Cavalry Mechanized Group
Encyclopedia
A cavalry-mechanized group was a type of military formation used in the Red Army
during World War II
against Germany
and Japan
.
of cavalry
(a unit smaller than a standard infantry division despite its name) and a mechanized
corps, and was slightly stronger than a Wehrmacht
Panzergrenadier
division. The main force element providing combat power was be the armoured and motorized formations of the mechanized corps, while the horse-mounted elements of the cavalry corps provided increased flexibility in infiltration and fighting in difficult terrain such as large forests, or swamps, and the ability to continue mobile operations when cut off from supply lines.
Cavalry-mechanized groups were often named after their commander, for example Cavalry-Mechanized Group Pliyev.
As an example, during the 1945 Soviet invasion of Manchuria, the Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group under the command of Colonel General
I.A.Pliyev
consisted of the following units:
The formation operated in two march columns during the first stage of the battle, advancing rapidly against light opposition, preceded by forward detachments:
Column 1:
Column 2:
during the Battle of Debrecen
in Hungary
, in autumn 1944.
Cavalry units in the Red Army usually fought as dismounted infantry. Only when they faced a completely disorganised enemy, for example during the battle of the Korsun Pocket in 1944, or when they were themselves in a desperate situation, such as during Operation Mars
in 1942, would they undertake a traditional cavalry charge.
was widely seen as anachronistic by the start of World War II. The Red Army was the only army to make use of cavalry formations in main combat during the war, and despite the successful use of cavalry formations by the Red Army during the war, the last cavalry division was disbanded in the 1950s.
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
against Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Organization
A cavalry-mechanized group normally consisted of a corpsCorps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
(a unit smaller than a standard infantry division despite its name) and a mechanized
Mechanized
Mechanized refers to the use of machines. Related articles:*Mechanised agriculture*Mechanization* For "Mechanized artillery", see Self-propelled artillery* For "Mechanized force" and "Mechanized warfare", see Armoured warfare*Mechanized infantry...
corps, and was slightly stronger than a Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
Panzergrenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
division. The main force element providing combat power was be the armoured and motorized formations of the mechanized corps, while the horse-mounted elements of the cavalry corps provided increased flexibility in infiltration and fighting in difficult terrain such as large forests, or swamps, and the ability to continue mobile operations when cut off from supply lines.
Cavalry-mechanized groups were often named after their commander, for example Cavalry-Mechanized Group Pliyev.
As an example, during the 1945 Soviet invasion of Manchuria, the Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group under the command of Colonel General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
I.A.Pliyev
Issa Pliyev
Issa Alexandrovich Pliyev was a Soviet military commander, Army General , twice Hero of the Soviet Union , Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic . Member of the CPSU since 1926. He was an ethnic Ossetian....
consisted of the following units:
- 85th Rifle Corps Headquarters
- 59th Cavalry Division
- 25th Mechanized Brigade
- 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade
- 43d Tank Brigade
- 30th Motorcycle Regiment
- 5th Mongolian Cavalry Division
- 6th Mongolian Cavalry Division
- 7th Mongolian Cavalry Division
- 8th Mongolian Cavalry Division
- 7th Motorized Armored Brigade (Mongolian)
- 3d Separate Tank Regiment (Mongolian)
- 35th Tank Destroyer Artillery Brigade
- 1914th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment
- 1917th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment
- 60th Guards Mortar Regiment (Rocket Launchers)
- 3d Artillery Regiment (Mongolian)
The formation operated in two march columns during the first stage of the battle, advancing rapidly against light opposition, preceded by forward detachments:
Column 1:
- 25th Mechanized Bde
- 43d Tank Bde
- 267th Tank Regt
Column 2:
- 27th Mechanized Rifle Bde
- 7th Armored Car Bde
- 30th Motorcycle Regt
Tactics
Cavalry-mechanized groups were used during the second half of the Soviet-German War, following the successful breaching of a German defense. They would then be inserted to penetrate deep into the rear of the German lines and interrupt supply and reinforcement movements there. This was a risky task, shown for example by the destruction of Cavalry-Mechanized Group PliyevIssa Pliyev
Issa Alexandrovich Pliyev was a Soviet military commander, Army General , twice Hero of the Soviet Union , Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic . Member of the CPSU since 1926. He was an ethnic Ossetian....
during the Battle of Debrecen
Battle of Debrecen
The Battle of Debrecen, called by the Red Army the Debrecen Offensive Operation, was conducted by the 2nd Ukrainian Front on the Eastern Front of World War II...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, in autumn 1944.
Cavalry units in the Red Army usually fought as dismounted infantry. Only when they faced a completely disorganised enemy, for example during the battle of the Korsun Pocket in 1944, or when they were themselves in a desperate situation, such as during Operation Mars
Operation Mars
Operation Mars was the codename for the Rzhev offensive operation part of the Rzhev-Vyazma strategic offensive operation launched by Soviet forces against German forces during World War II. It took place between 25 November and 20 December 1942 in a salient in the vicinity of Moscow...
in 1942, would they undertake a traditional cavalry charge.
After the Second World War
CavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
was widely seen as anachronistic by the start of World War II. The Red Army was the only army to make use of cavalry formations in main combat during the war, and despite the successful use of cavalry formations by the Red Army during the war, the last cavalry division was disbanded in the 1950s.
Sources
- Zaloga, S. and Ness 'The Red Army Handbook'
- US Army TM30-430 'Handbook on Red Army armed forces'
- Article on the use of cavalry by the Red Army