laststandonzombieisland

As part of long-running (since 2007) Op Nanook-Nunalivut, a joint exercise in the Canadian Arctic, the Yellowknife-based 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1 CRPG/GPRC) has begun its snowmobile-borne High Arctic sovereignty patrol.

Supported by Joint Task Force North and the Royal Canadian Air Force, the patrol will cover some 2,800 miles over the next several weeks, literally showing the flag, as well as visiting and engaging with 17 remote communities across the North who like to know that “someone” is out there in all that snow and ice.

1 CRPG/GPRC Op Nanook ’26

I have to admit, I almost want to move to the Yukon just to volunteer for the Rangers and ride along on one of these!

On a side note, the Army National Guard/Alaska State Defense Force needs to stand up such patrols in the more remote regions of Alaska, reversing decades of closing historic small community NG armories. 

RCAF unit getting Ranger rifles

Of note, the RCAF’s No. 440 “Vampire” Transport Squadron, JTFN’s primary air unit, is co-located at Yellowknife and operates four CC-138 Twin Otters, enabling them to “conduct year-round, all-weather missions including on-skis/tundra tires” throughout the Arctic.

The unit recently upgraded their predator defense rifles aboard each plane to the same Colt C-19 (Tikka T3 CTR) .308s that the Rangers use. The standard service round for the C-19 is the C180 cartridge, which uses a Nosler Accubond 180-grain Trophy bullet over a pretty stout load, in the interest of having to stop polar bears.

Or random Russian commandos, just saying.