Cavalry Regiment Systems

As mentioned in a number of articles, I feel we need to move many of our current mobile warfare systems into various types of fire support regiments. In effect, what we will be doing is bringing back the cavalry regiments of days gone by in a variety of new forms. The basic concept here is to develop small formations of the high intesity warfare systems that can operate independently, be attached to another cavalry formation for greater options, or attached to an infantry division for high functionality in that formation.

The Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) is a formation to retain our current capabilities for armored warfare in a more useable form. Today's armored divisions are too heavy and large to be used effectively in most circumstances. I use the TO&E of the current Armored Cavalry Regiments as a guide for this design.

The current Stinger and Avenger systems should be replaced with the Armed Escort Vehicle in the ADA section of the existing ACR. I would leave the remaining combat support sections pretty much as they are.

In the cav squadrons, I would retain the current Abrams with a few modifications. Unlike most, I would retain the turbine engine but use a 30mm cannon for the coaxial and a 30mm on the TC mount. For the accompanying cav vehicles, I would go with a system like the Rolling Arsenal Vehicle but would replace the turret with a stabilized 30mm auto-cannon for ammunition commonality with the Abrams (we'll call these Armored Scout Vehicles).

I would scratch the tank company entirely in favor of a TSV system firing E-FOG missiles from a vertical launcher. Based on the dimension of the current E-FOG components, a single TSV pallet should be able to carry a total of six E-FOG racks in a fixed vertical position for a total of 48 missiles per pallet.

I would also convert the current artillery battery to a new unit that mounts the South African T6 turret in an Abrams chassis with the quantity remaining the same (six guns per battery)..

Air Defense Battery		1	16 Armed Escort Vehicles
Armored Cavalry Squadron		3
	Cavalry Troop	3	9 M-1 + 13 ASV
	Fire Support Company	1	14 TSV-mounted EFOG
	Field Artillery Battery	1	6 M-1/T6 155mm
Aviation Squadron		1
	Headquarters Troop	1	4 EH-60
	Assault Troop	1	13 RAH-60
	Air Recon Troop	3	8 RAH-64 Apache Longbow
	Attack Company	2	8 RAH-60

I would retain the same design in the airborne version of the ACR but swap out a few of the systems in the cavalry squadrons. Instead of the Abrams, I would use the 155mm Assault Gun Mortar in the same quantities. I would also replace the 155mm tube artillery with TSV-based palletized artillery options.

Air Defense Battery		1	16 Armed Escort Vehicles
Armored Cavalry Squadron		3
	Cavalry Troop	3	9 AGM + 13 ASV
	Fire Support Company	1	14 TSV-mounted EFOG
	Field Artillery Battery	1	6 TSV-based artillery
Aviation Squadron		1
	Headquarters Troop	1	4 EH-60
	Assault Troop	1	13 RAH-60
	Air Recon Troop	3	8 RAH-64 Apache Longbow
	Attack Company	2	8 RAH-60

Now we're going to get a little different. We start in the ADA section by replacing the smaller missile/gun systems with the HUMRAAM system in similar quantities (16 launchers).

In the cav squadrons, I'd go with the Bradley medium tank combined with the Bradley Escort Vehicle. This forms a potent ADA mix along with good anti-tank capabilities. I would continue with the TSV-based E-FOG arrangement instead of the tank company and for the normal artillery section, I would go with the standard, Bradley-based MLRS launchers.

In the aviation section, I would go with RAH-60s across the board for indirect airborne rocket artillery fires and for aerial resupply of ammunition.

Air Defense Battery		1	16 HUMRAAM
Armored Cavalry Squadron		3
	Cavalry Troop	3	9 BMT + 13 BEV
	Fire Support Company	1	14 TSV-mounted EFOG
	Field Artillery Battery	1	6 MLRS
Aviation Squadron		1
	Headquarters Troop	1	4 EH-60
	Assault Troop	1	13 RAH-60
	Air Recon Troop	3	8 RAH-60
	Attack Company	2	8 RAH-60

This is an entirely new concept that is derived from the works of Carlton Meyer and Mike Sparks. Basically, this regiment consists entirely of systems that fly while performing their respective missions.

For the air defense section, I would go with two squadrons of Apaches modified to specialize in the SEAD mission. These can also be used for air defense as well and should be modified with the Piasecki compound helicopter equipment.

In the cav squadrons, I would combine nine weaponized Cessna Cargomasters along with 13 RAH-60s for the normal squadron. In the existing tank company, I would bring back the OV-1 Mohawk with sensor upgrades and parts interchangeability with the Cessnas. The artillery section would be filled with RAH-60s.

In the aviation section, I would go with additional Apaches for the recon troop, but I would transition the remaining to lift companies. We should go with two heavy lift companies of 16 CH-53Es each and three medium lift companies of 16 CH-47/JTRs each.

Air Defense Battery		2	8 RAH-64 Apache Longbow
Armored Cavalry Squadron		3
	Cavalry Troop	3	9 Cessna + 13 RAH-60
	Fire Support Company	1	14 OV-1 Mohawk
	Field Artillery Battery	1	6 RAH-60
Aviation Squadron		1
	Headquarters Troop	1	4 EH-60
	Heavy Lift Company	2	16 CH-53E Stallion
	Air Recon Troop	3	8 RAH-64 Apache Longbow
	Medium Lift Company	3	16 CH-47 / JTR