The Worthington Trophy is a Canadian military award. It was awarded annually to the best reserve armoured unit in the Canadian Land Forces. It is named after Major-General F. F. Worthington, known as Fighting Frank – "The Father of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps".Fighting Frank – "The Father of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps" by Bruce Forsyth, Canadian Military History Online Resource
Of its origins, Sean Maloney stated:Maloney, Sean Chapter 18: The Cold War (III), 1971-1989.
The competition and award was not given out on a regular annual basis, and there have been some gaps in the timeline, especially recently. After a long gap, the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School reintroduced the competition (now called the Worthington Challenge) in 2012 and it is now for regular force units.La Tourelle - Turret (T), Édition Annuelle, 2012-13 Although the origin for this event was a tank gunnery concentration, the scope was widened to include the 25 mm platform and allow non-armoured units to participate. The concentration was broken into two categories: Leopard 1 C2 (105 mm) and LAV III (25 mm). The original trophy design, being a large silver Centurion tank has been replaced with a likeness of a Leopard 1.
The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) have won the trophy 8 times, the most of any Canadian armoured regiment.Regiment: History of the Hussars
Tank units from the US Army have participated, specifically in 2001 and 2014.
2014 The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School (RCACS) successfully concluded its 3rd annual Exercise Worthington Challenge in Gagetown, New Brunswick, in October 2014.Canadian Army exercise involving armoured fighting vehicles and tanks now finished, David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2014
The US Army 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (United States), sent two M1A2 crews and two M2A3 crews in 2014.Canadian Exercise Worthington Challenge: Opportunities in Theater-Security Cooperation
2015
Exercise Worthington 15 was held at CFB Gagetown in September.
The competitors were:
Infantry School The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School 4 Engineer Support Regiment 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment 1st and 2nd Battalions, Royal 22e Régiment 1st and 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) 12e Régiment blindé du Canada Royal Canadian Dragoons 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (United States) 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (United States)
"A tough Danish team, fresh off a strong showing at this year's Nordic Challenge competed directly while other nations such as Brazil, Portugal and Chile observed the event."Worthington Cup 2015 by Lieutenant TJ Casey
"The 3rd Canadian Division team consisted of two Leopard 2 tank crews and two Coyote reconnaissance vehicle crews from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), a Light Armour Vehicle (LAV) 3 crew from 1 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and two LUVW reconnaissance crews from the Saskatchewan Dragoons ... the tank team from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) took the first place trophy for the 120 mm gunnery category, and the LAV 3 crew from the 1 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry took second place trophy for the 25 mm gunnery category."
2016
Exercise Worthington 16 was held at CFB Gagetown in September 23 to 30.Armoured vehicles and crews put to the test during Exercise Worthington Challenge
"The exercise will test a number of skills including direct-fire gunnery, tactical driving, and teamwork tests in challenging settings using the Leopard 2 main battle tank, Light Armoured Vehicle III and 6, and the Coyote Armoured Vehicle. Competing nations include: Chile, Denmark, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Observing nations will be: Australia, Poland, and the United Kingdom." Canada was represented by C Sqn of The Royal Canadian Dragoons.Worthington Challenge 2016 (C SQN) by Corporal Mike Crook
Top Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) Fire Team: Winner: 4 Div (combined crews of soldiers from the 1st Hussars, Windsor Regiment, and Ontario Regiment) with a total percentage score of 62.47% 2nd place: 2 Div - score of 58.97% 3rd place: 5 Div/CADTC (Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre) - score of 55.76%
Top 25 mm Crew: Winner: 4 Div Crew 2 - score of 67.27% 2nd place: New Zealand Crew 1 - score of 61.88% 3rd place: 2 Div Crew 2 - score of 60.86%
Top 120 mm Fire Team: Winner: Jutland Dragoon Regiment, Royal Danish Army - score of 66.93% 2nd place: 4 Div - score of 57.50% 3rd place: United States Army: Charlie Company, 1-252nd Armor Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard - score of 56.34%
Worthington Challenge Cup (Top Canadian Div Team): Winner: 4 Div (Royal Canadian Dragoons, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 1st Hussars, Windsor Regiment, Ontario Regiment, and Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles) - score of 59.04% 2nd Place: 2 Div - score of 56.78% 3rd place: 3 Div - score of 46.80% 4th place = 5 Div/CADTC (Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre) - score of 43.17%
Winners YearWinnerRef195419th Alberta DragoonsThe 19th Alberta Dragoons: Introduction1956 19th Alberta Dragoons8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)196019th Alberta DragoonsThe Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)1962South Alberta Light HorseSalute to the South Alberta Light Horse (RCAC), Medicine Hat News, Friday, November 30, 19621963The Elgin RegimentFifty Years of Armour - Cinquante Ans de Blinde, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, Le Corps Blinde Roval Canadien, 1940 - 199019671st Hussars12e Régiment blindé du Canada MiliceA Short History About the 1st Hussars1970The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)The Dukes: Post War Era – The Cold War and Peacetime Soldiering1971The Elgin Regiment1974The Prince Edward Island Regiment1975The Prince Edward Island Regiment1976The Prince Edward Island Regiment1977The British Columbia Dragoons(Item 23) In the 1970s the BCDs sent two formed troops to Germany. In 1978 the second troop's deployment, its commander, Lt. Bruce MacLean, was killed in an accident. He was the first fatality since Brig. H. Angle had died in the Kashmir. In honour of Lt. MacLean, there is a trophy awarded annually for the best junior officer in the unit. In 1977, the Regiment won the coveted Worthington Trophy for the unit that attained the highest overall standard in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. A national competition, it is presented in honour of MGen. F. F. Worthington, who was the first commander of the Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicles Training Centre and the "Father" of the Corps.1979Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC)Trophies198112e Régiment blindé du Canada Milice1983The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)1984The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)1985The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)1986The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)Recent History1987The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)1988The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)1989The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)1990The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)19911st Hussars19928th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)19938th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)19948th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)1995The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)Local regiment wins top honours, The Whitby Free Press, October 11, 19951996The Elgin RegimentInternational Conference on Employer Support for Reservists, Proceedings Travaux, May 30 to June 3, 2005, P. 302012Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School2013C Squadron, The Royal Canadian DragoonsWorthington Cup Competition201412e Régiment blindé du Canadateamed with Royal 22nd Regiment20153rd Canadian DivisionWorthington Cup 201520164th Canadian DivisionWinning Team Photos - Ex WC 1620172nd Canadian Division
References