Casting off the imperial yoke: The transition of Canadian defence procurement within the North Atlantic Triangle, 1907--1953.

摘要

This study demonstrates the transition, during the first fifty years of the twentieth century, from the Canadian standardization of weapons and equipment along British patterns to the use of largely American pattern military material. This transition was not absolute, as the Canadian military continued to procure British defence technology after the Second World War. Moreover, the Canadian government invested in a domestic industrial defence base, which resulted in the design and production of some Canadian weapons. By the end of the Korean War, however, the majority of Canadian equipment was patterned along American lines and all three Canadian military services subsequently moved in this direction.; The industrial defence relationship with the United States was a more symbiotic, equal, and sympathetic relationship for both the Canadian government and the military. During the period under study, the British government and military officials believed Canada to be a subordinate within the Empire, which often resulted in poor communication and limited both Canadian industrial development and a distinct Canadian military identity. Equipment standardization with the British Empire also created a tacit consent to fight for the protection of British interests whenever the British government deemed it necessary. As the Canadian government attempted to distance itself from British entanglements in Europe, it explored diplomacy and trade with the United States. The multitude of defence communication links that had been established between Canada and the United States during the Second World War continued to exist in the post-war period and ensured the protection of Canadian identity and sovereignty. By the Korean War, the Canadian government sent all its antiquated British pattern weapons and equipment to Korea and Europe and endeavoured, thereafter, to rearm its forces with continental designs.