U.S. Cavalry in WWII

[Old Contemptable]

My Flickr page.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/59568506@N02/albums/72177720321333274/

[carlos marighela]

Fabulous collection! Quite a lot of photos I haven't seen before, so thank you!

Always struck me as strange that there are so few miniatures available, at least in 28mm for early to mid 20th C US Cavalry. Brigade Games produced a superb range of dismounted figures for the Pershing Expedition, Old Glory do a range of mounted and dismounted and I've seen some 3D printed mounted Philippine scouts. A decent range of mounted cavalry with separate heads would allow you to cover off half a century.

[carlos marighela]

Oh and in case you haven't seen this. The last horse mounted US Cavalry patrol.

https://www.eaglehorse.org/home_station/hidden_stories/80s/first_and_last/first_last.htm

And while MPs as opposed to cavalry, this photo of the Horse Mounted Platoon in Berlin, after the war is too good not to share.

[fred]

Very interesting set of photos.

The charging firing the Browning automatic seems to be a favourite with photographers and artists!

Initially seems quite odd - could you hit anything (other than your own horse’s head) but then I am reminded of cavalry from 400 years earlier who would have loved a multi-shot pistol over their flintlocks and wheelocks and the need to Caracole.

[carlos marighela]

Very interesting set of photos.

The charging firing the Browning automatic seems to be a favourite with photographers and artists!

Initially seems quite odd - could you hit anything (other than your own horse’s head) but then I am reminded of cavalry from 400 years earlier who would have loved a multi-shot pistol over their flintlocks and wheelocks and the need to Caracole.

Firing the .45 automatic in the charge was the principle doctrine at the time and featured in the engagements on the Pershing Expedition and after. No less effective than trying to engage with a bolt action rifle at full gallop and slightly more reach than a sabre. Think of it as suppressive fire.

Firing the BAR at the charge would have been a real challenge.

[Old Contemptable]

I will add that photo. I have added additional photos and a full-length movie!

[FifteensAway]

Just did a shallow dive into the this and it seems only one unit, of Philippine Scouts, had exactly one mounted action in WWII in early January of 1942 just prior to the abolition of mounted cavalry shortly thereafter.  Probably explains why no one makes WWII mounted US cavalry.

However, for earlier periods there are useable figures - look at Eureka Miniatures WWI figures in 15 mm, similarly Peter Pig has figures in its early 19th century Mexican range.  Can't help with larger scales. 

But photos are interesting.

[carlos marighela]

WW2 US Cavalry I can understand. The absence of mounted cavalry for the Pershing Expedition is what I can't fathom.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

This reminds me - somewhat tangentially, I’ll admit - of an interview I once saw on TV with a biographer of Ronald Reagan. When asked about Reagan’s lack of a war record in contrast with some of his rivals the biographer smugly stated, “Well, he was in the cavalry and they didn’t have much use for cavalry in that war.” The obvious follow up to this - which I expected but did not come - was why in that case someone with a strong desire to serve his country had not sought a transfer to a branch of service that might have been more used in his country’s hour of need. (George S Patton had also been a cavalryman, has he not?) It’s continued to puzzle me.

Speaking of Patton’s time in the cavalry, I understand that during the Pershing Expedition he shot Pancho Villa’s bodyguard, though whether from the saddle or on foot and with which firearm, I couldn’t say. I’m pretty sure someone does, however. Back to you, Carlos.

[carlos marighela]

Bonzo's wartime service is little short of inspiring and worthy of a man dubbed the 'Great Communicator'. Yes, he started out in the cavalry but soon wangled himself a 'liasion' job, a transfer to the USAAF, a gig as publicity flack (the only flak he would see) and then on to a film unit making training films. Never one not to give his all, the Gipper also further bolstered US morale by making inspiring fillums for Warner Bros. Films so storied in their stature as works of art I need not name them. Probably also used his time wisely working out which of his colleagues were commies so he could finger them to HUAC after the war.

Tis a pity that people don't recognise his service or when they do compare it badly against the service of contemporary, established, Hollywood stars like Jimmy Stewart, David Niven or even Clark Gable, who managed to combine combat service with the making of morale lifting films. 

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

I had to check when Bedtime for Bonzo was released in order to be sure I hadn’t failed to give its star due credit for his contribution to the war effort. I see that this masterwork was in fact released in 1951 and therefore deserves to be appreciated for its significance in cowering Kim Il-Sung, Mao Tse Tung and Stalin into ceasing their aggression against South Korea and the United Nations. The common belief that it was Eisenhower’s threat of escalation, not excluding the use of nuclear weapons, that achieved the cessation of hostilities can now be rightly dismissed as the hokum it clearly was. At a time when the Free World is once again in peril from power-mad dictators and crazed fanatics, opposed only by timid appeasers, we can only look back in awe at this period and marvel at a time when giants lived among us.

[Aaron]

Great pictures. My great uncle was in the horse cavalry before and during WW2. He spent most of the war guarding the Panama Canal, so lucky break for him, really.

[Old Contemptable]

The US wasn't the only country. Many European nations fielded cavalry during the war. Some for the entirety of he war. Here are some examples I pulled off the net. 

1. Poland
The Polish Cavalry is one of the most famous examples of cavalry forces still in use during WWII. At the start of the war in 1939, Poland had multiple cavalry brigades, and these units played significant roles in the early defense against the German invasion.

Misconception about Cavalry Charges: While there is a persistent myth that Polish cavalry made charges against German tanks on horseback, this is largely exaggerated. The Polish cavalry units typically fought dismounted and used their horses primarily for mobility. They did, however, make charges against infantry and unarmored vehicles when the situation allowed.

2. Soviet Union
The Soviet Red Army still maintained a large number of cavalry divisions at the outset of the war, and they continued to use them throughout the conflict. Soviet cavalry often operated in harsh terrains where motorized or mechanized units were less effective, such as in the vast steppes or forested areas of Eastern Europe. These cavalry units were highly mobile and capable of deep raids behind enemy lines, especially against Axis supply lines.

Cavalry-Mechanized Groups: The Soviets developed a tactic known as "Cavalry-Mechanized Groups" in which cavalry units were paired with tanks and motorized infantry to create highly mobile forces that could exploit breakthroughs in enemy lines. Something the US Army experimented with. In fact the 26th Cav. was a mix motorize/horse unit in 1941.

3. Germany
German Wehrmacht had some mounted cavalry units at the beginning of WWII, primarily for reconnaissance and patrol duties. However, as the war progressed, most of these units were converted into mechanized or motorized formations.

Waffen-SS Cavalry: The Waffen-SS, particularly the SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer, used cavalry in anti-partisan operations, especially on the Eastern Front. These units were involved in brutal campaigns against resistance movements in occupied territories. By the end of the war, many German units were forced to rely on horses for transport due to fuel shortages and the destruction of their mechanized equipment, though these horses were used more for logistics than combat.

4. Italy
Italy maintained several cavalry divisions during WWII, and some saw action in campaigns like the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa).
The Italian Cavalry is known for one of the last successful cavalry charges of the war at the Battle of Izbushensky in 1942, during the Eastern Front. The Italian Savoia Cavalleria Regiment charged Soviet infantry positions, and remarkably, they achieved some success, though it was more of an anomaly in the mechanized nature of the conflict.

5. France
At the start of WWII, France still had several cavalry units, which were part of their mobile forces. However, much like the Polish, French cavalry primarily fought dismounted.
Dragoons: Some cavalry units were reclassified as "dragoon" units, which meant they used horses for mobility but fought on foot as infantry. French cavalry, particularly those in the Corps Francs and Chasseurs à cheval, also played a reconnaissance role in the early stages of the German invasion in 1940.

6. Hungary and Romania
Both Hungary and Romania, as Axis allies, maintained cavalry units during WWII. These units were used primarily for reconnaissance and in secondary theaters, such as the Balkan and Eastern Fronts.
Hungarian cavalry, for example, participated in the campaign against the Soviet Union, often operating in more traditional cavalry roles in the early stages of the war.

More info. on the Soviet Cavalry:

Soviet Cavalry Corps in WWII
The Soviet Union entered the war with several cavalry divisions, but the number of these divisions decreased dramatically in the early stages due to heavy losses during the German invasion in 1941. However, by 1942, the Red Army began rebuilding and reorganizing its cavalry forces into Cavalry Corps, with corps-sized formations becoming an essential part of Soviet operations throughout the war, especially in certain terrains and against specific targets.

Soviet cavalry was highly mobile and excelled at conducting deep raids behind enemy lines. This made them ideal for disrupting German supply lines, communications, and reinforcements. These units were often used in terrain where mechanized units were less effective, such as forests, marshes, and steppes, or during periods of heavy snow or mud, where tanks and trucks struggled.


Cavalry units could quickly move across rough terrain, launch surprise attacks, and then retreat or move to new locations before the enemy could respond.

Cavalry-Mechanized Groups:

One of the unique Soviet tactics during WWII was the creation of Cavalry-Mechanized Groups (CMGs). These formations combined cavalry corps with tank units and mechanized infantry, allowing for highly mobile operations. The cavalry could exploit gaps in enemy lines created by tank forces, taking advantage of their speed and mobility to drive deep into enemy territory.

These groups were effective in large-scale offensive operations, such as the Battle of Stalingrad and during the liberation of Ukraine, where they played a key role in encircling and cutting off German forces.
Operations in Difficult Terrain:

Soviet cavalry units were particularly valuable in areas where motorized and mechanized units could not easily operate, such as the marshy Pripyat region, the forests of Belarus, and during winter conditions when heavy vehicles struggled. In these settings, cavalry troops could move quickly, carry out reconnaissance, and execute attacks on vulnerable positions.

Eastern Front Offensive Operations:

The Soviet cavalry played important roles in several key battles and offensives on the Eastern Front. For example:
During the Battle of Moscow in late 1941 and early 1942, cavalry units were instrumental in counterattacks against the advancing German forces.

In the Stalingrad Campaign and the surrounding operations in 1942-1943, cavalry corps helped with the encirclement of the German 6th Army, contributing to the Soviet victory.
In the massive Soviet offensives of 1944-1945, cavalry corps, combined with tank and mechanized forces, played crucial roles in the liberation of Ukraine, Belarus, and in the final push toward Berlin.

Notable Soviet Cavalry Corps:

1st Guards Cavalry Corps:

This elite unit saw extensive action throughout the war and was involved in several key operations, including counteroffensives at Moscow and Stalingrad, as well as operations in Ukraine and Poland later in the war.
2nd Guards Cavalry Corps:

Formed from experienced cavalry divisions, this unit participated in the liberation of Ukraine and later in operations in Hungary and Austria.
4th Cavalry Corps:

Another important cavalry formation, it played a critical role in the early defense against the German invasion and was later involved in several key counteroffensive operations.

Soviet Cavalry Strength by 1944-1945:
By the end of the war, the Red Army had rebuilt its cavalry force to include seven cavalry corps and two independent cavalry divisions, which were typically attached to larger mechanized units. These cavalry formations often fought alongside tanks and infantry, executing their deep raids and reconnaissance missions.

[carlos marighela]

To which you can add the British use of horsed cavalry in the form of two Yeomanry Regiments (Warwicks and Royal Wilts) and a composite regiment of Life Guards and Blues & Royals as part of 4th Cavalry Brigade in 1941 during the Iraqi and Syrian Campaigns.

IIRC the US 10th Mountain Division had a horse mounted cavalry troop in Italy in 1944/45 as part of its recce elements.

[carlos marighela]

Speaking of Patton’s time in the cavalry, I understand that during the Pershing Expedition he shot Pancho Villa’s bodyguard, though whether from the saddle or on foot and with which firearm, I couldn’t say. I’m pretty sure someone does, however. Back to you, Carlos.

Allegedly so. Just as well, prior to that the highpoint of his involvement was having a UD with his service pistol in a boozer.* (Charge that man!). Of course he would go on to later greatness, driving tanks at Dugout Dougie McArthur's request at unarmed veterans protesting in the nation's capital and beating up poor sods suffering from PTSD.


*Supposedly the negligent discharge of his pistol was what convinced him to adopt the pearl handled circus revolvers. I suspect being a malignant narcissist also came into play with that one.