2 SSM (Training) Battery

From 1960 to 1968, 2 SSM Battery trained over 700 soldiers for deployment with 1 SSM Battery in West Germany. In the fall of 1960, the RCA formed both batteries, 1 SSM and 2 SSM, at Camp Picton, Ontario, under the command of Major J. N. Robertson. They trained with the 762-mm MGR-1 Honest John Rocket, a surface-to-surface missile deployed by NATO countries from 1953 to 1985.

A photo of the Honest John Rocket and launcher in Shilo, Manitoba, dated 1967.

A photo of the Honest John Rocket raised to the firing position, 1967.

The Honest John was a truck-mounted, unguided, solid-fuel rocket ranging from 5 km to 50 km. Gunners transported the missile in three parts, reassembled it, aimed, and fired it in approximately five minutes. Canadians deployed the rocket for counter-battery and harassment, delivering payloads, including high-explosive, nerve gas, and nuclear. The US Army held the nuclear warheads and could issue them to Canadians in a ‘first strike’ capacity. Canadians never fired the weapons system with nuclear warheads.

Early rocket training occurred in April and May 1961 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Canada fired its first Honest John missile at Camp Petawawa on 27 October 1961. In December 1961, the RCA deployed 225 personnel to Hemer, Germany, as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade (4 CIBG). In 1962, the Diefenbaker government purchased Honest John missiles for NATO service.

Major G.N.R. Olson presenting Sgt. Jewell W. R. with Honest John training certificate, 1967.

Visitors viewing Honest John on Army Day in Brandon, 1967.

In July 1962, 2 SSM Battery moved to CFB Shilo, Manitoba, partnering with the Royal Canadian School of Artillery. In 1963, after joining the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, Major J. G. Henderson became commanding officer of 2 SSM. In 1966, Major J. L. Mantin took command. In the spring of 1967, Headquarters, Mobile Command, took control of 2 SSM with Major G.N.R. Olson as the commanding officer.

The RCA Museum has an excellent photo album documenting the final years of 2 SSM in Shilo from 1967-68. The album includes photos of the last Honest John launched on 13 February 1968, in Shilo during a visit from the Minister of National Defense, Leo Cadieux.

The last Honest John Rocket fired by 2 SSM Battery in Shilo, Manitoba, dated 13 February 1968.

The photo album includes the last parade and march past on 26 September 1968, led by Major G.N.R. Olson, CD, at L Parade Square in Shilo. Among the dignitaries was LGen W.A.B. Anderson, OBE, CD, the Commander of Mobile Command, who inspected the unit and received the march past and the final salute, shown in photo to the left. As a memento of the final parade, LGen Anderson accepted the nose cone recovered from the last Honest John fired by the Canadian Artillery. Note the photo of LGen Anderson accepting the artifact. The RCA Museum currently has the nose cone in its collection.

The photo album shows a crucial period of Cold War history when Canadians fired massive 762 mm surface-to-surface rockets with nuclear capability. From 1962-68, CFB Shilo was home to 2 SSM Battery, tasked with training 1 SSM Battery replacement soldiers. The RCA Museum has one Honest John Rocket launcher displayed in the Gun Park.