Someone is releasing a 1/35 figure kit featuring Mounted US soldiers
D-Day. I've never seen anything indicating the United States used mounted troops on D-Day or any other time in the European Theater. Did the US use mounted troops then? If so, can you point me to some documentation as to how they were used?

Miniart released this set a while back, so it's not new. Here's a link to one for sale on line. These are not "mounted troops" as much as they are two random US soldiers on "commandeered" horses in Normandy-- and there is a photo somewhere for this.

https://hobbymodels.com/products/miniart-military-1-35-us-horsemen-normandy-1944-2-mtd

Believe it or not, the US Cavalry did have some mounted troops well into 1943, according the Randy Steffen's "The Horse Soldier" Vol. IV, but these units were converted to mechanized units by 1944, and there were no active US Army "Mounted Troops" in the European Theater. Strangely enough, the "Circle C Cowboys" of the US Constabulary in Germany after the war had some mounted troops using "local" horses, but this was an ad hoc unit performing mostly police/constabulary duties. But no US mounted units were used in combat. This model depicts a paratrooper and a soldier from the 29th ID riding "captured" horses shortly after D-Day.
VR, Russ

The trick was convincing horses to jump (with parachute) from C-47's.

Hi Chuck. I know the set you are referring to- Miniart "US Horsemen Normandy".

There were no mounted allied troops at this stage in the war but on D-Day and in Normandy there exist a number of stories of allied troops commandeering farm horses to get from one place to another.

I think this is what Miniart are trying to depict.

Normandy is a very equestrian area- you can't go far even today without seeing a horse!

In several books on the Normandy campaign it is mentioned that some units improvised mounted couriers because radio communications were iffy and other transportation wasn't available.

But horses were, as were soldiers willing to ride them. You make do with what what you have. Improvise, overcome, adapt.

Exactly correct. Also, the Germans used a lot of horses in Normandy (as they did everywhere) - mostly for pulling field guns and ammunition/supply carts and even instances where they used them to pull carts for troop transport. Definitely used for transport but not frontline combat.

They weren't as mechanised as the Allies.

I think officers and feldgendarmerie probably had horses for riding too.

get the Trainer that trained the Atlantic City diving horse lol .

I read eons ago the last official "Cavalry" unit was a USAF security unit at Clark AFB. The back side of the base was total jungle, no roads. Patrols were made on horse back.

I don't think this could really qualify as "official", or in fact even the "last" mounted units. SF forces in Afghanistan have also used horses much later than the Clark AFB SPs, as late as last year I believe, but these are also "un-offical units, much like the Normandy riders depicted in the kit are.
VR, Russ

I don't know who first TROTTED out the idea of mounted troops at Normandy - I suppose we might take a GALLUP poll to get everyone's opinion on this. I don't want to be SADDLED with the task myself - perhaps one of the REINING experts will be willing to take it on . The job may be one of nightMAREish proportions.
I think whoever may consider doing it should be of STABLE mind but, HAY - what do I know ? Perhaps we might draw STRAWs ? I suppose the first step should be to CORRAL the knowledgeable folks and discuss the MANE ideas. I hope this thread does not STALL due to lack of participation. WHOA - wait a moment - I suppose I should get more opinion on WHITHER or not this is a good idea .
Giddyap ! Richard

Richard, My Dad, who grew up a country boy in the 1920s and 30's, had a favorite saying: "Never get excited til you see the bit coming out of the horse's a** with a little bit of hay on it". When I made Captain, He used to call me "Captain of the Horse Marines" (he'd heard this while he was in the Navy during WWII)--a reference to the Marines of the Mexican war who rode commandeered horses in San Diego when the US Navy occupied that area in 1847. I was a "Cavalry" officer in the US Army at the time, but we rode a different kind of steed. That's the closest I've come to a horse while I was in the service.
VR, Russ

If you can find a "very STABLE genius", he might know all horse-related things.

I don't know about this thread anymore-- it sounds like we're all just polishing horse apples.

VR, Russ

Hi guys,
There is a scene in ‘ Band of Brothers’ ( Carentan ) in which a mounted paratrooper delivers a message to the coomander of Easy-company.

Ge

I hope I'm not beating a dead horse...

Normandy 1944 :





















https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWXWsLqb5ZA

H.P.

Hi guys,

It looks that the GI in the Youtube link is wearing a shoulderpatch from the 9th Fighter Command.

Ge

I wonder where they got the idea...



The pictured soldiers above belonged to the 2nd Ranger Bn.

Sometimes beggars can't be choosers :




H.P.

These animals were all commandeered though...not issued officially. Great pics though, thank you for posting them!