Horse cavalry in the US Army

[aldiboronti]

I was just watching a Warner Bros cartoon made in the early 1940s (Rookie Revue) and it showed a cavalry unit with horses drilling on the parade ground. Sure, it’s a cartoon, but it made me wonder whether the US Cavalry still used horses in the 2nd World War. If so, were the troops purely ceremonial? Do such units still survive?

[Raguleader]

If they were still using horses in the Cavalry during WWII, it was purely ceremonial. IIRC, Jeeps replaced Horses during the Interwar period as the mount of choice for the Light Cavalry (the heavy Cavalry, of course, prefered tanks).

I don’t know if any modern US Cavalry units still ride horses, but I do know that the 1st Squadron of the 9th Cavalry Regiment wore stetson caps, riding boots with spurs, and handlebar mustaches as part of their uniform during the Vietnam War.

[David_Simmons]

There were still some horse cavalry units in the US Army at the beginning of WWII. The last horse cavalry charge took place on Luzon island in the Philippines during the battle in the Bataan peninsula.

The last horse cavalry charge by the U.S. Army took place against Japanese forces during the fighting in the Bataan Peninsula, Philippines, in the village of Morong in January 1942, by the 26th Cavalry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts. Shortly thereafter, the besieged U.S./Philippine forces were forced to slaughter their horses for food and the 26th fought on foot or in whatever scarce vehicles were available until the surrender of U.S./Philippine forces. For the remainder of World War II, U.S. Cavalry units were either mechanized with tanks and reconnissance vehicles or fought as infantry.

There might still be a ceremonial horse cavalry detachment as part of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Infantry at Fort Meyer, VA keeps horses for ceremonial purposes such as state funerals.

[Little_Nemo]

While not official cavalry units, I’ve read that some American special forces units currently in Afghanistan ride horses as it’s the best form of transportation in some regions of that country.

[Paul_in_Qatar]

Yep, the last Horses went out at Bataan where we had to eat them. A very sad day. ‘Cavalry’ now means armor or aviation units designed to scout.

Horses are still on duty at a couple of places. Arlington, Fort Sill (for the artillery half-section) Fort Hood and Fort Detrick (they produce vaccines with horse blood). In addition the Army has ‘mule skinners’ as a Special Forces speciality. We also keep several thousand mules on standby contracts with civilian tour-guide companies.

We activated a few hundred mules for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. I have no idea if we called them up again for this war.

[fisha]

@Raguleader

If they were still using horses in the Cavalry during WWII, it was purely ceremonial. IIRC, Jeeps replaced Horses during the Interwar period as the mount of choice for the Light Cavalry (the heavy Cavalry, of course, prefered tanks).

I don’t know if any modern US Cavalry units still ride horses, but I do know that the 1st Squadron of the 9th Cavalry Regiment wore stetson caps, riding boots with spurs, and handlebar mustaches as part of their uniform during the Vietnam War.

Modern cav units wear still ceremonial stetson’s, spurs, sabers, etc.

[David_Simmons]

This wasn’t the US but the Germans used quite a bit of horse drawn artillery in WWII. After the collapse of German resistance behind the Normandy front and subsequent retreat in the summer of 1944 the casualties as a result of air attacks were huge. Many accounts are extant about being able to walk along roads without ever touching the ground by walking on the bodies of dead horses.

[SailBunny]

My uncle is in the First City Troop of Philadelphia.

http://www.firsttroop.com/home.html

This purely volunteer cavalry troop was the first organized in defense of the colonies. Today the Troop is certainly the oldest mounted military unit and quite possibly the oldest military unit of any kind that has been in continuous service to the Republic. The times that called it into being, and the character of the original members who fought through the seven years of the American Revolution, together forged concepts of service and a body of tradition that have given it a continuity of purpose for 230 years.

They ride in processions around Philadelphia for special occasions, and Im assuming VVIPs.

[SailBunny]

Oh yeah, and theyre also part of the National Guard, so he was sent to Bosnia and Afghanistan.

[Alessan]

@David Simmons

This wasn’t the US but the Germans used quite a bit of horse drawn artillery in WWII. After the collapse of German resistance behind the Normandy front and subsequent retreat in the summer of 1944 the casualties as a result of air attacks were huge. Many accounts are extant about being able to walk along roads without ever touching the ground by walking on the bodies of dead horses.

From what I understand, every army in WW2 had at least partially horse-drawn logistics - except for the U.S., which was the only completely mechanized military.

[Captain_Amazing]

@Alessan

From what I understand, every army in WW2 had at least partially horse-drawn logistics - except for the U.S., which was the only completely mechanized military.

The US Army used mules for transport of weapons and supplies.

[slaphead]

@Alessan

From what I understand, every army in WW2 had at least partially horse-drawn logistics - except for the U.S., which was the only completely mechanized military.

Pretty much, but there’s always a need for mules. From http://www.qmfound.com/remount.htm

World War II

World War II saw the mechanization of the Army. The transportation of supplies, equipment & personnel was primarily conducted with motor vehicles. The horse lost its prominence as a mode of transportation, however mules continued to have great value due to their ability to negotiate rugged terrain inaccessible by vehicles. This fact was proven in the mountains of Italy and jungles of Burma.

When mobilization for World War II began in 1939, it was predicted that the Army would need 200,000 horses. (In 1940, the Army had 2 horse cavalry divisions, 2 horse-drawn artillery regiments, and 2 mixed horse and motor transport regiments, with a total authorization of 16,800 horses and 3,500 mules.) The need for horses continuously decreased as active, reserve and National Guard units converted to trucks and jeeps. These horses were returned to the remount depots. Only four horses were procured in the 1943 fiscal year and none from then on through the end of the war. Throughout the war period only 49 horses were shipped from the United States to the armed forces overseas.

There was an unexpected demand in 1943 from the Coast Guard for 3,000 horses to be used by its beach patrols. The Coast Guard patrolled the shores for hostile submarine activity. By 1944 however, the danger ceased and the horses were returned to Remount Depots.

In 1944 and 1945, approximately 14,000 mules were used. Mules could negotiate jungle or mountainous terrain that no horse or vehicle could traverse. Pack mules were used by US forces in Tunisia during the winter of 1942-43 and were employed extensively in the rugged mountain terrain of Italy. In the spring of 1945 the 10th Mountain Division employed thousands of mules in rugged terrain of northern Italy during its drive through the North Apennines mountains and the Po Valley. Animal pack outfits were also used in the China-Burma-India theater especially during the active combat operations in Burma. Very often the Army would procure animals in the theaters where the troops were operating and in emergencies would commandeer animals on the spot

[AskNott]

Near the end of the 20th century, 60 Minutes did some work about the US Army’s huge storage buildings full of obsolete equipment. Among the “hey Martha” moments was about thousands of 50-year-old saddles and other horse gear.

[desdinova]

The institution in Claremore, Oklahoma now known as Rogers State University was formerly a military academy, and it trained cavalry soldiers up until at least the late 1930s. I know this because the father of a friend of mine told a charming story about wanting to join the Army but hated marching, so he attended what was then the Oklahoma Military Academy and trained for the cavalry. The unit was apparently disbanded at some point (I believe just prior to WWII) and since he still hated marching he decided to join the Army Air Corps.

This is me recalling about a 12 year old conversation (he’s since passed away) so I can’t assure its accuracy…

[Raguleader]

Well, the Air Force could be considered a spiritual descendant of the Cavalry. Essentially it’s mounted soldiers attacking enemy flanks (in this case, usually the top flank), especially when you look at smaller planes like the F-16 where the pilot is almost straddling a turbine jet engine.

I’m still patiently awaiting the establishment of the United States Marine Corps Space Aviator Cavalry though.

[Alessan]

@slaphead

Pretty much, but there’s always a need for mules. From http://www.qmfound.com/remount.htm

That’s different - the U.S. used mules because they were the best means for the job. They were never forced to use mules. The Germans, OTOH, would have been happy to replace the horses pulling their artillary with trucks.

[SanVito]

I know it’s not the US, but British Army cavalry regiments are now tank regiments. Prince Harry has joined the regiment with the swankiest uniform (http://tinyurl.com/y5qbf6).