Reinforcements arrive in Iraq

WNBC TV Channel 4 NY

[xkaydet65]

If this is already posted I apologize. News 4 New York has reported that a battalion of 2nd Armored Cav is now deployed to protect the supply lines going past Nasariyah. They will replace Marine units that have been required to provide security and allow those units to rejoin their parent units near al Kut.

[xkaydet65]

I didn't know that any of 2Cav was in the theater. Channel 4 reports that they are specifically trained in recon (duh) and road security.

[xm177e2]

Excellent news. How big is this unit? Division? Brigade?

[samuel_adams_us]

Check out where the 4th marine expeditionary force is, might surprise you as well.

[dd5339]

Hey was this your old unit?

Semper Fi

[AzSteven]

The 2nd ACR is a regiment. They were long stationed in Southern Germany, and during Gulf War I came into Iraq during the big assault, where they gained new fame by destroying an Iraqi mechanized division while on the move.

They have recently been reconfigured as a light armrored cavalry force, so they were probably pretty easily transported to the area. I think they are currently equipped with HMMWVs and some light armor (LAVs maybe). They were suppsed to be equipped withthe M-8 Buford light tank until that program got cancelled.

The 2nd ACR is probably a perfect fit for patrolling lines of supply and communications; they lack the heavy armor to do front-line service now, but they still can pack a good wallop on infantry and technicals, and hold their own against armor until air support and reinforcements arrive.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The 4th has been the phantam force for awhile. As clever as any Hollywood script.

[BushMeister]

Yes, 2 ACR is a light force. 3 ACR is still a heavy tank-centered force.

If a batallion is there, that means about 1,000 troops.

[egarvue]

The 4th? I thought it was the 2nd Marine that had gone "missing", and the 1st is getting all the press. Just how many "missing" MEU's do we have running around Iraq, anyway? *grin*

[RetiredArmy]

Right! Where is my 4th Div????? Get in there guys! Rack up some kills!!! Hooah!

[Abigail Adams]

So, do these "cavalry" forces ride horses? Why are they called that?

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment

The 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment is the oldest regiment serving on continuous active duty in the U.S. Army. Organized May 23, 1836, as the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons to fight in the Florida Seminole Campaigns, the regiment has evolved into a rapid deployment force organized to execute the full range of offensive, defensive, reconnaissance and security missions. The regiment saw its first combat of World War II in 1944 after landing at Utah Beach. It led the advance of Patton's Third Army through the remainder of the war. The regiment was deployed to the Persian Gulf in November 1990 with VII (U.S.) Corps in support of Operation Desert Shield. On February 23, 1991, the regiment kicked off the ground offensive of Desert Storm and led the attack of VII Corps as it advanced into southern Iraq.

[samuel_adams_us]

Can you say shooting fish in a barrel?

[CasearianDaoist]

The 4th is a reserve MEF usually used to beef up the other MEFs. It cannot have been called up. I think that you mean the II MEF.

[AzSteven]

So, do these "cavalry" forces ride horses? Why are they called that?

Just tradition now. Their heritage (see an earlier post) started them out as Dragoons (infantry mounted on horses), then they converted to horse cavalry, and as armor came into our arsenal, cavalry units exchanged horses for motorcycles, armored cars and tanks.

Of course, we did see a little horse cavalry action in Afghanistan, so who knows? Maybe a troop of horse-mounted troopers from the 2nd ACR (light) will force them to rename the regiment again; 2nd ACR (light and horse)?

[colorado tanker]

The 2nd ACR is a light unit, the organic cavalry for the XVIIIth Airborne Corps. I didn't know they were in theater. Were they airlifted over? They would be perfect to take on those irregular bands harrassing the supply lines.

[1stFreedom]

Cool. Bradley fighting vehicles are a big improvement over the marine LAV. They have better armour as well as better add-on armour.

[gcruse]

Bradley fighting vehicles are a big improvement over the marine LAV.

The factory, the one I knew anyway, was in Santa Clara CA.  The Bradley is one of those items like the Osprey that had a troubled beginning and permanent enemies.  Glad to see it is holding up.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

2nd Armored Cav will likely be the screening force (eyes and ears) for the 4th Infantry Division, when 4 ID is deployed and moves to the front.

Big Ass Punch.

[cavtrooper21]

Yea, Iwas with the Regiment in Germany when it was still heavy cav. I worked in the test bed phase of the "light" cav concept when it was tested just prior and during the GW.

[Arkinsaw]

I didn't know that any of 2Cav was in the theater.

We can get stuff places quick if we think we need to. Apparently we think we need to.