US Cavalry at Anzio

[Chukka]

Hi Folks.

WW2 is just full of suprises. I was looking on a the 'Society for the Military Horse' website and I found a very interesting picture.


The troops pictures are named as the 3rd Recon Troop (prov), and were named as taking part in an action with US Rangers at Cisterna. Has anyone else heard of this outfit? A quick websearch ahas not turned up much.

Thanks

[Naffenea]

I've never heard of it, but considering how widely used pack animals were used in the Italian campaign, I'm not surprised.

Pretty cool find.

[ChrisF1987]

Very amazing picture! I have heard little bits here and there about use of mules and horses for transportation purposes in the Italian campaign of WW2 but I do not know of any use of horses for mounted infantry, recon or cavalry work after the charge of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) at Bataan in January 1942.

The post WW2 US Army Constabulary in occupied German and Austria might have had some horse mounted units for riot control and patrolling work and I think they were the last official horse soldiers in the US Army until a handful of US Army Special Forces troopers joined the Northern Alliance for a cavalry charge against the Taliban in the 2001 - present Afghanistan part of the War on Terrorism. Both the Taliban and Northern Alliance made heavy use of horse soldiers in a mounted infantry role as do/did several other nations in recent years.

[johnbryan]

Originally Posted by ChrisF1987

Very amazing picture! I have heard little bits here and there about use of mules and horses for transportation purposes in the Italian campaign of WW2 but I do not know of any use of horses for mounted infantry, recon or cavalry work after the charge of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) at Bataan in January 1942.

The post WW2 US Army Constabulary in occupied German and Austria might have had some horse mounted units for riot control and patrolling work and I think they were the last official horse soldiers in the US Army until a handful of US Army Special Forces troopers joined the Northern Alliance for a cavalry charge against the Taliban in the 2001 - present Afghanistan part of the War on Terrorism. Both the Taliban and Northern Alliance made heavy use of horse soldiers in a mounted infantry role as do/did several other nations in recent years.

It wouldn't surprise me if they weren't part of the 1st Special Service Force, otherwise known as "The Devil's Brigade." They fought at Anzio alongside the remnants of Darby's Rangers after the Rangers were practically wiped out during their attack on Cisterna and the massive German Armored counterattack that followed.

[johnbryan]

Mules and horses remain the greatest, low maintainence, all terrain vehicles in existance to this very day.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by johnbryan

Mules and horses remain the greatest, low maintainence, all terrain vehicles in existance to this very day.

I think a lot of cavalry men would disagree with the low maintainence part.

[Exorcist]

The great thing about horses; they dont need Gasoline!

The great thing about trucks; they never get into a bad mood...

[Paul Mann III]

http://forums.strikehold504th.com/in...indpost&p=9822

Here's a link to some German After Action Reports from Anzio (and a few from 82nd AB in Sicily got thrown in). I haven't finished reading them yet, so I don't know if they mention the Cavalry, but they're worth a look....

[Pruitt]

Many US units in Italy put together some ad hoc Cavalry units for recon work. They also had to raise Mule Companies for supplying the Front Line units when they got in the mountains. Nothing the "Devil's Brigade" did in Italy surprises me anymore. I am a little unsure why there was a need for Cavalry Recon in Anzio, though. Could it have been taken after the breakout?

Bill Maudlin was fond of the mule in his work in Italy.

One late thought hit me. That could have been a unit raised by the Third Infantry Division. I would think the use of the divisionsal number would have been appropriate for such a unit.

Pruitt

[Centrix Vigilis]

Originally Posted by johnbryan

Mules and horses remain the greatest, low maintainence, all terrain vehicles in existance to this very day.

Amen JB Amen.

But on a more serious note as noted above they were used extensively especially mules to include packing out the WIA/KIA.

Recommend ...The Day of Battle The War in Sicily and Italy 1943-1944, Rick Atkinson, 2007, Holt Company, ISBN: 13:978-0-8050-6289-2

He discusses it well.

[johnbryan]

Originally Posted by johnbryan

It wouldn't surprise me if they weren't part of the 1st Special Service Force, otherwise known as "The Devil's Brigade." They fought at Anzio alongside the remnants of Darby's Rangers after the Rangers were practically wiped out during their attack on Cisterna and the massive German Armored counterattack that followed.

Two vastly outnumbered Battalions of Rangers actually attacked elements of several German Panzer and Panzer Grenadier Divisions in and around Cisterna, until they were surrounded and finally destroyed. Only 8 men returned from that debacle. The rest were either killed in action or taken prisoner, but they inflicted extrememely heavy casualties on the Germans and Italians opposing them.

[Chukka]

Originally Posted by Pruitt

Many US units in Italy put together some ad hoc Cavalry units for recon work. They also had to raise Mule Companies for supplying the Front Line units when they got in the mountains. Nothing the "Devil's Brigade" did in Italy surprises me anymore. I am a little unsure why there was a need for Cavalry Recon in Anzio, though. Could it have been taken after the breakout?

Bill Maudlin was fond of the mule in his work in Italy.

One late thought hit me. That could have been a unit raised by the Third Infantry Division. I would think the use of the divisionsal number would have been appropriate for such a unit.

Pruitt

I jumped out of my seat when I saw the pic. I have never seen a photo of US cavalrymen wearing pot helmets before nor have I seen US Cav in the ETO, just the Phillipines. My biggest questions were;

Did they Bring their Horses and tack from the states? Unlikey.....?

Did somone bring tack and gear from the states to use with locally aquired horses? Possible.....?

Did they just scratch up some volunteers who could ride and use locally aquired horses and saddles? I am going to do a little more digging around to find out about the gear, tack and animals that they used, especially where did these animals come from.

The bridles look consistent, interesting to note that none of the riders seem to be wearing spurs. Can anyone tell me if their boots look like standard issue? The 3rd rider has his rifle slung on his saddle, though it does not appear to be in a rifle bucket. They certainly don't appear to be ready for action, mabye the horses are just being used to get from point A to Point B.

Late Mail: From http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos2ww2.htm, The Photo was posted by a fellow Aussie, Sam Cox,
"As you are probably aware the 3rd I.D used ad hoc Cavalry during the campaigns in Sicily and Italy. Attached are some pics of the unit from the cover of The Cavalry Journal. The 3rd Provisional Reconnaissance Troop was the brainchild of Lucian K Truscott and saw action in Sicily, Salerno and Anzio."

I am really interested to see how much action this Recon troop saw, and what their tactics were under fire.....

[johnbryan]

Originally Posted by Chukka

I jumped out of my seat when I saw the pic. I have never seen a photo of US cavalrymen wearing pot helmets before nor have I seen US Cav in the ETO, just the Phillipines. My biggest questions were;

Did they Bring their Horses and tack from the states? Unlikey.....?

Did somone bring tack and gear from the states to use with locally aquired horses? Possible.....?

Did they just scratch up some volunteers who could ride and use locally aquired horses and saddles? I am going to do a little more digging around to find out about the gear, tack and animals that they used, especially where did these animals come from.

The bridles look consistent, interesting to note that none of the riders seem to be wearing spurs. Can anyone tell me if their boots look like standard issue? The 3rd rider has his rifle slung on his saddle, though it does not appear to be in a rifle bucket. They certainly don't appear to be ready for action, mabye the horses are just being used to get from point A to Point B.

Late Mail: From http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos2ww2.htm, The Photo was posted by a fellow Aussie, Sam Cox,
"As you are probably aware the 3rd I.D used ad hoc Cavalry during the campaigns in Sicily and Italy. Attached are some pics of the unit from the cover of The Cavalry Journal. The 3rd Provisional Reconnaissance Troop was the brainchild of Lucian K Truscott and saw action in Sicily, Salerno and Anzio."

I am really interested to see how much action this Recon troop saw, and what their tactics were under fire.....

From what I've read, the last formal, US Horse Cavalry Unit was an all Black Regiment that was used for patrols during the North African Campaign in 1942, until it too was stood down and its horses retired. I'm not sure what became of its troops, although they were probably sent to logistics units until all-Black Armored Units were formed in the segregated US Army in 1944.

[Pruitt]

John,

The Second Cavalry Division was an all Black division sent to North Africa. After it got there, it was broken up and used for stevedoring and other support roles. I believe if the 92nd Infantry had done better in Italy the 2nd Cavalry would have gone on to Italy.

My impression is that the Horses and equipment could have been found in Sicily and Southern Italy. Italy had a number of Cavalry Regiments, including some that made a Cavalry charge in Russia. Spurs and other gear could have been found locally as well.

Pruitt

[johnbryan]

Originally Posted by Pruitt

John,

The Second Cavalry Division was an all Black division sent to North Africa. After it got there, it was broken up and used for stevedoring and other support roles. I believe if the 92nd Infantry had done better in Italy the 2nd Cavalry would have gone on to Italy.

My impression is that the Horses and equipment could have been found in Sicily and Southern Italy. Italy had a number of Cavalry Regiments, including some that made a Cavalry charge in Russia. Spurs and other gear could have been found locally as well.

Pruitt

Thanks for straightening that out for me Pruitt! I thought that the Second Cavalry was just a regimental sized formation.~