The Price of Alliance: The Politics and Procurement of Leopard Tanks for Canada’s NATO Brigade

186 Pages·2018·1.36 MB·English

by  Frank Maas

The Price of Alliance
Studies In Canadian Military History
Series editor: Andrew Burtch, Canadian War Museum
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has a threefold mandate: to remember, to preserve, and to educate. Studies in
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The Price of Alliance
The Politics and Procurement of Leopard
Tanks for Canada’s NATO Brigade
Frank Maas
© UBC Press 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
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26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in Canada on FSC-certifi ed ancient-forest-free paper (100% post-consumer
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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Maas, Frank, author
Th e price of alliance : the politics and procurement of Leopard tanks for Canada’s
NATO brigade / Frank Maas.
(Studies in Canadian military history)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-0-7748-3518-3 (hardcover). – ISBN 978-0-7748-3519-0 (pbk.). –
ISBN 978-0-7748-3520-6 (PDF). – ISBN 978-0-7748-3521-3 (EPUB). –
ISBN 978-0-7748-3522-0 (Kindle)
1. Canada. Canadian Armed Forces – Procurement – History – 20th century.
2. North Atlantic Treaty Organization – Canada – History – 20th century. 3. North Atlantic
Treaty Organization – Europe – History – 20th century. 4. Leopard (Tank) – History –
20th century. 5. Canada – Military relations – Europe – History – 20th century. 6. Europe –
Military relations – Canada – History – 20th century. 7. Canada – Military policy.
8. Europe – Military policy. I. Title. II. Series: Studies in Canadian military history
UC265.C3M37 2017 355.6′2120971 C2017-903775-7
C2017-903776-5
UBC Press gratefully acknowledges the fi nancial support for our publishing program of
the Government of Canada (through the Canada Book Fund), the Canada Council for the
Arts, and the British Columbia Arts Council.
Publication of this book has been fi nancially supported by the Canadian War Museum.
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To my wife, Katrina, and our children, Annabelle, Frederick, Roger,
Bridget, Charles, and the twins
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of Illustrations / viii
Acknowledgments / ix
Abbreviations / x
I ntroduction / 1
1 Th e 1964 White Paper on Defence: Responding to a New Strategic Context / 9
2 Th e Traditionalists at Work: Renegotiating NATO Commitments in 1967 / 21
3 Trudeau Takes the Reins: Th e Triumph of the Revisionists / 34
4 Th e Summer of 1969: Consultations with Allies / 46
5 Th e Revisionists Assert Control: D efence in the 70s / 5 7
6 Th e Scorpion and the Centurion: Th e Nadir of the Civil Military Crisis / 74
7 Tanks, Trade, and Strategy: Trudeau Relents / 86
8 “From a Beetle to a Porsche”: Th e Purchase of the Leopard / 110
Conclusion / 127
Notes / 133
Bibliography / 159
Index / 165
Illustrations
1 Centurions parading for the last time, 1977 / 69
2 Rental Leopards on exercise, 1977 / 69
3 Project manager of the Leopard purchase, Dave Hampson, and commander
of Canadian Forces Europe, Charlie Belzile / 70
4 Dave Hampson and D. Henderson of the Royal Canadian Dragoons crew a
newly delivered Leopard / 70
5 D. Henderson, Terry Seeley, Clive Milner, all of the Royal Canadian
Dragoons, and Jim Fox celebrating the delivery of a Leopard C1 / 71
6 A Leopard in a defensive position in a Bavarian village, 1979 / 71
7 A Leopard moves through a western Bavarian town, 1979 / 72
8 Children gather around a Leopard during the annual Fall Exercise, 1984 / 72
9 A Leopard drives down a Bavarian road, 1984 / 73
10 Leopards advancing during an exercise, 1987 / 73
Acknowledgments
T his book was many years in the making and would not have been possible
without the assistance of innumerable people along the way. Numerous scholars
off ered useful advice and helpful sources, and I am thankful for the insights
and critiques provided by the anonymous reviewers. Th e help of archivists and
librarians at various archives and colleges – notably, Canadian Forces College,
Fort Frontenac Library, the Canadian War Museum’s Military History Research
Centre, the Directorate of History and Heritage, and Library and Archives
Canada – was essential. I am sincerely thankful for all of my interviewees, who
off ered insights and enjoyable discussions and gave freely of their time. Bill
Coupland provided invaluable assistance in tracking down other contacts, and
Bob Caldwell gave me an excellent introduction to the army in the 1970s. Th e
editorial staff at UBC Press, especially Emily Andrew and Randy Schmidt,
guided the book through the publishing process with great patience and exper-
tise. I am also grateful for the indispensable fi nancial assistance of the Canadian
War Museum, without which this project could not have been completed.
K evin Spooner and Alistair Edgar suggested important improvements and
revisions to key draft s of this book, and the advice and criticism of Joel Sokolsky
of the Royal Military College of Canada was vital. Roger Sarty suggested the
topic, and improved my work greatly as he shepherded me through the writing
process. My parents, Andre and Linda, off ered essential assistance and constant
encouragement. Finally, I am grateful for the steadfast support of my wife,
Katrina, who was always a patient sounding board for my ideas.