Quote:
Originally Posted by Legbreaker
Hmm, so you may be able to answer a few questions I've got about the composition of a cavalry squadron then? I'm having trouble specifically with Squadron HQ and supporting troops.
Basically, how many vehicles, which types and how were they organised in the early to mid 90's?
I'm trying to peice together an Australian force consisting of 9 Brigade to have been sent to Korea in T2K. The specific unit (which was equipped with M113's and MRVs at the time) was 3rd/9th Light Horse which I'm wantign to expand to full strength before deployment.
I myself was an infantryman so really only have exposure to the actual combat Troops.
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Hope this is of some help, I'm trying to remember stuff from over the 1980s to 1990s period though so my memories could 'politely' be called 'lacking' in some cases!
A single Troop would ideally = 2 x MRV (M113 with Scorpion turret), 2 x LRV (M113 with T50 turret), 1 x APC (M113 with T50 turret and 1 x Assault Trooper Section). Troop Leader was in one of the MRVs.
Reality was that there were never enough MRVs to go around for an entire Regiment although Independent Squadrons like 10 LH and 3rd/9th LH typically had enough to supply their Troops.
Of note, the M113 FSV refers to the bucket fitted with the Saladin turret while the M113 MRV refers to the bucket fitted with the Scorpion turret. The FSV lost their amphib abilities due to the turret being tall and heavy. The MRVs tried to get it back again with the fitting of buoyancy panels (those big rectangles that look like add on armour on the hull sides and front)
Of note, the MRVs were withdrawn from service by the mid-1990s when the ASLAV started being taken into service.
MRV = Medium Recce Vehicle; LRV = Light Recce Vehicle; FSV = Fire Support Vehicle
Assault Troopers were meant to be qualified in infantry & recce work meaning they were (ideally) to be trained in shallow water diving, parachuting, light demolitions, some field engineering and using motorbikes for recce. Reality was that training/operating with parachuting, shallow water diving and the motorbikes never occured for most units.
The support units (designation I cannot recall) had M113 Fitter's vehicles and M806 ARVs crewed by RAEME personnel on detachment except the drivers who were Armoured Corp (but sometimes there were M113 driver qualified RAEME). The Fitter's vehicles were not called M579, they were always called M113 Fitter's so I wonder if Australian Fitter's vehicles are/were different to the M579 variant offered to (but rejected by) the US Army? The Aussie ones certainly have different HIAB style cranes on them.
Plus they had small number of M548 TLCs (as in 2-3), the rest of the gear was hauled by International 4x4 GS trucks and then Mog GS trucks
Squadron HQ I think had 2 x M577 and 2 x M113 plus several LandRovers with trailers and 1 x 4x4 GS truck
QMS had several 4x4 GS trucks with the senior QM in his own Landie with trailer