Mechanized vs. Armored Cavalry

What's the difference? I assume its somewhere in the brigade organization. To me they are the same, so I await enlightenment.

And what happened to the U.S. cavalry divisions in World War 2? I understand they used horses in 1939, but came out in 1945 as Armored Cavalry. What happened in between? Were they deactivated then reactivated? Or were they kept in reserve, then upgraded? Or...were they in combat?

 

The last US Army horse cavalry unit to see action mounted was in the Philippines (the 1941-42 campaign). That honor went to the 26th US Cavalry (Philipping Scouts).

Here's what I found in Shelby Stanton's WW2 Order of Battle. Paraphasing of course....

The US Army was in the process of mechanizing it's horse cavalry units at the start of the war in 1939. Two regiments were fully mechanized (armored) and two were horse-mechanized, which means that they were transported in large vans to be unloaded quickly to provide mounted support. This theory was later dropped. Four regiments were converted to armored regiments. There were ten all-horse regiments left, and eight were concentrated in two cavalry divisions, the 1st and 2nd. The 1st Cavalry Division fought as infantry in the PTO, and the 2nd Cavalry (Colored) was de-activated, then re-activated and shipped to the ETO. Upon arrival, it was broken up and used as service units.

There were many cavalry units in various national guard divisions, and upon activation, they were converted into light mechanized reconnaissance, infantry or were deactivated and it's personnel transferred to other units as needed.

So, to answer your question, the term armored cavalry was not used in WW2, rather as a distinction between air cav and armored units during the Vietnam era. In WW2, when a unit was referred to as cavalry, they were talking about infantry, or light reconnaissance units, which usually fought as infantry once contact was made. The cavalry designation was kept for historical reasons.

Stanton's WW2 Order of Battle is a great book. No student of history should be without it.

 

Mechanized Cavalry had various armored jeeps and M3 or M5 light tanks, did they not? When required, it could fight delaying action against enemy counterattacks or overcome thinnly held resistance.

 

Wait, didn't the 6th Cav see fighting in the ETO? Or am I making this up?

 

The 6th Cavalry (Mechanized) arrived in England on 18 Oct 43, and upon arrival it was re-designated HHT (Headquarters and Headquarters Troop) of the 6th Cavalry Group and the 6th and 28th Cavalry Reconnassance Squadrons on 1 Jan 44.

In July 1944, the 6th Cavalry Group landed at Utah Beach. It was involved in the fighting across Northern France, the Ardennes, and to the Rhine River.

For it's action in the war, the 6th Cavalry Group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (Army), for valor.

Again, paraphrasing from Stanton.

 

My father served with the 113th Mechanized Cavalry Group. This group was often assigned to work with infantry divisions (like the 30th) to act as mobile flankers. They also moved ahead of infantry groups to make contact with the enemy and report positions. To get an idea of equipment and general organization go to the 113th's nice website:
Organization_Hq_and_Hq_and_Sv_Troop_Cav_Rcn_Sq

 

Welcome Lunker, nice visiting the site thanks for posting it.

 

Mechanized cavalry tactics revolved around reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, screening, flank protection, and covering withdrawals. Two recent books that would serve you well are:

Through Mobility We Conquer: The Mechanization of U.S. Cavalry by George F. Hofmann

Steeds of Steel: A History of American Mechanized Cavalry in World War II by Harry Yeide

Though not about mech cavalry specifically, the bible of the birth of American armor forces remains Forging the Thunderbolt: History of the U.S. Army's Armored Forces, 1917-1945 by M. H. [Mildred Hanson] Gillie.

Hope this helps.

Greg C.