A roadside bomb explosion ripped through the armoured vehicle of six Canadian soldiers Wednesday, killing them as they returned to their base after a heavy day of fighting in Afghanistan's Panjwaii district.

An Afghan interpreter riding with the soldiers also died in the blast.

Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of Task Force Afghanistan, said the group was travelling in an RG-31 Nyala armoured vehicle on a gravel road, used often by Canadian convoys and considered to be safe.

Two of the slain soldiers have not been identified at the request of the families, but the military has named the other four:

Captain Matthew Johnathan Dawe
Corporal Cole Bartsch
Private Lane Watkins
Master Corporal Colin Bason

Dawe, Bartsch and Watkins were all members of 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton.

Bason was a member of the Royal Westminster Regiment, based out of New Westminster, B.C.

Somebody break out the Labatt's down at the 'Green.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.

H/t, CAPT H. To date, 66 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan.