CAV question

jwbolen · Post by **jwbolen** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 12:19 am

Was there time where the active ACRs had M1s and the National Guard ACRs were still using the M551s? Thinking about a WW III scenario of M1 equipped regulars being supplemented by Guard unit with M551in troops and M48a5 or M60a1 in Tank company ?

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 12:42 am

I don't know about the ACRs, but I was in the California National Guard in the 1990s and we (40th ID) had M60A3s in our tank battalions and M113s for our infantry battalions when the active Army had M1s and Brads. Hopefully someone else on this forum has some experience with the NG ACRs.

mike robel · Post by **mike robel** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 2:03 am

There is only one NG ACR and that is the 278th in Tennessee.

When I worked at the 87th Exercise division in the middle 90's, I believe they had M60A3's, but later got M1s.

During Desert Storm, I think only the 82nd had M551s in their tank battalion. I would expect national guard divisional cavalry squadrons and th 278th would have had M48A5/M60A1 and maybe m60A3 by that time.

Sheridans, even during Desert Storm were at the NTC as I recall.

jwbolen · Post by **jwbolen** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:34 am

the 278th is now organized as a armored Bde. but they apparently got to keep the Cav title.
The possible time frame I would be looking for is the early 1980s as the M1 were first being issued. I have not been able to find when the M551s were pulled from the Guard cav. units. or if they even had them.

mike robel · Post by **mike robel** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:50 am

There are no cavalry regiments in the Army anymore, although four units get to retain the title:

2nd Cavalry Regiment --> Stryker Motorized Infantry Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment --> Stryker Motorized Infantry Brigade
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment --> NTC Opposing Force, organized as an Armored Brigade (-)
278 Armored Cavalry Regiments --> As you said, an Armored Brigade.

There is also the 106th Cavalry Brigade in the ID ARNG, organized as an Armored Brigade.

I am pretty sure that the only Sheridans in the Army by 1992 were in the 82nd Airborne.

It is reasonable to assume that the NG cavlary units had Sheridans until about 1990.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 4:46 am

We can always send an e-mail to the US Army Armor Branch historian. I'm sure he loves questions like this! He was able to do some research on the question of which units fielded the M60A2 in Germany.

I think I have his name and e-mail address still. I'll look when I get home from work tonight.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 10:03 am

Can't say for certain , but it seems to me, when the Sheridans went, they went quick. Only the 82nd retained them, for lack of anything better. 11th ACT retained them for their imitation Soviet vehicles.

Cav Dog · Post by **Cav Dog** » Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:51 pm

I agree with Gator, I think by the early 80s, the 551s were relegated to the 82nd's light armor battalion or were being turned into vis-mods to equip the OPFOR at the NTC.

SKeeM · Post by **SKeeM** » Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:20 am

So I was with the 1/101 CAV NYANG 1991-1997 and we fielded M60A3TTS tanks with 113's and ITV's with the mortar section and 1 FIST-V.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Cavalry_Regiment

We transitioned to a M1 tank battalion in 1994.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military ... 101cav.htm

http://1-101cav.tripod.com/

http://1-101cav.tripod.com/ww2.html