The Taurus ARV was acquired by The Military Museums in November 2016. It was previously deployed in Afghanistan where it was used in support of operations with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), B Squadron, who deployed there in Oct 2006 with a squadron of Leopard C2 tanks.

The Taurus ARV is capable of changing components such as engines and transmissions and can lift up an entire Leopard C2 turret, including the 105-mm gun. The Taurus ARV can carry a Leopard tanks engine so it can be replaced in the field, and can also operate as a bulldozer and refuel other vehicles.

The Taurus has a crew of 3-4 and weighs around 40,000 kg. The winch it carries has a 35,000 kg pull, up to 100,000 kg at 3:1 mechanical advantage. It is also lightly armed with two 7.62mm medium machine guns and a 76mm multi-barrel grenade dispenser.

This Taurus ARV is dedicated to the memory of Corporal Nathan Hornburg, originally from Calgary, Alberta, who was killed in Afghanistan on September 24, 2007.

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the The United States, a US-led mission to Afghanistan was formed to remove the Taliban government. Soldiers from the Lord Strathcona’s Horse deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan with the Reconnaissance Squadron of the 3 PPCLI Battle Group as part of the US Task Force Rakkisan on Operation APOLLO between January and July 2002.

In 2004 the Regiment deployed as part of Operation ATHENA which resulted in a expanded commitment by the Regiment. In October 2006, the first complete tank squadron deployed since Korea arrived in Afghanistan with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse, B Squadron.

The Lord Strathcona’s Horse were equipped with 15 Leopard C2 tanks, as well as four recovery vehicles and four engineering vehicles. The Regiment continued to provide tanks and personnel, rotating squadrons for each tour until January 2011, for a total of eight consecutive rotations.

Strathcona soldiers served with excellence during the conflict, receiving numerous commendations and medals, though their success did not come without great cost.

On September 24, 2007, Corporal Nathan Hornburg of the King’s Own Calgary Regiment (attached to B Squadron) was killed when the Armoured Recovery Vehicle he was driving was disabled during a recovery under fire.

The Taurus ARV was formally dedicated as a living memorial to Nathan Hornburg in a ceremony held at The Military Museums on September 10th, 2017. The guests of honour included the family of Nathan Hornburg and his father, Michael Hornburg.

A plaque with Nathan Hornburg's likeness was unveiled during the ceremony as a permanent tribute to the Regular and Reserve soldiers who served in Afghanistan.

Mr. Michael Hornburg of Calgary, Alberta, the father of Nathan Hornburg, passed away on March 24th, 2018. After the death of his son Nathan, Michael became a passionate supporter and advocate for veterans and their families.

He spoke about the civilian experience and personal cost of losing a son to war. He was a peer support counselor for other families of the fallen through the HOPE organization and also organized the annual memorial run, “Loops for the Troops”, which over 8 years raised approximately $600,000 for various charitable organizations in support of serving military, veterans, first responders, and their families.

Michael also started a fundraising effort to build the Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial, where the names of 3,000 local soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts are inscribed.

He spent his last year in ill health but during that time he was honoured with an outpouring of support and generosity for his actions and contributions to the military community, where he embraced the regimental mottos of Arte et Marte, Perseverance, and Onward.