The history of the 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron can be found at www.5ad.org
During the Vietnam War, a squadron of US Armored Cavalry was approximately 600 cavalrymen. Two or more squadrons equalled a regiment; two or more regiments equalled a division. During the Vietnam War (the Army has changed since that time) an Army battalion was equal to a squadron. A cavalry "troop" was equal to a battalion's "company." In the Artillery, a company is called a "battery." Examples: "A" Company, "B" Battery, "C" Troop.
Prior to 1969, US Armored Cavalry units in Vietnam consisted of M-48 Patton tanks and M-113 APC's (ACAV's). Beginning in 1969, US Cavalry Squadrons, and the only Regiment in Vietnam, the 11th ACR, began exchanging their M-48's for the BRAND NEW M-551 Sheridan light tank (Officially titled the Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle). Both the M-48 & M-551 took four crewmen to operate (Tank Commander, Driver, Loader, and gunner), however in Vietnam, we often operated with only three crewman; TC, Loader, and Driver. The TC could fire the gun from his TC over-ride handle. Armored Cavalry in Vietnam consisted of M-551 Sheridan Tanks and M-113 ACAV's (Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles). The primary mission of cavalry was reconnaissance and security. Reconnaissance in the forms of areas and roads; security in the forms of "advanced guard", "flank security", "rear guard" actions. 3 or 4 Troops made up a Cav Squadron. 3 or 4 Cavalry Sqd's made up a Regiment. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment was the ONLY full regiment in country. All other Armored Cav units were "Squadrons", minus the 4/12 Cav; they were the ONLY TROOP in country ("A" Troop). Mechanized Infantry were NEW in Vietnam. The closest thing to Vietnam's Mech Infantry was probably WWII's "Half-Tracks". The Mechanized Infantry Units in Vietnam were nothing more than "Mounted Infantry." They were grunts that rode into battle on their APC's/ACAV's. Firing their .50 caliber machinguns & attached M-60 machinguns, then dismounting from their "tracks" (slang for tanks or APC's/ACAV's), and fighting on foot. During AIRMOBILE assaults (helicopter assaults) the drivers and .50 gunners stayed with the "tracks" and the rest of the men would wait for the "choppers" to pick them up for an "airmobile" operation. Then the tracks would drive to were the dismounted grunts had helicoptered into and pick them up when they were finished "sweeping" or fighting. Mechanized Infantry Battalions had NO tanks in their units. Armored Cavalry Squadrons had BOTH tanks & ACAV's (APC's) in their Squadrons; Armor Battalions (Tank Battalions) had M-113 APC's in their HHC Company only, the letter companies of A, B, C, in the armor battalion were strictly M-48 Patton tanks, 5 tanks per platoon, 17 tanks per company. A Battalion was equal to a Squadron. A "Troop" was equal to a "Company", and a "Regiment" was equal to a "Brigade."
Reconnaissance drones (today called UAV's-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). TOW anti-tank missile; M551 Sheridan tank (officially classified as an Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle in 1969), the US Army's only amphibious light tank. The famous M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (still used today), used as an ACAV in Vietnam (Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle). The first helicopter gunship, AH-1 COBRA; the AC-130 Spectre gunship. The US Army's M-16 assault rifle evolved into today's M4 infantry rifle.
For WW2: Armored Infantry Divisions were equiped with half-tracks. Regular Infantry Divisions walked (or trucked). During the Vietnam War those Armored Infantry Divisions gave way to the new MECHANIZED INFANTRY DIVISIONS, equipped with M-113 APC/ACAV (Armored Personnel Carriers/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles). Only one US Army Mechanized Infantry Division was in Vietnam (and only it's 1st Brigade); the 5th Mechanized Infantry Division (Red Diamond Patch). Regular Infantry Divisions in Vietnam were called "Straight Legs", "Straight" meaning...straight foot soldiering.
The United States Army is currently reorganizing around the Brigade as the largest permanent flexible unit of combat force, and the division is much less fixed. Indeed, the idea is that divisions will be amalgamations of standing Brigades (usually 2-4) plus additional support services. In the interim, US Divisions are being redesigned to be able to deploy independent brigades. A rough estimate of a current full armored division is the composition of the US 1st Armored Division, which is comprised of 4 Brigade Combat Teams, totaling 4 tank battalions and 3 armored cavalry battalions. A tank battalion has 3 companies, each of roughly 14 tanks. Armored Cavalry battalions generally have half as many tanks. So, a good estimate would be that the 1st Armored Division has about 250 tanks. Historically, it is very hard to answer this question, as it depends heavily on which period of time you are talking about - the size and composition of US armored divisions has varied considerably over the past 70 years.
The 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized was part of the 6th Cavalry Group, which was originally part of the XV Corps. The 6th Cavalry Group was part of Patton's Third Army.
The 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) was assigned to the 4th Armored Division during WW 2. Richard V. Horrell WW 2 Connections.com
In the Vietnam War, US Armored Cavalry (M551 Sheridans and M113 ACAVs) conducted screening, security, and reconnaissance.
During WWII, a USN squadron "could" consist of four US destroyers (warships); during the Vietnam War a USAF squadron "could" consist of about twelve US F4 Phantom jets (warplanes); a US Army squadron (in Vietnam) was equivalent to an army battalion, roughly 600 men or more. The US Armored Cavalry in Vietnam used the term "squadron" instead of "battalion", and used the term "regiment" instead of the word "brigade." Two or more squadrons made up a regiment in the cavalry; or two or more battalions made up a brigade within an Armor or Infantry unit. Two or more regiments or brigades (in the US Army during the Vietnam War) made up a division. In Vietnam, US Army Armored Cavalry squadrons consisted of M551 Sheridan tanks (Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicles) and M113 APC/ACAV (Armored Personnel Carriers/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles). US Army Armor Battalions consisted of M48A3 Patton tanks; US Army Mechanized Infantry battalions consisted of M113 APC/ACAVs.
Yes he was. I was assigned to the 2nd Squadron 1st Cavalry which was the divisional Cav unit in the 2nd Armored division.
During the Vietnam War, a squadron of US Armored Cavalry was approximately 600 cavalrymen. Two or more squadrons equalled a regiment; two or more regiments equalled a division. During the Vietnam War (the Army has changed since that time) an Army battalion was equal to a squadron. A cavalry "troop" was equal to a battalion's "company." In the Artillery, a company is called a "battery." Examples: "A" Company, "B" Battery, "C" Troop.
The US did not exactly invade Germany. Maybe you are referring to when the Allies invaded France which the Germans had occupied.Some say the US first crossed the German border at the Remagen Bridge. However, earlier, the 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, a unit of the 5th Armored Division, crossed the border but returned back to their unit.
The 36th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned the the US Ninth Army after it arrived in France, November 26, 1944.
Squadron is a military unit; an operational unit in an air force consisting of two or more flights of aircraft and the personnel required to fly them; principal division of an armored or cavalry regiment, consisting of two or more troops.
During the Vietnam era; the 1st (Air) Cavalry Division was an "Airmobile Division", a new class of infantry invented and combat tested in Vietnam (in 1965 at the battle of Ia Drang to be exact), and was similar to WWII's invention of the "Airborne Division" during that war. Airmobile Divisions=Helicopter borne/Airborne Divsions=Paratroopers. Thus Airmobile Divisions were originally helicopter borne infantrymen. However (during Vietnam at least, when things were abit more experimental) "Cavalry" also meant "RECONNAISSANCE", thusly the 1st Air Cav Division was not only an airmobile infantry outfit, they were also LOOKING (SEARCHING, which is a form of reconnaissance) for the enemy...then landing into the LZ for the assault. The 101st Abn (Amb) (again in Vietnam) was also designated as an "Airmobile Division" but was primarily intended for assaulting the enemy, but in "real world use" also performed the functions of "Searching and destroying" the enemy. Armored Divisions (again Vietnam era) consisted of Armor Brigades, which in turn consisted of Armor Battalions (Tank Battalions). During this time period, US Army armored division consisted of M60 Combat Tanks (aka MBTs). These were primarily stationed in Europe (Germany) and ROK (South Korea). The M48A3 Patton tanks of course were being expended in Vietnam. US Army Armored Divisions also contained 1 Armored Cav Squadron. The Cav Sqd performed Screening, Security, and Reconnaissance for the Division Commander. For these missions, the Cav utilized the brand new (in 1969) M551 Sheridan light tank (an aluminum hulled officially desigated ARMORED AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE ASSAULT VEHICLE). In Europe based units, the Cav Sheridans were programmed to fire the Shillelagh missile from the M551's 152mm tube, but in Vietnam the Sheridan always fired the 152mm cannon, as Shillelaghs were not sent to Vietnam. Both Cav & Armored divisions had choppers assigned to them.
An armored or air cavalry unit is referred to as a ___________.
Reconnaissance