"dragoon — n 1. (originally) a mounted infantryman armed with a carbine"
Here from the web site Military History an instance [the last instance?] of cavalry being employed as combat units. From the Portuguese Colonial Wars [1961-1974] - - Angola/Mozambique/Guinea-Bissau.
From the "Way of War".
Combat troops, cavalry, mounted horsemen of the Portuguese army, combating insurgents in the various African colonies of Angola/Mozambique/Guinea-Bissau [1961-1974], on patrol and successful in a way not anticipated. NOT functioning merely as reconnaissance, scouting, patrolling, etc., but as COMBAT TROOPS.
"Mounted Patrol"
". . . the Portuguese dragoons normally patrolled in platoon strength [30 to 40 troops] for 4 - 5 days and were often transported (truck or railcar) to the start of the patrol . But they could easily do longer patrols. An eight day patrol typically covered 250 km and patrols of 500 km were common. Patrols of 20 - 27 days required resupply by truck or helicopter every five days."
Men-a-horse able to counter the two most successful tactics of the guerrilla, the ambush and mining!
"Mounted men had better visibility than those on foot; they could see over vegetation and undergrowth so the insurgents found it hard to ambush the dragoons."
"'Shoot and scoot' [the insurgents initiating an ambush] was difficult when facing dragoons; if an ambush was attempted the platoon would immediately wheel towards the insurgents, surround them, then capture or destroy them."
"Because dragoons were use away from roads they didn't encounter mines too often; should a horse step on a mine the horse would die but the rider generally survived"
I know that the Rhodesians used cavalry during their counter-insurgency campaign of the 1970's. Primarily, however, as scouts, reconnaissance, patrolling, etc., and NOT as combat units. The Portuguese approached the situation differently and had surprising success?
My intuition told me that cavalry in certain situations has an advantage in the counter-insurgency environment, stealthy movement, self-sufficiency, cross-country movement, etc.
A light infantryman, astride a horse, also not worn down by the continuous marching, carrying of load, etc. LESS fatigued from the constant strain and physical effort of patrolling!
Patrols of dragoons did require re-supply in the conventional manner, so they were not so totally self-sufficient, but not excessively so. I would think too that finding enough men that were proficient horseback riders and able to handle their mounts with adeptness was difficult?
Those military leaders who have paid heed to the admonitions of the British Admiral Parry that the world order will begin to break up starting in the year 2012 would be wise to study the example of the Portuguese in Africa. Cavalry will return and be used in certain specific instances as absurd as that may sound!
coolbert.
I certainly never saw any evidence of the Portugese using Mounted troops in Mozambique. The author needs to study the history of the Grey Scouts at National Archives Harare as it certainly was used in an offensive role.In fact volunteers proved the effectiveness of horse mounted troops prior to the reformation of the unit.It was always envisaged as a combat system and in fact was involved in many of the largest engagements internally due to the ability to track down insurgents at pace in the more remote areas
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