5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5e Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada) (5 CMBG) is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of 2nd Canadian Division of the Canadian Army. It is based at CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City, Quebec. The brigade group is the formation responsible for the majority of francophone units of the regular army.

History
5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) is similar in name to the 5th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, for which Camp Valcartier was built. Founded in 1914, the 5th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force distinguished itself in many battles, particularly at Ypres, Vimy, The Somme, Passchendaele and the Hindenburg Line. The 5th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was reconstituted in September 1939 as an active service formation. With the end of the war, the brigade was disbanded and its units resumed their role within the Canadian Reserves.

The establishment of 5 Combat Group was tied to the creation of the new units under its control and between 1977 and 1992, name changes became a relatively frequent occurrence for 5 Combat Group to reflect different operational roles. Thus, 5 Combat Group became 5 Canadian Brigade Group (1977), 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade (1989) and, finally, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1992).

Today, 5 CMBG is made up of eight units: a light artillery regiment, an armoured regiment, a combat engineer regiment, a headquarters and signals squadron, three infantry battalions and a service battalion. Four other units provide support to 5 CMBG troops: 5 Field Ambulance, Dental Unit Detachment - Valcartier, 5 Military Police Platoon and 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.

Units


Two regular force units of other formations 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and 5 Field Ambulance of Canadian Forces Medical Group are collocated with 5 CMBG at CFB Valcartier and work closely with the brigade group but are not officially a part of it.