US Cavalry in World War II

[Carl Schwamberger]

Does anyone have a clue about the mounted US soldiers in this photograph?

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58306

[Nickdfresh]

I think the second poster in that thread pretty much summed it up. In the Italian campaign, the US (and I presume all Allied) forces where forced to revert to keeping and using pack animals to resupply troops fighting in the mountainous (and highly defensible) terrain in Italy. So it's not surprising that horses or mules were used to for recon purposes. Often, Italians had to be hired as porters and mule handlers since the Italian animals didn't understand commands in English...

[alephh]

I have read several times how Allied soldiers at first used to laugh at the animal based transports used by locals in Italy... And soon ended up desperately needing mules/horses/etc themselves :-D


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[George Eller]

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US Army Handbook 1939-1945, George Forty, ISBN 0-7509-1078-X, 1995, pp 42-43



http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4907/x3rdrecontroopprovisionjw3.jpg

Back to the cavalry! A detachment of the Provisional Mounted Reconnaissance Troop of the Fifth (US) Army passing through a shell-torn Italian mountain town.

The last horsed cavalry unit to fight mounted was the 26th Regiment of the Philippine Scouts, which in early 1942, after withdrawing to Bataan, was forced to destroy its horses and fight on foot. Of course both horses and mules were used as pack animals in the jungles and mountains, while a few special mounted recce troops were formed as and when required - for example the 3rd Infantry Division did so in Sicily and their Provisional Mounted Reconnaissance Troop was used for several months during the invasion of Italy. In September 1943 the troop had 143 horses and a pack train of 349 mules.

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[Rising Sun*]

A nit picking but nonetheless important point.

The recce troops in the picture aren't cavalry.

Cavalry fight mounted.

At best, the recce troops are mounted infantry, who fight dismounted.

The last American mounted tactical cavalry unit in combat was the 26th Cavalry (Philippine Scouts) in Philippines, stationed at Ft Stotsenburg, Luzon, 1942, which fought both mounted and dismounted against Japanese invasion troops in 1942. On the Bataan Peninsula, the 26th Cavalry (PS) staged a mounted attack against the Japanese on 16 January 1942. The battered, exhausted men of the 26th Cavalry climbed astride their horses and flung themselves moments against the blazing gun muzzles of Japanese tanks. This last mounted pistol charge was led by Ed Ramsey in command of G troop, 26th Cavalry. It was the last mounted charge in America's annals, and proved the climax of the 26th Cavalry's magnificent but doomed horseback campaign against the Imperial Japanese Army during the fall of the Philippines in 1941-42. According to a Bataan survivor interviewed in the Washington Post (10 April 1977), starving US and Philippine troops ate all the regiment's horses.

The last Cavalry charge in history took place on 23 August 1942, at Izbushensky on the River Don. The Italian Savoia Cavalry Regiment, and consisting of 600 mounted Italian troops, charged against 2,000 Soviet troops. The Italian Lancers destroyed a pair of Soviet Infantry armored vehicles before being forced to withdraw with thirty-two casualties. Reports of Polish cavalry charges against German tanks in 1939 are pure fiction. These stories were reported by the Italian press and used as propaganda by the Germans.

For operations in jungles and mountains, horses proved to be especially suitable as pack animals. The 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), a task force under Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill and nicknamed "Merrill's Marauders," made extensive use of pack animals. In early 1944, during the 700-mile march march to Myitkyina through the jungles of India and Burma, Merrill's Marauders had approximately 340 horses as well as 360 mules. In another action the 3d Infantry Division, while in Sicily, organized the 3d Provisional Reconnaissance Troop, Mounted, which was employed for several months during the invasion of Italy and the subsequent fighting in its mountainous terrain. In September 1943 the troop had 143 horses; 349 mules were also in its attached pack train.

It was clear that horses were being banished from the last cavalry unit and, for all practical purposes, from the Army. The last mounted cavalry unit was the 129th Cavalry Squadron, activated 01 May 1944 for tactical instruction at the Cavalry School, which was deactivated 06 February 1945. However, the 127th Cav deactivated at Ft Riley in 1947. Also, consider the Horse Platoon, 16th Constabulary Squad, in Berlin (originally the Horse Platoon, 78th Cavalry Recon Troop, 78th Div. The last active cavalry post was Ft Riley, KS, where the Cavalry School deactivated on 31 October 1946 or November 1946, including horses & training detachment (129th Squadron?). The last U.S. cavalry horse in U.S. service died on 24 May 1959. The last mounted (horse or mule) US Army unit was the 4th FA Bn & 35th QM Pack Co, both deactivated at Ft Carson, CO, 15 February 1957. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/cavalry-lasts.htm

I think there's plenty of scope for debating when the last cavalry charge in history took place, rather than accepting the above quote on that point.

[Nickdfresh]

A nit picking but nonetheless important point.

The recce troops in the picture aren't cavalry.

Cavalry fight mounted.

At best, the recce troops are mounted infantry, who fight dismounted.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/cavalry-lasts.htm

I think there's plenty of scope for debating when the last cavalry charge in history took place, rather than accepting the above quote on that point.

Very true. From what I've read of the campaign, there was some dismounted fighting that took place, but most likely, the men on those horses were concerned with quick ingress and egress...

[George Eller]

A nit picking but nonetheless important point.

The recce troops in the picture aren't cavalry.

Cavalry fight mounted.

At best, the recce troops are mounted infantry, who fight dismounted.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/cavalry-lasts.htm

I think there's plenty of scope for debating when the last cavalry charge in history took place, rather than accepting the above quote on that point.

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Hi RS,

I think that George Forty (whom I quoted in my previous post) was referring to the the last American horsed cavalry unit to fight mounted. The quote was from his book US Army Handbook 1939-1945. Forty did mention in his book that US Army "mechanized" cavalry units did fight on foot the majority of the time during WWII. This was not unlike US cavalry practice during the American Civil War. General John Buford preferred to fight his cavalry on foot, as on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg (1 July 1863), although they had the capability to fight mounted (being armed with sabers, revolvers and carbines). The Federals did employ mounted infantry also during the Civil War, but they were armed with muzzle loading rifles IIRC. A traditional role of cavalry has been to provide reconnaissance.

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[Nickdfresh]

But the US Army still does have horses - at West Point, NY (USMA). Mostly for cadet ceremonial functions...

My brother's old company once had the contract to install a landfill adjacent to it, then his company had a small side project on the property...

[Carl Schwamberger]

But the US Army still does have horses - at West Point, NY (USMA). Mostly for cadet ceremonial functions...

My brother's old company once had the contract to install a landfill adjacent to it, then his company had a small side project on the property...

The artillery school at Ft Sill maintains a 'Half Section' of horse drawn 75mm guns. A single gun with the crew mounted on the cassion and draft horses is trotted out for parades.

[Red24]

Hello all new here, doing some research for my Aunt who lost her oldest brother 10 August 1944 somewhere in Normandy. He was assigned to C troop, 28th Cavalry Reconniassance Squadron. I have done the google searches and come up pretty empty handed. It has become sort of an obsession with me to try to figure out how he died or at least where (specifically), was it at St. Lo, Falaise??? I have tried following the time line but since I don't know who they were attached to (other then Patton's 3rd Army!!!) things are a bit fuzzy! My Aunt and parents are planning a visit this spring, to his grave site and the Normandy memorials. I would just like to be able to share more with her. Any insight is very welcome!

Thanks in advance:D

[Nickdfresh]

Anyone with an interest in and background knowledge of the last era of US horse mounted calvary, please read this and help if you can:

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=120987&postcount=232

[Red24]

Just a little additional information about the soldier in question; His names was 2LT Orville B. Conn, Jr. , Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt Germany is named after him as he is recorded as the 1st WW II casualty of the unit. I have been to Schweinfurt and sorry to say I knew more about 2LT Conn and his unit then their PAO did (which sadly isn't much). thanks in advance for any information.

[HAWKEYE]

Cavalry training 1941:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Hawkeye/WWII%20pics/img289.jpg

[George Eller]

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The Philippine Scouts
http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=post&thread=89&page=1

The Philippine Scouts were the only Philippine units who were issued M1-Garands at the outbreak of the war.

American led Filipino Horse cavalrymen fought Japanese Tank assaults near Lingayen gulf. The strongest resistance to the Japanese landings in Lingayen Gulf came from the tough 26th Philippine Scout Horse Cavalry Regiment composed of about 50 American officers and 872 Filipino horsemen.

The Filipino horsemen beat off four Japanese Regiments- the 4th Tank, 48th Reconnaisance, 48th Mountain Artillery and the 1st Formosa regiments at Damortis for six hours even though they were not equipped with anti-tank guns.

From Rosario the 26th Cavalry withdrew to Binalonan where they repulsed an armored assault led by the 4th Japanese Tank Regiment without anti-tank weapons throwing handgrenades into the tank hatches and firing into the gunports of the Japanese tanks. Two hours after the tank assault, the scouts launched a blistering counterattack. The Japanese had to call in more tanks and the 2nd Formosa Regiment to stop the frenzied Filipino cavalrymen. By dusk of December 24, 1941, the 26th Cavalry had withdrawn across the Agno river to Tayug after having been decimated to 450 men.

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/8_off_side_profile_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/6_off_side_hind_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/5_near_side_hind.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/2_near_side_profile_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/11_bridle_near_side_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/16_saddle_detail_rifle_canteen_top_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/12_saddle_detail_rifle_scabbard_top_reduced.jpg

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A hurriedly organized charge of a Cavalry platoon of 27 members of the 26th Philippine Scouts firing pistols from the saddles in a headlong charge against an advance guard of startled Japanese infantry and artillery in the town of Morong, Bataan.http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=post&thread=89&page=1

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/battle_01.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/skykapt/Outbreak%20of%20WWII/BNK/Morong_Bataan.jpg

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Rudy Cabigas, a retired San Jose Fire Department Captain, representing a Filipino trooper of the legendary the 26th Cavalry, Philippine Scouts. His father and an uncle served with the 26th.
http://www.philippine-scouts.org/images/RudyCabigas.jpg
http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

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ALSO:

http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/

http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=181

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=234

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=179

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=189

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=177

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=256

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi

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[horseman19492000]

Cavalry trained under Major General Innis Palmer Swift were trained to use horses to get to the point of contact, dismount and fight as well as the finest infantry. Only in the worst, unavoidable circumstances would they fight mounted. This was the tactical doctrine drilled into officers and men of the mounted 1st Cavalry Division until dismounted in 1943. American doctrine differed greatly from European views and certainly from Hollywood's interpretations.

[AirdefMike]

Hi ho silver!

I was wondering about the Cavalry Groups of the US Army in the ETO.

As I understand these weren't Cavalry but lightly mechanised units combined for recce duties?

So to the questions?

- Were these units part of a Corps and/or an Army?

- Were these units of Battalion, Regimental or Brigade strength?

- What was the composition of a usual Cavalry Group?

[ptimms]

The 4th Cavalry Regiment served in the Bulge and consisted of 759th Light Tank Battalion, 635th Tank Dstroyer Battalion and the 87th Armoured Field Artillery.

[flamethrowerguy]

The 14th Cavalry group fought in the Battle of the Bulge as well. It was the unit to get that beating at Poteau/Belgium by german Kampfgruppe Hansen on December 18th, 1944 (18th and 32nd Reconnaissance Squadron) with the well-known series of photos.

[George Eller]

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Merged Threads "US Cavalry 1944" and "US Cavalry Groups" under new heading "US Cavalry in World War II."

Similar Topic.

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[George Eller]

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Some information on US Army units in Europe and Pacific:

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94948&postcount=32

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94957&postcount=41

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94958&postcount=42

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US Army units in Pacific:

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94948&postcount=32

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94949&postcount=33

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94950&postcount=34

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94951&postcount=35

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94952&postcount=36

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94953&postcount=37

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94954&postcount=38

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94955&postcount=39

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94956&postcount=40

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94957&postcount=41

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94958&postcount=42

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94959&postcount=43

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94960&postcount=44

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94961&postcount=45

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showpost.php?p=94967&postcount=46

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[SS Ouche-Vittes]

i lol'd at the pic with japs, the 2 random japs on the corner modeling for the picture. I remember a story where a US company 'liberates' around 50 german horses from the Germans. It was a fantastic funny story.-

The Philippine Scouts
http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=post&thread=89&page=1



http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/8_off_side_profile_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/6_off_side_hind_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/5_near_side_hind.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/2_near_side_profile_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/11_bridle_near_side_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/16_saddle_detail_rifle_canteen_top_reduced.jpg

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/12_saddle_detail_rifle_scabbard_top_reduced.jpg

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http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=post&thread=89&page=1

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/data/513/battle_01.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/skykapt/Outbreak%20of%20WWII/BNK/Morong_Bataan.jpg

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http://www.philippine-scouts.org/images/RudyCabigas.jpg
http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

-

ALSO:

http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/

http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=181

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=234

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=179

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=189

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=177

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=wwii&action=display&thread=256

http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi

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[Carl Schwamberger]

Hi ho silver!

I was wondering about the Cavalry Groups of the US Army in the ETO.

As I understand these weren't Cavalry but lightly mechanised units combined for recce duties?

So to the questions?

- Were these units part of a Corps and/or an Army?

Either. It depended on the circumstances of the moment. When Patton made his grandsweep across France he had a Cavalry Group reporting directly to his HQ. In the case of the 14th Armored Cavalry Group in the Battle of the Bulge it started the battle under a Corps HQ.

- Were these units of Battalion, Regimental or Brigade strength?

- What was the composition of a usual Cavalry Group?

The squadron or battalion was the primary unit and conformed to the standard organization. There were also Group HQ of company size. These were identified by the old regiment numbers and were often refered to as regiments. They commanded "Groups" (or regiments) of one or more cavalry squadrons. Other battalions or companys were often attached depending on the mission assigned to the Cavalry Group.

The corps and Army also had Groups or pools of engineer, artillery, tank, transport, tank destroyer, antiaircraft, ect... battalions and company that were independant of the divsions. These were used to reinforce the divsions, or to form independant Groups or Task Forces. The Armored Cavalry Group HQ were convient commands for basing these temporary task forces on. Sometimes infantry battalions were detached from divsions to fill out a Armored Cavalry Group for a task. The Combat Command HQ of the Armored Divsions were used the same way in the divsion. They did not have a formal organization, but were task organized as the divsion commader saw fit. Occasionally these HQ were detached from the division for the same purpose as a Armored Cavalry group.

Armored Divsions also had their own Cavlary Squadron similar to the independant squadron used to for the AC Group.

[AirdefMike]

Thank you very much CS. That kind of information was just what I was asking for.

[Rising Sun*]

Either. It depended on the circumstances of the moment. When Patton made his grandsweep across France he had a Cavalry Group reporting directly to his HQ. In the case of the 14th Armored Cavalry Group in the Battle of the Bulge it started the battle under a Corps HQ.



The squadron or battalion was the primary unit and conformed to the standard organization. There were also Group HQ of company size. These were identified by the old regiment numbers and were often refered to as regiments. They commanded "Groups" (or regiments) of one or more cavalry squadrons. Other battalions or companys were often attached depending on the mission assigned to the Cavalry Group.

The corps and Army also had Groups or pools of engineer, artillery, tank, transport, tank destroyer, antiaircraft, ect... battalions and company that were independant of the divsions. These were used to reinforce the divsions, or to form independant Groups or Task Forces. The Armored Cavalry Group HQ were convient commands for basing these temporary task forces on. Sometimes infantry battalions were detached from divsions to fill out a Armored Cavalry Group for a task. The Combat Command HQ of the Armored Divsions were used the same way in the divsion. They did not have a formal organization, but were task organized as the divsion commader saw fit. Occasionally these HQ were detached from the division for the same purpose as a Armored Cavalry group.

Armored Divsions also had their own Cavlary Squadron similar to the independant squadron used to for the AC Group.

Could you clarify for me what 'regiment' means in a strict sense in WWII US Army usage, as distinct from the less strict US and other English-speaking usage meaning units of various sizes with a particular identity?

I understood a US infantry regiment to be equivalent to a brigade in English or Australian usage, being on a triangular basis three infantry battalions with three infantry brigades forming a division.

[George Eller]

Could you clarify for me what 'regiment' means in a strict sense in WWII US Army usage, as distinct from the less strict US and other English-speaking usage meaning units of various sizes with a particular identity?

I understood a US infantry regiment to be equivalent to a brigade in English or Australian usage, being on a triangular basis three infantry battalions with three infantry brigades forming a division.
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Regiment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regiment

Commonwealth armies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regiment#Commonwealth_armies

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U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Arms_Regimental_System

Organization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Arms_Regimental_System#Organization

Difference between a brigade and a regiment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Arms_Regimental_System#Difference_between_a _brigade_and_a_regiment

In a regiment not organized under CARS, there is a fixed number of organic elements organized into battalions or squadrons. For example, the infantry regiment of World War II contained Companies A through M divided into three battalions, plus supporting elements such as the service company.

A brigade, on the other hand, is a flexible organization; it has no organic (permanently assigned) elements. A brigade may have several different kinds of units attached to it, such as three infantry battalions, a cavalry troop, an engineer company, and other supporting units.

In tactical structure, therefore, it is very similar to the Regimental Combat Team of World War II and Korean War. Its maneuver (infantry and armor) elements were not required to be from the same regiment. Since they were flexible, except for the headquarters and headquarters company, no two brigades need be alike, whereas all regiments were fixed with organic elements provided for under basic tables of organization and equipment.

Regimental combat team
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regimental_Combat_Team

A regimental combat team was a provisional major infantry unit of the United States Army during the Second World War and Korean War. The regimental combat team, or "R.C.T.", was formed by augmenting a regular infantry regiment with smaller tank, artillery, combat engineer, mechanized cavalry, reconnaissance, signal, air defense, quartermaster, military police, medical, and other support units to enable it to be a self-supporting organization in combat.

World War II
World War II RCTs were generally of two types: (1) temporary organizations configured for the accomplishment of a specific mission or series of missions, and (2) semi-permanent organizations designed to be deployed as a unit throughout a combat theater. An example of the latter is the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Regimental combat teams combined the high cohesion of traditional regimental organization with the flexibility of tailored reinforcements to accomplish any given mission. Believing that future battlefields would be dominated by tactical nuclear weapons, the U.S. Army broke up its infantry regiments in the mid-1950s and formed battlegroups, four or five of which composed a Pentomic infantry division. Although the Pentomic structure was deemed a failure, reorganizations in the 1960s (ROAD) replaced the infantry regimental combat teams with brigade combat teams that were modeled after the World War II combat commands employed by U.S. armored divisions. As a consequence, infantry battalions that were formerly grouped into regiments were scattered among the new brigades with a consequent loss of unit cohesiveness and unnecessary complication of unit traditions that related both to the old parent regiments and to the new brigades.

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[Carl Schwamberger]

Could you clarify for me what 'regiment' means in a strict sense in WWII US Army usage, as distinct from the less strict US and other English-speaking usage meaning units of various sizes with a particular identity?

I understood a US infantry regiment to be equivalent to a brigade in English or Australian usage, being on a triangular basis three infantry battalions with three infantry brigades forming a division.

Yes, the retention of the same battalions in each infantry regiment and the retention of the same regiments in each divsions was consistent. The infantry regiment also had a cannon company with six howitzers and a AT company with twelve light AT guns, which were seldom detached to other units. Occasionally a battalion or company would be temporarily moved to another unit for reinforcing a special mission task force. But that was the exception. The converse was not true. Companys from the independant battalions, or the entire battalion were often attached to the infantry regiment. These were usually tanks or tank destroyers and engineers. Less often artillery might be directly attached, or anti aircraft and armored cavalry. In those rarer cases it was because the infantry regiment was assigned a mission seperate from the divsion as a whole.

Regiments were dropped as a offcial designation and organization for all independant units outside the divsion, other than some independant infantry regiments. This occured between 1939 & 1943. The field artillery disolved the last of its heavy or corps regiments in early 1943. The battalions were reorganized slightly for this and the old regiment HQ were reorganized to act as either Group or brigade HQ. The Group could be any size and composition, vs the set TO & E of the old artillery or engineer regiments.

[AirdefMike]

What vehicles were used in Cavalry Groups and Recon squadrons?

Greyhounds, Stuarts and Chaffees?

[ptimms]

All of the above and more. Some units had Tank Destroyers and mobile artillery.

[AirdefMike]

All of the above and more. Some units had Tank Destroyers and mobile artillery.

Yes, I understood that from earlier responses.

TDs: Wolverines, Hellcats and M36 (forgot its' nickname)?

SPAs: Priests?

Were supporting units self propelled or towed? (Motorised units preferred for mobility?)

[ptimms]

I'm sure there were Priests.

[ptimms]

Link to the 87th Armoured Field artillery website, which is excellent. It has a picture of a Priest on the front.


http://www.jeopard.us/

[Nickdfresh]

Yes, I understood that from earlier responses.

TDs: Wolverines, Hellcats and M36 (forgot its' nickname)?

SPAs: Priests?

Were supporting units self propelled or towed? (Motorised units preferred for mobility?)

The M-36's nickname was "The Slugger." It's official designation was the "Jackson."

[tankgeezer]

I find the Name of "Slugger" and Jackson attached to the M-36, and lets not forget the great origins of American Cavalry,,,,,,

[Carl Schwamberger]

Yes, I understood that from earlier responses.

TDs: Wolverines, Hellcats and M36 (forgot its' nickname)?

SPAs: Priests?

Were supporting units self propelled or towed? (Motorised units preferred for mobility?)

The TO/TE changed during the war. Circa 1943 the squadron had three troops of a mix of armored infantry and armored cars. Twelve armored cars and eight M3 halftracks in each troop. The infantry included 60mm mortars. A troop of 17 light tanks and a cannon troop of six halftracks with 75mm howitzers filled out the fire power. Including the HQ troop the unit totaled about 800 men.

In 1944 M4 medium tanks were added in & the M7 SP were replacing the 75mm cannon/halftrack combination.

I'll have to check to see if any Tank Destroyers were a offcial part of the TO/TE. The Group often had a company or battalion of TD attached, which were usually distributed amoung the squadrons and troops.

There seem to be some slight differences between the armored cavalry squadrons of the armored cavalry groups or regiments and those that were part of the armored divsion.

[mavericck]

And people made fun of the Germans for using pack animals in the invasion of the Soviet Union....they had their uses.

[Carl Schwamberger]

And people made fun of the Germans for using pack animals in the invasion of the Soviet Union....they had their uses.

Particularly since German industry, even after the conquests were exploited, could not build enough trucks. Even in 1943 & 1944 roughly 75% of the German artillery was horse drawn. France had a much better ratio in 1940 of 60%, and that was with a larger artillery arm. To have replaced all the horses required would have meant another quarter million trucks minimum for Op. Barbarosa.

The Germans were lucky the European farms could supply the necessary horses. Another decade of farm industrialization and they might have been pulling thei cannon with requisitioned farm tractors:(

[Cavalry Gunner]

The 1st Cavalry Division Still have a garrisoned mounted cavalry company for parade duty at Ft Hood,Tx

As for the Picture heck its much easier to ride than walk...

Cavalry Gunner :rolleyes:

[Carl Schwamberger]

The 1st Cavalry Division Still have a garrisoned mounted cavalry company for parade duty at Ft Hood,Tx

As for the Picture heck its much easier to ride than walk...

Cavalry Gunner :rolleyes:

Ft Sill kept a horse drawn half section, with a old French 75 gun, for the same purpose. They'd gallop out and fire a salute for parades. Retiring Generals called it their execution squad.

[ww11freak34]

interesting i never knew this