FutureWARTHINK 018: Cavalier CAVALRY Confusion Continues to the Present Day
A Grey's Scouts Cavalry Trooper Firing a FN FAL Semi-Automatic Rifle (SAR) from his HORSE
CAVALRY can both RECON & FIGHT confusing everyone to no end. We'll avoid it by calling mobile infantry DRAGOONS, PARADRAGOONS and MECHANDOs if they are REALLLY special. Grin.
https://1sttac.blogspot.com/2020/05/futurewarthink-007-simon-says-do-it.html
Should the U.S. ARMY have a CAVALRY Branch instead of the functionally-orphaned "ARMOR" branch?
YES. A thousand times YES.
However, it didn't happen in 1944 and we even botched horse Cavalry that smarter others figured out how to stay helpful--the Germans & Russians.
As said before, no one wants to bring horses back to war on a LARGE-SCALE and have the horrors of them dying by the MILLIONS like they did in WW1/2.
Of course, if you lose "the I-see-you-1st" "contact" battle you can be MORE EASILY SHOT DEAD on top of a horse than if on foot--but you can also be EASILY shot D-E-A-D there, too. Wear flip-down, 3D Night Vision Goggles on your ballistic helmet to see the bad guys 1st. As said before, no likee horses for RECON work, then use pedal or motor bikes--and don't give me this vulnerability-while-moving shit, either. You move by bounding overwatch. The bike's front handlebars can have an automatic weapon and a Gunner can be riding in back, so STFU. Cycle-Scouts can have their ebikes fold for parachute insertions and/or be stored on outside racks of their mother tank for armored, cross-country mobility until needed.
combatreform.org/militaryvehicles.htm
Horses could be brought along with tanks in armored trailers--again you can't handle this, then 4x4 ATVs with rear Gunner's seats can be towed behind a tank.
The MAIN LEGITIMATE QUESTION of horse Cavalry is its WEAPONRY when mounted & moving.
The most powerful military force in the pre-Industrial Age (1900) was Mongolian horse-archers who could rain salvos of arrow missiles from 300 meter stand-offs from 30 mph mobility mounts that could eat-off-the-land for ZERO logistical "tail". Only by God's divine intervention was over-matched pedestrian Western Civilization saved by killing key Mongol leaders.
This may come as a shock, but had Napoleon in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo had similar horse-archer Cavalry to rain arrows into the un-protected breasts of British infantry with slow-firing manually-loaded, muskets in squares--instead of charging them with long poles (lances) and swords to nil effect--he may have won the battle changing Western Civilization for the better--or worse. Ha!
The American experience against the horse-archer Indians validates their superiority over juzzle-musket firearms and is illustrated well but disturbingly in Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves set in the 1860s that I frankly can no longer tolerate watching. The scene where his horse and wild wolf is gunned down by asshole UNION Army Soldiers is intolerable. The Indians acting like assholes shooting multiple arrows from horseback into a slimy wagon peddler is also nauseating but illustrates the superiority of horse-archers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWc4UrfyBc
Until repeating gunpowder firearms were had--CAVALRY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARMED WITH BOWS/ARROWS AND CROSSBOWS that could rain missiles upon foes--yet horse Cavalry defaulted back to absurd charging with poles and saber slashing. Dumb, really dumb. The "Charge of the LIGHT BRIGADE" is even more stupid when understood in this light.
Modern Mongolian Horse Cavalry--but STUPIDLY armed with just sabers when SARs & ARs are available. Genghis Khan's 300m reach horse-archers would have these CHICOM fools for living archery targets
Johnny Reb Was Out-Gunned: When Did and Who Had Cartridge-Firing, "Repeating" Firearms?
So much for bragging about being tougher if you are inferiorly weaponized, huh?
1st, his smooth-bore muskets were out-RANGED by Union rifles.
http://www.thomaslegion.net/americancivilwar/civilwargunslistweapons.html
This development revolutionized military tactics. The effective range of the smooth-bore musket was 50-100 yards, and because of its poor accuracy and limited range, fighting tactics with smooth-bores required Soldiers to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in lines. One line, or rank, would fire, fall back, reload, while the line of infantrymen behind them would follow suit. In another formation, the Soldiers assembled in four lines and fired concurrently. The objective was to unleash a large quantity of lead towards the target simultaneously in order to increase the probability of a hit. Infantry charges, notwithstanding, were employed with this tactic because with the smoothbore's restrictive range of fire, a defending army would only have sufficient time to discharge a couple of aimed shots before the opposing army advanced at double quick with fixed bayonets.
The rifle's effective range caused the Union and Confederate armies to suffer massive casualties as they continued applying the traditional Napoleonic Tactics. With it's maximum range of 1,000 yards and an effective range of 400 yards, the rifle had rendered the tactics obsolete. The old smoothbore strategy was no longer effective because the infantry charge, such as Pickett's Charge, was now cut to pieces prior to reaching enemy lines. [EDITOR: sounds like WW1's "No Man's Land", doesn't it?] Although Union regiments were not sufficiently armed with rifles when the Civil War commenced, some infantry units entered the field equipped with the Springfield or Enfield, and enjoyed the initial advantage of confronting Johnny Reb and his smooth-bore.
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If both sides didn't have complete cartridge-loading guns, they certainly had to be dismounted for the necessary dexterity to do the muzzle-loading of loose gunpowder with ramrods etc. of longer barrel muskets and rifles best illustrated in "Glory":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZShJiMwbV0
http://www.thomaslegion.net/americancivilwar/civilwargunslistweapons.html
The standard weapon used by both sides during the Civil War was a muzzle-loading .58 caliber rifle musket: the Union preferred the Springfield version, while the Confederacy the Enfield. It was a good weapon but its loading method limited its efficiency and at times made it dangerous. In the heat of battle, Soldiers sometimes forgot whether they had rammed the weapon and would therefore recharge it. At other times the piece would misfire, and, thinking that the weapon had fired, the Soldiers would proceed and reload. Unfortunately, it was fairly easy to ram several charges into the muzzle. After the battle of Gettysburg, for example, of the 27, 574 weapons collected from the battlefield, approximately 6,000 were found to be properly charged, and a staggering 12,000 had three to ten loads. (One rifle contained twenty-three.) From these figures it was estimated that one-third of the men on opposing sides of the battlefield were merely spectators during the fight, because they were carrying non-functioning weapons.
(Above) From top to bottom: Sharps Target Rifle .52 caliber, Harpers Ferry Rifle Model 1855 .58 caliber, Harpers Ferry "Mississippi Rifle" Model 1841 .54 caliber, Fayetteville "Short" Rifle Musket (Confederate manufacture) .58 caliber, Enfield "Short" Rifle Musket .577 caliber, Merrill Breech-loading Rifle .54 caliber, Mounted Rifle .58 caliber, and Sharps Rifle .52 caliber.
2nd, the UNION Army's rifles/carbines could fire FASTER.
http://www.thomaslegion.net/americancivilwar/civilwargunslistweapons.html
The Civil War witnessed a technological revolution in weaponry and it was highlighted by a transition in shoulder-fired weapons from smooth-bore firearms that had to be loaded through the muzzle each time a shot was fired to rifled-barrel weapons -- some of which charged at the breech. While most of the new rifle-muskets still had to be reloaded after each shot, repeating weapons such as the 7-shot Spencer and 16-shot Henry rifles and carbines were developed as well. Unfortunately for the Civil War Soldier, tactics did not advance as quickly as technology. Napoleonic tactics, the linear troop formations adopted from earlier in the century, were now combined with more accurate, faster-firing weapons that were capable of producing catastrophic casualties.
The Southern cavalry fought mainly with single-shot, muzzle-loading carbines. The Robinson factory in Richmond manufactured approximately 5,400 breech-loading carbines similar to the Sharps. The South cut down infantry muskets or salvaged musket parts to make carbines. A more traditional muzzle-loading carbine was made in the South by Cook and Brothers of Columbus, Georgia. The Southern cavalry also used single and even double-barrel shotguns. With a clean barrel, a good fit of a patched bullet in a smoothbore was accurate to at least 100 yards.
As with the Springfield, the Confederates made their own copies of the Sharps, but demand far outstripped production. Regarding the more than 5,000 Confederate or "Richmond" Sharps, General Robert E. Lee wrote that they were "so defective as to be demoralizing to our men." Southern horsemen, however, were known to employ captured Yankee breech-loaders, for which ammunition might be hard to come by, or stick with awkward short-barreled muzzle-loaders, for whom cartridges could be produced locally. A few Southern arsenals, most notably the Richmond Arsenal in Virginia, the Fayetteville Arsenal in North Carolina and the Cook & Brothers Armory of Athens, Georgia, attempted to manufacture muzzle-loading carbines for Confederate troopers. Production was slow and erratic, and never met the needs of the men in the field.
If the shortage of good, serviceable single-shot breech-loading carbines did not vex the Confederate cavalryman, the appearance of reliable repeaters in the hands of his foes must surely have.
One such weapon was the Spencer, patented in 1860. Available in .52 caliber, it was capable of sending out seven aimed shots within thirty seconds. The effects of such firepower were overwhelming to Confederates used to the slower muzzle-loaders. Often, Federals with Spencers fired only one shot together to simulate a volley of musketry and waited for the Confederates to advance. When they did, the Unionists unleashed the other six shots in a rapid fusillade of fire that devastated the Southern lines. One Confederate observed, "There's no use fighting against such guns..." More than 94,000 carbines were acquired for use by Federal forces. None of them were used at Gettysburg, but the 5th and 7th Michigan regiments of General Custer's brigade were armed with the longer rifle version, and did good service with them there. One Michigan trooper, Robert Trouax, later distinguished himself with his Spencer rifle at the Rapidan River, "killing six rebels as they were crossing the river".
(Right) 5th Model 1864 Burnside Carbine .54 caliber. Manufactured 1863-1865, the Burnside Carbine was one of the most widely issued and successful Federal cavalry carbines. This Fifth Model carbine has the distinctive guide screw in the right side of the receiver. The top of the receiver is marked "Burnside Patent/Model of 1864." This original Burnside has Pinched blade front sight and two leaf rear sight with graduations for 100, 300 and 500 yards. A cavalry sling bar and ring are mounted on the left side of the receiver. The barrel has a dull military blue finish, the breech block, lever and receiver tangs are niter blue and the receiver, hammer, barrel band, lock plate and buttplate are casehardened. Mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with two clear boxed cartouches on the left wrist.
Another repeater held in high esteem was the .44 caliber Henry Rifle. Carrying 16 shots, it too put a Confederate opponent at a severe disadvantage. While only 10,000 Henry Rifles were made, and only 1,731 purchased by the government, their presence on the battlefield was felt by the Confederates. One of General William T. Sherman's Soldiers stated: "I think the Johnnys are getting rattled; they are afraid of our repeating rifles. They say we are not fair, that we have guns that we load up on Sunday and shoot all the rest of the week."
The ill-supplied Southern trooper could not hope to match the firepower of these repeating weapons, for they utilized special copper rim-fire cartridges that were beyond the production capability of Confederate ordnance. In the case of handguns, though, both sides were more evenly matched. The manufacturing centers for these weapons were still located in the North, but few designs required the use of special ammunition. Captured revolvers were much more easily (and hence much more often) turned against their former owners.
One mainstay of the cavalry on both sides was the Sharps. In production since the early 1850s, this .52 caliber arm was already known to be strong and reliable, and about 80,000 were purchased by the Federals. The Sharps was the primary weapon of General John Buford's division as it delayed the Confederate infantry advance towards Gettysburg on 1 July, 1863. Even though a single-shot, its breech-loading mechanism allowed a trooper to discharge 5 shots per minute, compared to the standard 3 aimed shots per minute from a muzzle-loading musket.
(Above) Civil War cavalry accoutrements. This Civil War display of firearms represents the Union issued weapons to most cavalry during ca. 1863-65. Many Soldiers, at their own expense, however, also carried additional revolvers into the fray. By 1863, a veteran trooper could be seen with as many as 4 revolvers, 1 carbine, and 1 saber. The cumbersome edged weapons, lacking in this display, were shed for more practical pieces such as extra sidearms. Confederate cavalrymen, on the other hand, lacking carbines, were known to ride their favorite mount with 3 or 4 pistols (perhaps 4 six shooters), 1 shotgun, 1 rifle, and 1 saber. The Soldier could discharge as many 24 rounds before reloading his small arms and revolvers--an appreciated advantage for any horseman. [EDITOR: looks like one can fire guns from horseback, no problemo, No?]
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Moving thru history to the East, Buford's Cavalry holding the urban and high ground at Gettysburg had to dismount to use their short-barrel, short-range, cartridge-firing lever-action, Spencer or Sharps carbines cartridge-loading firearms for the necessary protective cover with every 4th man holding 4x horses. General Buford in his report says he lacked CARTRIDGES at times--this means he had 7-shot, Spencer repeating or other rifles/carbines that fired cartridges, YES? Mr. Black Powder, the contrarian below says NO. Maybe he is a butt-hurt, Confederacy fanboy? ALL of reality isn't documented by a paper trail. Who is telling the truth?
https://npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/weapons-at-gettysburg-the-spencer-repeating-rifle/
For many years, students of the Battle of Gettysburg have sung the praises of the Spencer rifle and its contribution to the great Union victory. Numerous authors have suggested that it was the Spencer that helped derail the Confederate attack on the morning of July 1; that General John Buford’s cavalry troopers, armed with their Spencer carbines, repelled wave after wave of Confederate infantry. The contributions of the Spencer to Union victory are not limited to July 1st however. Captain O. E. Hunt, U.S. Army, and Instructor at the U.S.M.A. wrote in his report on The Ordnance Department of the Federal Army: 1860-1865, about the superiority of the Spencer rifle and its use by General John Geary’s 12th Corps Soldiers on July 2nd. “Due to the use of the Spencer rifle by part of General Geary’s troops at Gettysburg, a whole division of Ewell’s corps was repulsed by inferior numbers.”
In 1861 the Navy Department placed an order with Spencer for nearly 1,200 rifles, but the army refrained to follow suit. Spencer decided to market his new rifle directly to Northern state governments. The strategy worked and some governors made purchases of the rifle. Finally, after nearly two years of frustration with the War Department, Spencer secured an appointed to see President Lincoln himself in the spring of 1862 to promote his rifle and secure a contract with the War Department. President Lincoln was impressed with Spencer and his new weapon after a personal shooting exhibition near what is now the Washington Memorial. Federal contracts followed and by 1865 the government had purchased 107,000 rifles or carbines from Spencer. Spencer’s company manufactured over 14,000 rifles and 130,000 carbines by the end of the war. Since Spencer refused to sell to the Confederacy his weapon was available to the Confederates only by capture. [EDITOR: BooHoo! is this the source of the contrarian's prejudice against Spencer rifles?]
By the summer of 1863, production of the Spencer Rifle was stepping up. Along with the rifle, the U.S. War Department wanted carbines for its cavalry. But it was not until October 1863 that Spencer started delivery on the first order of 45, 733 carbines. Therefore up until the summer of 1863 the only Spencer that was available for purchase to the army was the rifle version. Buford’s men holding back wave after wave of Confederate Infantry with their Spencer carbines is fiction. [EDITOR: they DID hold back wave-after-wave of Confederates with SOMETHING, SOME kind of firearm; nit-picking that it wasn't Spencer repeating rifles doesn't change the fact that Johnny Reb had his ass kicked, Confederate fangirl] Company, Regimental, and Division ordnance records of the regiments under Buford show that his troopers were armed with Sharps, Burnsides, Merrills, Ballards, and Maynards. [EDITOR: Sharps, Burnsides, Merrills, Ballards and Maynards used complete cartridges] Contrary to Captain Hunt’s assertion that General Geary’s men pushed back an entire division of General Richard Ewell’s men on July 2 and saved the Union right flank with their Spencer repeaters, the truth was there was nary a Spencer in Geary’s division. His ordnance records show his regiments were armed with mainly U.S. 1861 Springfield Rifle-Muskets, and also some older 1855 Rifle-Muskets, and even some old smoothbore muskets. [EDITOR: SAYS WHO? YOU? You are declaring Captain Hunt is a LIAR. What of General Buford saying he used CARTRIDGES? How about the lackluster Union Army Ordnance records being out of date with what was actually happening ie; they had fucking Spencer 7-shot, repeating rifles?]
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http://www.thomaslegion.net/americancivilwar/civilwargunslistweapons.html
In 1861, a shortage of rifles on both sides forced the Northern and Southern governments to issue the older smooth-bore weapons or purchase weapons from European nations. As the war progressed most Soldiers eventually were armed with rifled muskets, although even late in the war some troops on both sides still carried smooth-bores. During most of the war, the standard infantry weapon was the .58-caliber rifled musket, adopted by the U.S. Army in 1855 to replace the .69-caliber smoothbore musket. The new infantry arm was muzzle-loaded, its rifled barrel taking a hollow-based cylindroconical bullet slightly smaller than the bore. The loading procedure required the Soldier to withdraw a paper cartridge (containing powder and bullet) from his cartridge box, tear open one end with his teeth, pour the powder into the muzzle, place the bullet in the muzzle, and ram it to the breech using a metal ramrod. A copper percussion cap was then placed on a hollow cone at the breech. To fire the weapon the hammer was cocked, and when the trigger was pulled the hammer struck the cap and ignited the powder charge. Each Soldier was expected to be capable of loading and firing three aimed shots per minute. Although the maximum range of a rifled musket was considered to be 1,000 yards, actual fields-of-fire were often very short, the emphasis of musketry fire resting upon volume at close range rather than accuracy at long distance.
The basic ammunition allowance for each infantry Soldier was 40 rounds in a leather cartridge box. When a large action was expected, 20 additional rounds were issued to each Soldier, who placed them in his uniform pockets or knapsack. In addition, 100 rounds-per-man were held in the brigade or division trains [EDITOR: I hate this fucking term. Call things what they are! They were carried in horse-propelled, WAGONS. Could these be lined up into WAGON TRAINS? Yes. Call them this so we understand WTF is going on.] and 100 rounds in the corps trains.
The most popular rifle used in the Civil War was the U.S. Model 1861 Springfield rifled musket. This rifle was known for its range, accuracy and reliability. At a weight of 9 lbs and an effective range of 200 to 300 yards, it could be loaded quickly and was easier to carry than previous rifles. A trained Soldier could accurately fire three rounds per minute. [EDITOR: 1x shot every 20 seconds] The rifle, and similar new guns, literally changed the way wars were fought. Because the enemy could now take aim and eliminate Soldiers at great distances, the time-honored attack method of massing Soldiers for firepower and charges became a high risk maneuver. By the war's end, both sides favored trench warfare with a greater emphasis on long-range weapons -- a mindset that future generals would adopt during warfare.
https://ironbrigader.com/2015/06/22/general-john-bufords-report-cavalrys-action-gettysburg/
At about 7:30 in the morning of July 1st, with the Confederate division of Major General Henry Heth advancing down the Chambersburg Pike, Lieutenant Marcellus Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry fired what is regarded as the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg. Buford’s plan was for his cavalrymen to fight dismounted, with the idea of fighting a delaying action. Buford’s cavalrymen skillfully defended their positions, and the Federals and made the most from their six artillery pieces, which Buford had ordered dispersed for maximum effectiveness. When Heth discovered he couldn’t just brush aside the stubborn Federals, he ordered his brigades into lines-of-battle. All of this took time, and by 9:30, with Heth’s brigades in line and advancing, the lead elements of the Union 1st Corps arrived and went into action.
Buford had bought the time necessary for Union infantry to arrive and help stem the Confederate advance. Although, the Federals would eventually be forced to retreat though the town, more Union Corps arrived and set up a strong defensive position on high ground south of Gettysburg. This set the stage for the repulse of Confederate attacks on July 2nd and 3rd, resulting in a Union victory and Confederate retreat back to Virginia. Buford’s cavalry harassed the Confederates as they retreated over the next several days.
General Buford said:
A portion of the Third Indiana found horse-holders, borrowed muskets, and fought with the Wisconsin regiment that came to relieve them. While this left of my line was engaged, Devin’s brigade, on the right, had its hands full. The enemy advanced upon Devin by four roads, and on each was checked and held until the leading division of the Eleventh Corps came to his relief.
After the fall of General Reynolds, whose advance troops partially drove back the enemy and made heavy captures of prisoners, the enemy brought up fresh troops, and engaged General Doubleday’s command, which fought bravely, but was greatly outnumbered and forced to fall back. Seeing our troops retiring, and their need of assistance, I immediately rushed Gamble’s brigade to Doubleday’s left, and dismounted it in time to render great assistance to our infantry, and to check and break the enemy’s line. My troops at this place had partial shelter behind a low stone fence, and were in short carbine range. Their fire was perfectly terrific, causing the enemy to break and rally on their second line, which made no farther advance toward my position.
Shortly after this, I placed my command on our extreme left, to watch and fight the enemy should he make another attack, and went to Cemetery Hill for observation. While there, General Hancock arrived, and in a few moments he made superb disposition to resist any attack that might be made.
My division bivouacked that night on the left of our position, with pickets extending almost to Fairfield.
The enemy made an attack upon Gamble, who had posted his men under shelter, and who held his fire until the rebel line came within short carbine range, when he opened upon it, doing terrible execution, and driving it back into its stronghold. This was repeated with similar success. In Merritt’s front the enemy made no direct attack, but were so obstinate that General Merritt could not dislodge them without too much sacrifice. The enemy, however, attempted to turn our right with a brigade of infantry. This attempt was most admirably foiled by General Merritt.
It now being dark, outnumbered, and the First and Reserve Brigades being out of ammunition, Devin was ordered to relieve Gamble and a portion of Merritt’s troops. This being done, I ordered the command to fall back, Devin to hold his ground until the entire road to the Antietam was clear. Devin handsomely carried out his instructions, and the division bivouacked on the road to Boonsborough.
Colonel Chapman, with his regiment, dashed off to the road leading from Falling Waters to Williamsport, and destroyed a small train of grain, and returned with about 40 mules and their harness.
July 8, the enemy attacked at 5 a.m., and the fighting lasted until about 5 p.m. He was driven back about 4 miles, when the division then bivouacked for the night.
July 9, attacked the enemy at 4 p.m. and drove him handsomely about 2 miles.
July 10, attacked the enemy at 8 a.m. and drove him through Funkstown to his intrenchments beyond Antietam, when he came out with a heavy force of infantry and artillery and gave battle. The division held the crest on our side of the town like veterans until its ammunition was exhausted. Howe’s division, of the Sixth Corps, was in easy supporting distance, but had no orders to aid me. At 3 p.m. I could no longer reply with carbines, for want of cartridges, and consequently ordered the division to fall back. A brigade of the Sixth Corps then began to advance, but did not occupy the position that I held when I left the field.
July 14, at 7 a.m., the division was ordered to advance, and at 7.30 o’clock it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated during the night. The few remaining scouts were run into the rear guard of Lee’s army, which was soon seen in front of Kilpatrick, who had advanced from the north. Kilpatrick was engaged. I sent word to him that I would put my whole force in on the enemy’s rear and flank, and get possession of the road and bridge in their rear. The division succeeded in getting the road, and attacked the enemy in flank and rear, doing him great damage, and scattering him in confusion through the woods and ravines. Our spoils on this occasion were one 10-pounder Parrott gun, one caisson, over 500 prisoners, and about 300 muskets. General Merritt came up in time to take the advance before the enemy had entirely crossed, and made many captures. The enemy’s bridge was protected by over a dozen guns in position and sharpshooters on the Virginia side. As our troops neared the bridge, the enemy cut the Maryland side loose, and the bridge swung to the Virginia side.
Lieutenant [Aaron B.] Jerome, signal corps, was ever on the alert, and through his intrepidity and fine glasses on more than one occasion kept me advised of the enemy’s movements when no other means were available. Surgeon Hard, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, surgeon-in-chief to the division, deserve great credit for his zealous and untiring attention and labors with the sick and wounded. Through his exertions their sufferings have been greatly alleviated, their wants supplied, and many lives saved. Many wounded Soldiers are indebted to him for his timely aid on the battle-field, who, but for his energy, would have shared the fate of many poor fellows who had less attentive surgeons.
I transmit with this the reports of the brigade commanders.
The First Brigade captured 854 head of beef-cattle and 602 sheep at Chester Gap, which were turned over to the subsistence department at Markham, July 24.
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Fire Guns From Horse? YES?
The question still remains--CAN YOU FIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FROM HORSEBACK in event you bump into the enemy--not necessarily to deliberately charge foes?
We need to find-out at what noise level and what weaponry producing such noise levels can a horse tolerate and not throw-off its Cavalrymen who could die or be paralyzed from-the-neck-down like Superman star, Christopher Reeve?
When the quiet WW1 Pederson device converting a Springfield bolt-action rifle into a 40-shot, Semi-Automatic Rifle (SAR) was orphaned without an U.S. military user, did anyone try firing them from horseback to give U.S. ARMY Cavalry melee' meeting engagement, self-defensive capabilities?
The Rhodesian GREY'S SCOUTS show firing FN FALs (SARs) from horseback.
Yes, yes, yes, yes he can better fight getting off the horse, but the enemy might not "vote" that way.
The 2nd unit of the 1987 James Bond movie, "The Living Daylights" had Afghan rebels on horseback firing prop guns with loud muzzle blasts without every rider being thrown off.
Why Can't Horses LIE DOWN to Lower their Silhouette to the Enemy--as well as REM Rest and not need every 4th Man acting as a Horse Holder?
Loss of FIREPOWER: Every 4th Man to Horse-Hold
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&source=hp&ei=wpoHX5fHAY6ksAWdpKPwDw&q=can+horses+lay+down%3F&oq=can+horses+lay+down%3F&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjoLCAAQ6gIQjwEQiwM6CAgAELEDEIMBOgUIABCxAzoLCC4QsQMQxwEQowI6DgguELEDEMcBEKMCEIMBOhMILhCxAxDHARCjAhCDARBDEJMCOgQILhBDOgcIABCxAxBDOgoIABCxAxCDARBDOgQIABBDOgUILhCxAzoCCC46BwguELEDEEM6CgguEMcBEKMCEENQngdYvkNg70ZoAHAAeACAAfsEiAGpJ5IBDDAuMTMuMy4zLjAuMpgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXqwAQq4AQI&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiXsKzJnMHqAhUOEqwKHR3SCP4Q4dUDCAk&uact=5
According to the google search above horses CAN lay down to get REM sleep.
Shrug.
Is it just that idiots populated the horse Cavalry unable to adapt to modern battle conditions?
Summary/Conclusion
WW1 Firearms-Weaponized British Cavalry
Pack-Horse & 75mm Recoilless Rifle: More Direct Firepower than Today's Light IBCTs and moron korps has!
IMHO, the 10th Mountain's LIGHTning IBCTs should train/equip with light tracked tanks and mules/horses to be the world's BEST mountain fighting force. The heavy ABCTs at Fort Hood near our contested border with Mexico should field SAR-armed horse Cavalry Scout units that would rotate to that area and conduct light mechanized horse Cavalry patrols to back-up the border's sensor wall/fence with NON-LETHal rubber bullet for law enforcement to arrest infiltrators and LETHal firepower to destroy drug-thugs.
https://jamesbondisreal.blogspot.com/2020/06/tactismart-018-to-be-lethal-or-not-be.html
Semper Airborne!
James Bond is REAL.
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