Question Regarding Cavalry

[BeardedHoplite]

I was upgrading my semi-motorized to '42 cav and I stopped to wonder what the difference between fully motorized cavalry and motorized infantry is. Not in terms of stats, but in real-life.

I mean, there were few old-style uses of cavalry during WWII, the horses were mostly used for transport where the riders dismounted and fought as infantry. So if I give my divisions trucks or (later down the line) armoured cars and half-tracks, how would that seperate them from their motorized or mechanized brothers?

 

[JohnnyDepressio]

There is no difference in real live.

 

[LiamRiordan]

I'm assuming ratios of infantry:vehicles.

I'm guessing that armoured cavalry has more vehicles and support vehicles, while motorized infantry have trucks and more infantry base weaponry.

 

[Vanguard44]

Ratio of horses:soft vehicles:hard vehicles.

For instance German infantry formations used a lot of horses. Like a lot of horses. British formations less so because they had the universal carrier ("bren gun carrier") and Russians eventually less horses because of the huge quantity of trucks lend-lease provided.

Some vehicles used in the "motorisation" of infantry forces, cavalry and otherwise:
- Horses
- Bicycles
- Motorcycles
- Universal carriers/halftracks
- Trucks
- Personnel carriers
- Tractors

Take into consideration. A formation equipped with horses and motorcycles versus a formation equipped with personnel carriers and universal carriers.

 

[Otacon]

To me, Motorized Infantry is an usual Infantry division that, instead of walking, is driven to the front by trucks. To fight, they dismount and act like a regular infantry division. So, the motorization is just for transport and carrying of equipment (ATs and stuff). Motorized Cavalry are light combat vehicles, like the german Sd.Kfz. 221 or Sd.Kfz. 232. So basically a division of armored cars. Not intended for transport of infantry.

 

[Rotten Venetic]

Yes, that's basically it, I guess. Rather call it a soft version of MEC, then, since those don't leave their vehicles when fighting either.

Also, cavalry '51 and hq '46 are significantly faster than tanks. They eat territory like nobody's business. If you're planning a game where you'll do serious fighting post 1950, build and upgrade cavalry.

Air Cav ftw!