Latest news with #C-19
Ottawa Citizen
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Ottawa Citizen
Why new Canadian ranger rifles are bleeding red dye
Article content Canadian Rangers who use their new rifles in the rain are finding their hands covered in red dye because the stocks on the weapons can't handle moisture, according to newly released military records. Article content The problem was discovered in May 2018 as the new C-19 rifles were initially being distributed to Canadian Ranger units as part of a $32.8-million contract with Colt Canada. The .308 C-19, which is equipped with a red stock, replaced the Lee Enfield .303 rifle that had been used by Canadian Rangers since 1947. Article content Article content Article content Under the contract, the new rifles were required to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the Arctic as well as moderate-to-high humidity in the coastal and forested regions of the country. Article content 'Obviously from a health and safety perspective having dye released onto the skin is not a good situation,' Arthur Hall, who is with the Department of National Defence's small arms program, noted in a May 9, 2018 email regarding the C-19. Article content Further complaints continued to come in from Ranger units who also found the stocks were cracking. Article content 'The issue is that when exposed to moisture the red dye in the stock will run, and will discolour the hands of the user,' Luke Foster of the Directorate of Soldier Systems Program Management, pointed out in a July 3, 2018 email. 'This is also an indication that the stocks are not properly protected from the elements.' Article content Article content One report from an officer assigned to the Rangers noted he took his new rifle outside in the rain for only five minutes before returning indoors. Once back inside he noticed the weapon was dripping red dye. 'I held the weapon for approximately 5-10 mins and it stated to stain my hand,' Captain T.M. Collier wrote in a May 9, 2018 email. The documents, acquired by the Ottawa Citizen, were released under the Access to Information Act. Article content Department of National Defence officials, however, say it will be up to taxpayers to cover the costs of replacing the stocks on the 6,800 new rifles. That cost is estimated to be up to $10 million. Article content 'The performance requirements detailed performance against specific environmental conditions (cold, wet, etc), and the C19 met these criteria,' DND spokesperson Alex Tétreault stated in an email to the Ottawa Citizen. 'Therefore, Colt Canada fulfilled its contractual requirements, based on what was asked. There are no warranties that addresses the current issue being faced.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
Ottawa Citizen
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Stocks on new Canadian Ranger rifles are cracking and need to be replaced
Article content Stocks on the new rifles issued to Canadian Rangers for use in the far north are cracking and have to be replaced because they can't withstand excessive moisture. Article content Article content In addition, the lamination on the C-19 rifle wood stocks is peeling off, the Department of National Defence acknowledged. Article content Soldiers tipped off the Ottawa Citizen about the problems with the relatively new rifles and raised concerns about the effectiveness of the weapons. Article content Article content One hundred and fifty-six of the rifles were initially deemed as unusable but the majority of the guns are still being used despite the problems, according to the DND. Article content The Canadian Forces ordered more than 6,800 of the rifles from Colt Canada in Kitchener, Ont., with deliveries beginning in March 2018. The contract was for $32.8 million. Article content The .308 C-19 replaced the Lee Enfield .303 rifle that had been used by Canadian Rangers since 1947. The Lee Enfield had a wooden stock. The C19 is lighter, shorter and more precise, according to the Canadian Forces. Article content Canadian Rangers noticed the problems with the rifles shortly after the first ones were delivered. Additional concerns were raised in 2019 about 'premature C-19 Ranger Rifle stock cracking,' DND spokesperson Kened Sadiku said in an email. Article content 'Testing concluded that the wood used for these C-19 stock lacked sufficient protective finish to properly seal and protect the wood from extreme environmental exposure, resulting in the wood being susceptible to moisture absorption and shrinkage,' said Sadiku. 'The test also indicated that the glue used in some of the C-19 stock exhibited early and unexpected laminate separation.' Article content Under the contract, the rifles were required to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the Arctic as well as moderate-to-high humidity in the coastal and forested regions of the country. Article content Article content 'Based on the initial C19 Ranger Rifle procurement, the performance requirements were met,' Sadiku stated. 'The current issue with the C19 Ranger Rifle stock became apparent after and therefore, DND intends to cover the cost for the replacement.'
