the recce component and ‘C’ Squadron LdSH (Major J.L. Cochrane / MWO Stacy) as the tank component. This squadron was significantly handicapped by virtue of having only two tank troops.

August 2009 Roto 8

Roto 8

Roto 8 includes ‘B’ Squadron RCD (Major M.N. Popov / MWO K.J. Mathers) as the recce component and ‘B’ Squadron LdSH (Major R. Hume / MWO T.C. Holland) as the tank component.

February 2010 Roto 9

Roto 9

Roto 9 includes ‘A’ Squadron RCD (Major C.D. Lillington / MWO K.T.J. Pichie) as the recce component and ‘A’ Squadron LdSH (Major R.D. McKenzie / MWO Jones) as the tank component.

October 2010 Roto 10

Roto 10

Roto 10 includes ‘A’ Squadron 12e RBC (Major C. Caron / MWO S. Daigle) as the recce component and ‘C’ Squadron 12e RBC (Major E. Landry / MWO A. Champagne) as the tank component. Roto 10 is stood down in June 2011 and is not replaced.

16 November 2010 Four Priorities

Four Priorities

Government of Canada announces Canada’s role in Afghanistan until 2014 based on four priorities: education and health; security; regional diplomacy; and humanitarian assistance.

May 2011 Op Attention

Op Attention

Operation ATTENTION begins – Canada contributes the second-largest contingent to the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan which delivers training and professional development support to the national security forces of Afghanistan.

July 2011 End of combat missions

End of combat missions

Canada ceases combat operations in Kandahar. The Mission Transition Task Force (MTTF) arrives in Afghanistan to prepare, repair, pack and ship vehicles, equipment and material elsewhere in Afghanistan or back to Canada.

December 2011 Op Archer ends

Op Archer ends

Operation ARCHER ends – MTTF completes mission closeout activities in Kandahar.

18 June 2013 Transition

Transition

The fifth and final tranche of transition is announced. Afghan national security forces assume security across the whole country with coalition forces providing support.

June 2013 Final rotation

Final rotation

The final rotation of Canadian troops to Afghanistan begins deploying, including the mission closure team to pack-up and recover equipment to be returned to Canada.

March 2014 End of Mission

End of Mission

Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan ends.

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