Packs and Leading

, 12th Cavalry When the 1st Cavalry Brigade left the concentration camp at Cotulla, Texas, in May, 1930, with a maneuver mission of harassing and delaying the 2d Division, each troop took alight wagon and each regiment an escort wagon. The remainder of the trains were left in camp. The plan contemplated rapid movement of the combat troops and supply by night by means of the most readily available transportation from the base to caches determined as a result of the day’s action. With combat and field trains cut to almost nothing, pack loads naturally assume great importance. The number of packs in a cavalry regiment is astounding when compared with the days of relatively small fire power. The 12th Cavalry at the strength with which it entered the maneuvers had approximately 330 riding horses and 80 pack horses, counting officers’ second mounts, or 60 counting only combat packs. For comparative purposes, I will explain that the rifle troops include four machine rifles, the machine gun troop eight machine guns, and the headquarters troop two radio sections and the pioneer and demolition section. Each troop carried kitchen, ration and picket line packs. The latter pack load was made up of extra oats since no picket lines are used in the combat area. The 37mm guns were mounted on wheels.

Although the number of pack animals per regiment will vary somewhat in each situation, the percentage will seldom be less than 20 percent. It requires no study to see at once that the pack element of the command is of the greatest importance in all cavalry operations. It includes the bulk of the fire power with its ammunition, the signal communications, demolitions and messing facilities. Without its packs, Cavalry would be reduced to approximately the power it had at the end of the Civil War and would be out of place in modem combat. Thanks to the efficient pack saddle, Cavalry has been able to add modern equipment without appreciably decreasing its mobility or power to execute missions ARMOR 3