Training Information: Canadian Infantry Weapons

A good infantryman has to know everything about his weapons:
How to use them. When to use them. Why chose one over another.
Read this carefully, Recruit. There will be a test!

Ross Rifle Mk III: The Ross is an excellent rifle, and it's made in Canada. It is more accurate and simpler to operate than the Lee Enfield. It has a 5 round magazines, allowing five shots before reloading. It is deadly at under 600 metres and has a maximum effective range of 1300 metres. A trained rifleman can fire over 10 aimed rounds a minute with accuracy.

Ross Rifle 1910 Pattern bayonet: The Ross does not use the standard British 40cm. sword bayonet. It has its own, shorter, bayonet which can double as an infantry knife. Soldiers should not underestimate the value of a bayonet. A good bayonet charge can cause an enemy to panic and run.

Cavalry swords: Experience in the Boer War demonstrated that modern cavalry needs to be proficient using full sized rifles. However cavalry squadrons will still be issued the 1908 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's Sword. Cavalrymen are expected to do daily sword drill as well as rifle drill.

Officer's revolver or pistol: Officers do not carry rifles. They are expected to carry either a six shot Colt "New Service" .44 revolver or a Colt Model 1911 .45 Pistol. These only have an effective range of 50 metres but can be very useful in close combat situations.

Colt Machine Gun: This is the only machine gun in use for Canadian forces. It fired .303 caliber rounds in 500 round belts. Heavy machine guns could fire up to 500 rounds a minute, but they typically fired much shorter bursts to avoid overheating. The Machine Gun is a highly over-rated weapon. Rapid, sustained rifle fire is more accurate and effective against attackers, as demonstrated at the British Army's defence of Mons.

13 Pounder Horse Artillery: The 13 pounder field gun is a relatively light, high mobile cannon than can provide excellent open field support to infantry. Experience has shown that it is not effective against trench defences. The shell lacks sufficient explosive power.

18 Pounder cannon: This is the mainstay of modern artilery batteries. It has the range and explosive power to be effective in the open field or against trench defences.

4.5 inch and 6 inch howitzer: These are a specialized heavy artillery weapons. Howitzers can elevate their gun barrles up to 45 degrees, allowing the shells to follow an arcing trajectory that can drop down into enemy trenches or land behind enemy defences defences